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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

David

Matthew and the rest of Cobra were with me, to assist with Benjamin Smith. Phantom was going to move in on the hedge fund guy Bree found. Although based on her assessment, she had a feeling it was more of a corporation than one individual.

Either way, Phantom would find out for sure while I took out one Benjamin Smith for his part in ruining Kassandra’s life.

“So what’s the plan?” Matthew asked from where we were stationed in the SUV just down the block from my house and two blocks from the Smith residence.

“We end the con man and his family. But not until after we find out what their original plan was.”

Matthew nodded. “I figured as much but the actual plan. You don’t normally get your hands dirty but tonight you’re not in your usual suit either.”

I looked down at my tactical pants. Matthew was right. This wasn’t my normal Boston attire but it wasn’t out of the norm for me either. “That’s because you don’t see me in New Mexico.”

He huffed. “Oh sure. They get the relaxed you.”

Several of the guys in the vehicle with us snickered. The rest were in the SUV behind us.

“Let’s get this show on the road.”

We drove over to Brittany’s house. There was nothing subtle about seven large men walking straight up the sidewalk and knocking on the door. Benjamin tried to slam the door shut after he opened it, but we were quicker.

Stupid man should’ve checked who was there first. He had to know we were after him.

Rhett proved how efficient he was at his job. With a swift, fluid motion, much too graceful for such a broad and brutish man, he instantly had Benjamin’s left arm wrapped behind the man’s back, while Rhett’s muscular right arm wrapped around his throat, much like a boa constrictor around its prey. Rhett not so gently escorted Benjamin to a nearby Queen Anne armchair that looked rather uncomfortable in a living room full of oversized cushioned couches and lounge chairs. Matthew tossed a wad of nylon rope toward Rhett, which he expertly caught, and used to tie Benjamin to the wooden chair.

“Where’s your wife and daughter?”

“I’m right here.” Brittany walked into the room without a care in the world for the seven angry men staring her down. “I knew it wouldn’t take you long to show up.”

“And yet you didn’t hide.” I cocked my head to the side. “Why is that?”

“Because what we did was wrong.” For the first time I noticed the guilt on her face.

“Shut up,” her father hissed.

“Gag him for the moment,” Brittany said.

Rhett looked all too happy as he shoved a dirty handkerchief in Benjamin’s mouth.

“So then, why did you do it?” I wanted to get the information out of Benjamin, but first I needed some closure for Mikey. He deserved it after what this bitch did to him.

“It’s the only life I knew. I was sent to that high school to find us a mark. I didn’t think I would fall in love with Mikey, it was never supposed to last this long.”

Benjamin continued to thrash behind me but I ignored him. “So it was real for you?”

Brittany nodded. “Very much so.” Then she let out a humorless laugh. “Although falling for a man five years younger than me wasn’t the plan. I was lucky enough to look young, but Mikey was no boy. I think that was why it was so easy for me to fall for him.” I considered myself a pretty good lie detector and right now my instincts were screaming that she was telling the truth.

I nodded my head and made a decision. “Graham, take her upstairs. Make sure she stays put until we’re done.”

“You got it, boss.” Graham walked straight over to Brittany and none too gently grabbed her by the arm.

“Are you going to kill my father?”

I didn’t bother to lie. “I am. You have a choice to make. You can use your new freedom to change who you are, or you can fight me about it and end up with the same fate as him.”

I hoped like hell she chose the first option. Mikey might be mad at Brittany now but eventually he would be upset that I killed the woman he was in love with. I didn’t want to do that to him, but I would if it meant it kept my family safe.

“I want a new life,” she replied simply.

She allowed Graham to lead her away without another word. She didn’t look at her father, or look back.

“Now, it’s your turn. Unfortunately, you don’t get the same options as your daughter.”

I ripped the dirty piece of cloth from Benjamin’s mouth and listened as he cursed his daughter. Not wanting the saliva-filled handkerchief in my hand, I tossed it on the laminate floor.

“Ungrateful bitches. Both of them,” he grumbled.

“I take it that means your wife isn’t here.”

“The stupid cunt ran off with my investor. She was pissed we got caught.” There was so much venom in Benjamin’s eyes and flying out of his mouth that it was hard to consider he was telling anything but the truth.

“That sucks for you. How about you tell me a little bit more about this investor you speak of?”

Benjamin spit at my boots but it was more a dribble than anything. The asshole used all his excess saliva on the cloth that had been stuffed in his mouth.

“Why should I tell you anything? You’re just going to kill me anyway.”

I thought about it for a second, letting him stew. I wanted to watch Benjamin sweat as I responded. It was the least I could do for all the pain he put my family through.

“You’re right. I’m going to kill you either way, but you can die knowing I will track your traitorous wife down and her new toy and end their miserable lives as well.”

Benjamin couldn’t save himself, but he could bring others down with him. And that, to a coward like Benjamin, would be music to his ears.

Which was evident seconds later when he sang like the damn canary. Not missing a single detail or requiring me to torture the information out of him.

Coward.

“The corporation we borrowed money from is actually owned by a Russian businessman. Well, business is a loose term. He belongs to the Bratva. A nasty man who didn’t appreciate the money Michael lost. If he hadn’t hanged himself, I assure you Boris would’ve found a more creative way to end his life.”

“Does this Boris have a last name?”

“Ivanov.”

Of course. Nothing like a common name to go with a common problem. I would give Bree the information and see what she could do with it.

I walked behind Benjamin and grabbed his hair. “I appreciate your assistance. Say hi to Michael in hell for me.”

I wasted no time slicing his throat open. Blood spurted across the room and left a nasty splatter that would suck to clean up. With any luck, Mrs. Smith would find the body and deliver the message.

However, I had no doubt she was long gone. A con woman would have several backup plans. Which led me to believe she was the mastermind instead of the idiot whose neck hung open in front of me.

“Go upstairs and let Graham know that he has to escort Brittany out of the state. I don’t care where she goes but as far away from my family is preferred,” I told Matthew.

“Do you plan on tracking her?”

I nodded. “I’ll put Maddox on it.”

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and gave a brief update to my technical analyst. She would have eyes on Brittany from the moment she stepped foot out of the house.

That was one problem down. Now I just needed to go back to my family and make sure they were okay. But first I needed to check on Phantom.