Page 38

I was tense. Watching Gianna enter the middle of a crowd of people who disliked me and my family felt wrong.

She should be where she was safe. However, she did have a point.

With no one yet reporting on her, aka paparazzi, and we hadn’t been outside the resort, it was unlikely she had been associated with me.

This was our best chance while here to have someone infiltrate the group and see if she could find anything useful.

She was plowing through an ungodly amount of information, trying to discover who Kelvin Lyons was and why he would post bail for Clay.

She was also digging into Clay to discover anything shady we could use to shut him up.

Technically, it was blackmail, but it might become warranted in this instance.

My family never said we were lily-white angels, only that we didn’t make our money through illegal or immoral means.

Blackmail was more of a morally gray area.

Reign and I were armed and ready. He’d produced earwigs so we could monitor her and the conversations around her. Having those made me feel better. Why he had them with him, I didn’t ask. He always brought several bags when we traveled, and I had no idea what was in them.

The two of us had wandered ourselves through the grounds to stand in a secluded area near the entrance to the driveway.

Due to the weather, no one paid attention to the fact that we wore full ski masks with only our eyes showing.

They went along with our winter jackets, gloves, and boots.

It would help prevent anyone from recognizing me and blowing our cover.

Over the earpiece, I heard her murmuring, “Hello” and “Excuse me.” She was milling around, making her way through the crowd slowly.

She started at the edge and smiled and nodded to people.

She took her time. It would look suspicious if she went straight to Clay, whom I saw.

In addition, I caught a glimpse of Harissa.

I had to say Harissa didn’t appear happy, and she wasn’t near Clay.

He, on the other hand, was shouting out his bullshit while pretending to be genial to those joining his effort.

I had to say one thing for him. He had charisma.

Too bad he hadn’t used it at work. He’d been moody and dismissive to people, both peers and guests.

It was one of the reasons he’d been placed on a performance improvement plan, written up numerous times, and later fired.

I grew up very privileged, and my family and I recognized that.

However, we were taught that despite our wealth, we were expected to work and do what we could to improve the world.

Sitting back and living off our money was feasible, but would never be tolerated.

Many of our peers growing up did that, and to this day, they live hedonistic lifestyles, relying on their trust funds and older generations to care for them.

Most of the people we heard were chatting about everything but the reason they were there.

Gianna would stop and speak to a person here and there.

She’d ask them what they thought of this whole affair.

Most didn’t have real answers. She asked them if they had ever met any O’Sheerans or stayed at the resort and seen anything shady.

The answer was no. It seemed the people Clay was attracting were there to be part of something, even if they didn’t know much about it.

Over and over, the answer she got was that the billionaires who owned the place were rumored to be Mafia, and the resort was a front.

They were essentially mindless drones. In a way, it made me madder that they had no fundamental convictions.

Eventually, Gianna made it to Harissa. I watched her “accidentally” bump into her. She turned and smiled apologetically.

“I’m so sorry. I tried to avoid bumping into someone, so I got you instead.”

“It’s alright. I understand. It’s very crowded,” Harissa stated.

“It sure is. I’ve never seen a crowd this big.

I had to come out and see what you all are protesting.

I’ve seen the group for the past few days, and it seems to have grown.

Whatever you’re against must be important and true.

” Gianna had such an admiring tone. She sounded like she genuinely believed what she was saying.

“If you want to know more about it, you should talk to the leader. Clay can tell you all the details about why we’re here and what put this place and its owners on his radar,” Harissa said. I could tell she wanted to say the least possible and was trying to foist an eager Gianna onto Clay.

“Oh, that would be wonderful. Do you know him? Would you mind introducing me to him? I hate just walking up cold and start yammering.” Gianna let a tiny, uncomfortable giggle escape.

“Sure, I can do that. Come with me. He’s over there, I think,” Harissa mumbled.

It took them a good five minutes to find Clay. He moved from where Harissa last saw him.

“Clay, excuse me. I have a woman here who wants to talk to you about what we’re doing here and why. She’s seen us and has been inspired to join our ranks,” Harissa said. Harissa’s voice was hesitant when she spoke to Clay, which had me exchanging a frown with Reign. She sounded tense and wary.

I gritted my teeth when Clay saw Gianna. He gave her a wolfish smile, and his eyes scanned her from top to bottom. Even dressed in snow gear, her beauty and rockin’ body were apparent. I clenched my fists. Her earpiece was bi-directional, meaning she could hear our end, too.

“If he licks his lips and doesn’t stop staring at you like you’re meat, I’m coming over and shoving his head up his ass. I can make it fit,” I growled into the tiny mic on my coat collar. It looked like a button. I saw Gianna bite her lip, and the edges of her mouth twitched.

Reign choked on his chuckle and muttered, “Subtle.”

“I love talking to recruits—the more, the merrier. Hello, I’m Clay. And you are?” he asked in an oily tone.

“Hi, my name is Ana. It’s great to meet you, Clay.

I’ve got so many questions about what you’re doing here.

I don’t know where to start. I’ve seen you out here for days on my way to work and coming home.

I kept wanting to stop, but this was my first day off.

It must be a very important cause to keep growing the way it has,” she replied excitedly.

Gianna pitched her voice to give it this awed sound.

“Thanks, Harissa. I’ll take it from here.” Clay’s voice was gruff and short. Without another word, Harissa turned and walked off. I noted she was frowning.

“So Ana, I’d love to give you a rundown of the intent behind this protest. If little people like us don’t take a stand, then people like the O’Sheerans will continue to steal, cheat, and harm us with their activities.”

“The O’Sheerans?” Gianna asked.

“You know who they are, don’t you?” he asked as if in disbelief if she said no.

“Oh, I’ve heard of a rich family named that.”

“Well, those are the ones who own the Crystal Castle Chalet. And I hate to admit that I worked there until recently.”

“You did? Why did you leave?”

“I caught on to what they’re doing there.

They didn’t like it, so they found a way to fire me and blamed it on my performance.

They got tired of me questioning their actions and pushing back.

I wouldn’t pretend I didn’t see the shady characters they’d bring in at night when most people were asleep.

They’d disappear in the back for hours, and the staff wasn’t allowed back there.

There were unexplained money transactions. You name it.”

“What kind of characters?” she asked.

“The kind who are into illegal stuff. You’ve surely heard the rumor about that family.”

Gianna shook her head.

“They’re rumored to be one of the biggest Irish Mafia families in the United States. They claim it’s false and that they’re above board, but most people aren’t buying it. You don’t make money like they do unless you have major cash coming in well beyond what a few businesses can make.”

She gasped and put her hand to her mouth, perfectly portraying shock.

My woman could’ve been an actress based on how she was acting.

She was making Clay talk and believe she was some innocent who bought his bullshit.

And the way he kept checking her out, he wondered if he could get her into his bed. A low growl escaped.

“Hang in there, Rian. She’s doing fine, and he’s not gonna touch her. If he does, Gianna will tear his arm off and beat him to death with it,” Reign whispered.

As he finished speaking, I saw her turn her head in our direction and put her hand over her mouth. A coughing sound came over the mic.

“So you’re saying it’s true. They’re part of the Mafia,” she whispered after she stopped fake coughing.

“I can’t say for sure, but everything I’ve seen makes me think they are,” Clay said confidently.

“I think it’s courageous of you to spread the word so more people know who they are and won’t be fooled. Have the cops listened to you?”

He sneered. “The cops arrested me instead of them. They’re corrupt and on their payroll.

The O’Sheeran who oversees this place, Rian, was here a week ago.

I heard a rumor that he might be back, but if he is, he’s hiding.

He should. The bastard and his whole family need to be arrested and sent to prison for life.

Undoubtedly, they’re sweating that they’ll be exposed and that this place will shut down.

If it happens, it may be one less place capable of laundering money from illegal activities. ”