Page 13

Emma

B ess pulls away from Ty and surveys me with a genuinely warm smile. “You must be Emma. I’m Bess, it’s nice to meet you,” she says with no trace of malice in her voice, holding out her hand in greeting.

I shake it, noticing the callouses on her hand, and the nails cut short. “You too. Sorry to turn up unannounced.”

Bess waves it away. “Not at all, you’re more than welcome. The guys didn’t mention that you were coming too though.”

“That’s because they don’t know,” I reply sheepishly, adding, “I kinda forced Ty into bringing me when I heard that you might be able to help us find out who’s after my son.”

Bess lets out a warm chuckle. “My kinda girl. Don’t let these guys boss you about. You’re his mom of course you’d want to be here. Come on in you two,” she says, turning and heading toward the house.

She leads us to a cozy living room where Mason and Jax are sitting waiting. Mason looks decidedly furious to see us. “What the hell are you two doing here?” he growls getting up from his seat and turning on us with a face like thunder. “Couldn’t handle babysitting duty?” he snips, glowering at Ty.

Ty grimaces shrugging his shoulders, “Hey man, she insisted… what was I supposed to say?”

“Exactly!”

“I am a grown woman, I do not need to be babysat!” I chime in frustratedly. “Max is my son I have every right to be involved in finding out who is trying to take him from me.”

“It’s not safe for you or Max until we know who is behind it, leaving the safehouse is an unnecessary risk. Your brother put us in charge of taking care of you, which means doing as you’re told,” Mason insists jutting out his chin.

“If you think I’m going to just sit around like some damsel in distress while my son is in danger, you know nothing about me,” I reply, hands on hips glaring back at him despite the massive height difference between us.

“That is becoming abundantly clear,” Mason mutters before asking, “Do you really think Max is better off being left behind while his mom throws herself into danger?”

“Max is perfectly safe with Jessica,” I reply, though the truth in his question dampens my fire slightly.

“Is he?” Mason asks coolly, his tone implying that if something were to happen to Max while I’m gone the only person to blame is me.

“Mason,” Jax warns softly, sensing he’s gone too far.

All of a sudden, the crushing insecurity and certainty that I’m a terrible mother comes flooding back.

“He’s right. What am I doing here? I shouldn’t have let Max out of my sight. What if something happens to him?” I say, my body crumpling in defeat as I feel the bitter sting of tears rising.

A warm comforting hand is placed on my shoulder. “Nothing’s going to happen to him. I’m sure of it. Mason’s just being an ass,” Bess says comfortingly, shooting daggers at Mason who has the grace to look guilty.

I cringe realizing the whole confrontation occurred in front of a stranger I barely know, in her own home. “I’m sorry, Bess. First, we show up unannounced and then I make a scene,” I sniffle, embarrassed.

“Don’t apologize. You made the right decision coming here if you ask me. There are things you might be able to shed light on or clues you might give me without even realizing that may help us get to the bottom of this quicker than if you weren’t here. Mason’s just going all alpha on you because he doesn’t like it when people don’t do what he says,” she assures me with confidence.

Mason scowls back at her but to my surprise, he doesn’t comment on her observation.

“Please, come and sit with us. The guys have been filling me in on everything, but I’d love to hear it from your perspective and ask you a few questions,” she says, gesturing to the couch where Jax is sitting, looking uncertain of how to act, given the circumstances. “Mason, go grab us all some beers, will you?” she asks, though it’s definitely a command rather than a question.

To my surprise, Mason does as he’s told, sloping off to the kitchen and jerking his head at Ty to follow him. No doubt poor Ty is going to get a dressing down for bringing me here. I sit down and Jax gives me a small, comforting smile.

“I’m not sure how much help I will be. The guys and I have been running over possibilities again and again with my brother and we’re still no closer to figuring it out,” I say, looking to Bess and wondering how this mysterious woman could possibly shed any further light on the situation.

“Forgive me for making you rehash this all again, but if you wouldn’t mind running through it one more time for me, I’d appreciate it,” Bess says, her tone that of a psychiatrist or experienced interrogator and I wonder again who this woman is exactly.

Several beers later, I’ve finally finished telling Bess everything and answering all her questions, with some interjections from the guys. Thankfully, Mason seems to have thawed since we arrived. No doubt in large part due to Bess’ good-natured teasing and affable nature. She somehow has the uncanny ability to put us all at ease while still keeping the conversation on track.

“So, what do you think?” I ask hopefully.

Bess ponders for a moment before asking, “Emma, does the name Victor Kane sound familiar to you?”

I consider for a moment, racking my brain. “Maybe? I don’t think so… but I’m not sure. Who is he?”

“He’s the head of an organized crime syndicate he has connections all over the West Coast, including San Diego. He’s known for giving desperate people loans with extortionate repayment rates that leave them forever in his debt. He then forces them to work for him to pay it off, if they can’t, he’s not above extreme methods, including kidnap for ransom. Is it possible your husband may have encountered him?” Bess asks, her tone gentle so as to not scare me unnecessarily.

But already my heart is hammering in my chest at the kind of man that could be trying to take my son.

If there’s a worst-case scenario, this is it.

“Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me. Adam was a complete addict, he’d sell his soul for more money to gamble. I’d hoped that the debts he’d left us in were it, but now I’m not so sure. I think if presented with an offer from someone unsavory he’d have taken it, despite the risks. The name Victor vaguely rings a bell,” I answer with a sigh, rubbing my face wearily. “Do you really think that this Victor guy would come after a widow and small child, four years after Adam’s death?”

Bess and the guys share knowing looks, she takes a breath choosing her words carefully. “Emma, Victor Kane is an extremely dangerous man. Yes, this is exactly the kind of thing he would do.”

“But I don’t have any money, what would he have to gain from this?”

Again, Bess speaks carefully. “Sometimes these guys simply need to send a message. That no matter what, you don’t get out of the debt, dead or alive. Emma, how did Adam die?”

“It was in a boating accident while he was visiting his mother in Mexico, she retired there long before Max was born,” I explain, wondering what Adam’s death has to do with it.

Bess’ mouth draws into a thin line. “What sort of accident, Emma? What happened exactly?”

“Um… well I don’t know exactly. Just that he went out boating and his boat was found but his body was never recovered. It was officially ruled an accident, though there was speculation that perhaps he took his own life…” I stammer, now realizing how little I know about my husband’s death. “When I heard the news, I’d been shellshocked and, to my shame, a little relieved that Adam was gone, so I didn’t think to ask too many questions…” I admit guiltily.

“So no one was with him on the boat?” Ty asks, startling me slightly as he’s been silently listening throughout the conversation.

I shake my head, “Not to my knowledge, no. He went out alone and never came back. I didn’t hear much from the authorities or from his mother, just the basics. His funeral was out there. Max and I didn’t go.”

Mason looks at Bess. “Do you think it’s possible…?” he says, not voicing the question, yet Bess seems to know exactly what he’s asking.

“I think so,” she replies grimly.

“What?” I ask, feeling foolish that they all seem to be thinking the same thing and I’m missing it.

Jax decides to be the one to break it to me. “Emma, it’s possible that Kane could have even been involved in your husband’s death.”

My hand flutters to my mouth as I gasp, “Do you really think so?” I ask, looking around at the grim-faced expressions of the others as I realize the gravity of who we might be up against.

“It’s not beyond the realm of possibility of what Kane is capable of. Have you spoken with your mother-in-law recently or any other members of Adam’s family? It’s possible you’re not the only one being targeted.”

I shake my head. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of her since this all started, but I haven’t managed to get through. But that’s not uncommon. She only has a landline and is notoriously bad at answering it. As far as I’m aware Adam has no other family. His father died a while back, he was an only child, and he didn’t have any other relatives that he ever spoke of.”

Again, the other share concerned glances.

“Emma, could you let me know your mother-in-law’s details, name, address, her number, that kind of thing?” Bess asks, pushing a notepad and paper over to me and pulling her phone out of her pocket.

“Sure,” I reply, writing them down. “Why? Do you think she could have something to do with this? As I said to the guys before, I think if she wanted custody, she’d have taken the correct channels or at least tried to be part of Max’s life more. She barely speaks to him, only Christmas and his birthday, really. She sends extravagant gifts and calls to speak to him for about five minutes, but that’s pretty much it. Adam’s mother was always distant, they barely interacted when he was alive. That’s why it was so odd when he decided to go visit her when he died. I figured he was trying to get money from her. Adam had always implied she had money but cut him off when he was young.”

“When was the last time you spoke to her?” Mason asks, his eyes darting to Bess, an unspoken conversation going on between them.

“Not since Max’s birthday in June…”

Bess nods decisively. “Alright, let me make some calls,” she says before leaving the room.

“What’s going on?” I ask, looking toward Mason for reassurance.

“Bess has contacts in high places. I assume she’s going to verify your mother-in-law’s whereabouts,” Mason says.

When he doesn’t offer any further information, I probe him further. “But why? Does she think she might have something to do with all this?”

Mason studies me for a moment as if determining how much he can hide from me. “That’s one possibility,” he offers.

“What’s the other?” I insist, not wanting to be fobbed off with half-truths.

Mason doesn’t respond, and before I can press him further, Jax intervenes. “Mason, she has a right to know everything. If it is Kane… she needs to know what she’s up against.”

Mason sighs but seems to relent as he speaks up. “The other option is that Kane already got to her,” he says, his tone implying that if Kane has, she won’t have survived. “Emma, I really fucking hope that Victor Kane isn’t the guy behind all this. Fortunately for us, we don’t know him, and he doesn’t operate in Oklahoma, but even we’ve heard about him. He’s ruthless and dangerous. It doesn’t end well for those who become involved with him.”

A seed of panic starts to swell in my chest. If Mason and the Iron Serpents are afraid of this guy, what hope do I have of protecting my son from him? My breath quickens as my mind tries to fathom the notion that a dangerous mafia boss might be after my son.

“This can’t be happening…” I whisper disbelievingly, putting my hands on my head and slumping forward.

Jax moves closer to me, placing a comforting hand on my back. “Let’s try not to jump to conclusions, we just need to rule every possibility out,” he says though his words fall flat.

After what feels like an eternity but can’t have been much longer than ten minutes, Bess returns. We all snap to attention, our gazes turning to her, hopeful for good news, like sunflowers searching for the warmth of the sun.

My hope is extinguished when I see the pity in Bess’ eyes. She comes to sit opposite me, delivering the news like a doctor who’s just lost a patient.

“I’m sorry, Emma, there’s no easy way to tell you this. Your mother-in-law passed away.”

“How? When?” I ask, feeling numb.

“A few months ago. She fell down the stairs in her home, the coroner ruled it an accident,” Bess says gently.

“But you don’t think it was?” I ask, uncertain if I want to hear the answer.

“I’m not sure. But I don’t like coincidences.”

“Why did no one inform me before now?”

“The legal system is complicated and slow in Mexico, especially when working with another country. They were having difficulties locating you since you moved and changed your name. Apparently, they only recently found your address, and a letter was mailed to you some weeks ago. I imagine it could well be waiting at your home as we speak. I believe Max is the sole beneficiary of his grandmother’s estate,” she explains.

My mind tries to catch up and process the information. “So, you think that this Victor Kane could have killed both Adam and his mother? Why?”

“With men like Kane, he kills for two reasons, to send a message or for money. In this case, it could be both. By all accounts your mother-in-law was a wealthy woman,” Bess adds carefully watching my reaction.

“Killing them doesn’t make sense, he can’t make dead people pay a debt…” I say, shaking my head in confusion.

They all look back at me with sorrow and pity in their eyes and I finally catch up to their thinking.

“That’s why they want Max. He’s the beneficiary of the will. He’s their way to getting the money,” I say. My mind starts turning over the possibilities, “But we don’t have it yet, I assume Max won’t be able to touch it until he’s older, or I’ll be in charge of it until then… is that why they came after us both? What if we just get in contact and give them the money? Could we do that? I don’t want it,” I insist, frantically looking around the others for inspiration.

“We need to see the will to know what we’re dealing with, but Kane isn’t the kind of guy you can just pay off and he’ll go away. He’ll always come back for more or find a way to make you forever in his debt,” Bess says gravely.

My head starts to swim as the horror of what Bess is telling me sinks in.

There’s every chance that a deranged psychopath has killed my husband and mother-in-law and now is after my son, and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop him.