Page 45 of Desperate Victory

Jason paused, lowering his drink. The reproachful look he shot me might intimidate some. Unfortunately, my father had made a habit of baleful looks and dismissive stares. I was immune.

“I thought I made my support quite clear a few days ago,” he said before taking another sip. “What do you need? A contract in blood?”

“No,” I told him. “We already have one in blood. Blood doesn’t make for trust though. You back the strongest player in the room. It was why you backed my father.”

Why he would back me.

Instead of dismissing the charge, Jason nodded once. “I also kept my distance unless he pushed the issue of wanting me involved. There’s a difference between support and apathy.”

The logic was sound. “Agreed.”

“I’m offering you support.”

Offering.

“For Fletcher?” It was more curiosity than anything else.

“Yes. For Lainey and Andrea as well.” The mention of Andrea was a fresh dagger. For all that Jason had been helpful, I didn’t trust him enough to ask him about Andrea. Frankly, if I found out he knew the people my father used for trafficking…

Well, it would be Fletcher burying his father next. I didn’t hate Jason and I needed to know he wasn’t involved. Something Fletcher was also investigating.

“That said,” Jason continued, his gaze firmly on his surviving brother. Hamilton schmoozed so well as he glad-handed his way through the circle of sycophants trying to figure out if he was the “newly-minted” head of the family or not. “I’m also doing it for you. Because you deserve more than Harper ever did for you.”

I wanted to say thank you and mean it. I wanted to believe him. We weren’t there yet. Trust had to be earned.

“I get it, Adam,” Jason said. “Guard your secrets, and keep your own counsel. But if there’s something you need me to do, just tell me. No questions asked.”

“Someday, I’m going to tell you that you should always ask questions. Blind obedience was Harper’s way.” King’s way. Wallace Graham’s way. Those ways needed to die with the men. “It won’t be mine. However, if you’re serious. I need Hamilton dealt with and distracted. I have more pressing matters to deal with before I take care of him. Can you handle that?”

“Am I free to throw money at the issue?” The bland tone surfacing behind the question almost made me laugh.

Almost.

“Depends. We’re not paying him off to go away.”

“Oh, that wouldn’t work anyway,” Jason said, then nudged me with a nod to move to another location in the room. More curious than anything, I followed him while keeping Hamilton in my periphery.

Bodhi wasn’t far behind me. He wasn’t invading the conversations, but he stayed in range. Milo and Ezra were with Lainey and her grandfather. They would keep Hamilton well away from her too.

As odd as trusting Cavendish used to be, it seemed far more natural now. I also didn’t have to worry about a knife in the back. Very little distracted him and he didn’t have to engage in pleasantries. He had a reputation for rudeness and I kind of wish I’d cultivated something similar.

“I assume you wanted a more private discussion?” I prompted Jason after he tossed back the last of his vodka. He set it on a waiter’s tray as the man passed us and then Jason faced me.

“Yes, I’m saying we can’t pay him off. We can distract him by making him think he’ll get one over on you…” He smirked faintly.

“A wild goose chase?”

“Something like that,” Jason said. “He’s been trying to gather a power base together for more than a decade. He’s never gotten close. Harper allowed it because it kept him busy and out of his hair. Sometimes, he would throw a bone out there… a comment, a company… a problem that he was having. Hamilton isn’t deep in the slightest.”

“He went for it every time?”

“Pretty much. He’s gotten close to becoming more than a nuisance, but his greed always ends up bankrupting him. Then after Harper made sure he took everything, he would ‘bail’ him out and bring him back to heel.”

Then the pattern repeated itself. “Well, at least my father was predictable.”

“Precisely,” Jason said. “Tell me something that you ‘need’ and I’ll let it slip at some point after another drink. Hamilton will think he has the inside track and he won’t be able to help himself.”

“Have you used the same technique on him previously?” I drained the rest of my tea before setting the glass on another waiter’s tray.