Page 125 of Jake's Angel
Gabe pulls the envelope close to his vest, Pop leans over his shoulder. It’s a stack of photos. Gabe’s face tightens, his eyes flared.
“Where did you get these, and who took them?” Gabe asked in a low a guttural growl.
“It appears your mother-in-law and her guard, Charles, were putting together a portfolio of sorts. Avery was drugged, disrobed, caged, and photographed as a means to draw interest in a bidding war.”
I’m up out of my seat. The chair tipped over onto the floor. “What did you just say?” Hawk is holding me against the wall. Ethan moves the chair and stands between Hawk and the table as a secondary means to keep me back.
“That’s my woman! Some assholeyouhired to protect her did those things to her. To my Angel?” Gabe’s slamming the gavel, calling for order. I can see he’s barely holding on to his own temper. Pop can’t hold my gaze.
“I said fucking order goddamn it!” Pres shouts over the room. “Jake, get your shit together. Mack, get Russ on the phone. I want to know if he was involved. Declan, get Wyatt tracking Eleanor’s every fucking move. Now, everyone has their orders. So, sit the fuck down.” Gabe points around the room at each of us. One by one, we move back to our places at the table. I’m vibrating with so much rage, my hands are visibly shaking.
“And as for you,” he points at Vincenzo, who is sitting calm as you fucking please with a lit cigarette in his hand.
“Perhaps you should let me finish telling you what I know before you say something you may regret. Hmm.”
This man has a death wish. He must to keep pushing Gabe the way he does.
“Jake, let me ask you. How was your, Angel, did you call her? This morning?” My gaze snaps to his.
“I wouldn’t poke the bear therepaisan.Jake’s stress level has exceeded this morning’s meditation session, so I’d ask that we tread lightly,” Hawk says.
Instead of seeing warning or disrespect in his statement, Vincenzo laughs. “I like you, Nathaniel. You are an interesting man.” Hawk’s eyes narrow at the use of his given name.
“I only ask about Miss West because I know she wasn’t in his bed this morning as Jake had assumed she would be.”
Oh, this just keeps getting better.Not only have I not discussed claiming Avery with Pres, but Vincenzo has just verified that I have indeed slept with her before having Gabe’s consent.
“What the hell is he talking about, Jake?” Gabe snaps at me.
I throw both hands up. “I meant to talk to you about it today in church. I’m claiming Avery. I’veclaimedAvery. She’s mine.”
“Oh fuck,” I hear Hawk mutter under his breath. Not like his ass didn’t already put out my fucking business this morning.
Payback is a motherfucker. They’re coming.
“We’ll discuss your rights to claim my daughter later. What I want to know is was she there this morning and if not,” Gabe turns, pointing at Vincenzo. “How the fuck did he know about it?”
“Simple.” Vincenzo shrugs. “I had one of my men pick her up. She and Sadie are currently under their watch at my casino in Devil’s Canyon.”
“Jesus fucking Christ.” Jameson finally speaks. He’s been sitting quietly, watching the entire show go down. “What are they doing in Devil’s Canyon? That’s the DO’s territory.”
Vincenzo turns to Jameson and smiles. “They like to think it is. But in truth, I own Devil’s Canyon, aside from a few new businesses that have come on scene as of late. But I’ll be dealing with them soon enough. I can assure you, both girls are safe at my penthouse suite. It seems Miss West, through of no fault ofher own, has a connection to the people who murdered George. They are also involved with the trafficking ring, though I don’t have all the details as to what part they play. I don’t believe the motorcycle club is in charge of the trafficking. They seem to be supplying transportation and protection of property.”
I growl. “They’re people, not fucking cars.”
Vincenzo smiles. “Of course, but for men who claim their women as their property, I wouldn’t expect you to get so defensive over word choice.”
This motherfucker.
“Perhaps I should try again. The Devil’s Order has been tasked with moving thevictimsand protecting their benefactor’s interests. Is that better?”
“Could the benefactor be Cusenza?” Ethan looks around the table at each of us. “He wants the freight company and to control the harbor. He’s threatened Russell. He sent pictures of Avery to scare him just before she disappeared. What if Chuck was supposed to kidnap her but she and Sadie foiled their plan with an escape?”
“Cusenza? Marco Cusenza? He threatened Russell?” Vincenzo asks, puzzled.
“Seems you don’t know everything,” Gabe says quietly. Vincenzo shoots him a glare.
“Russell has never spoken of a threat by Cusenza to me. How long ago did this happen?”