Page 58 of Craving Justice
“No.” Seth unfolded his crossed arms. “The first time I had any meaningful conversation with Stanton Fox was after one of his managers contacted Dillon regarding their interest in our company and arranged an appointment for us to meet with him.”
“But now you’re more intimately involved.”
Seth stilled. “Because I’m in talks regarding the sale of my company?”
“Because you’re fucking his daughter.”
Finally.
Seth slowly shook his head. “Man, you’ve been waiting since I opened the door to say that, haven’t you?”
“Does that make the point any less relevant?”
Smug bastard. But he wasn’t wrong. “I’m dating Harper Fox. That has nothing to do with what’s happened apart from someone using her as a way to strike against me.” If only one of the men in this room knew her like he did, saw the vulnerability under the smart one-liners, the way her face lit up when she talked about something passionate to her, they’d see the reason why she fascinated him.
The agent lifted a brow. “Sure of that?”
“What have you got that says differently?” Seth took a step closer. Bugger this. Enough of this arsehole throwing out innuendo with nothing to back it up. “You’ve got nothing to arrest me for. I’ve committed no crime. Even my deal with Brooke-Porter is not directly tied to Stanton Fox. He’s the CEO, but not the sole owner of the company. So either fire your big guns or leave me and my brothers to our day.”
The agent’s face broke into a smile.
What the hell?
“You’re right.” Tollison turned toward Adam at the end of the counter. “He doesn’t scare easy.”
“It’s a family trait.” Adam stood.
Dillion stood as well and leaned forward, chin out. “Nothing we’ve done in these negotiations has been illegal or improper. Our legal team will be all over your ass if you harass Seth or anyone connected to Shazad.”
The room stayed quiet as the agent turned to stare out the window before finally giving his attention to Dillon. “You’re right, but I wanted to see how Seth would react.”
Dillon glared at the agent, jaw clenched.
Adam remained silent, his expression impassive. Seth understood. Tollison’s actions made sense. Let the combatants know you were a big enough bastard that threats like Dillon’s washed off like yesterday’s dust.
Tollison straightened from the counter and faced Seth. “I have no right to ask this of you Seth, but I’m going to anyway—not the least because Adam’s in danger, but also Harper could be, too. You’re in a position to advise me of anything you see or hear from Fox or his daughter that could help my investigation.” He looked over his shoulder to Adam, and back to Seth. “Some small detail may seem nothing more than general information to you but could end up being the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for.”
Seth went still. “You want me to be an informer of some kind?”
“I’m not talking about wearing a wire. More if you hear something useful, we’d appreciate you passing that along.” He studied Seth. “I realize your business interests count here, Seth, and whatever you have planned with Brooke-Porter Digital is separate from Fox. But the fact is, he’s a criminal. And he could be behind your troubles. Assisting my team could help you in the end. Just think it over, that’s all I ask.” He nodded to Adam and walked down the hallway.
Seconds later, the sound of the entry door’s click signaled he’d left.
Adam sat back on the stool. “Dane’s not a bastard. He needed to get a read on you, Seth. Yes, he wants to use you to get possible information, but let’s not forget he’s taken a risk sharing even the broad strokes of his case with us—all of which is to our advantage. Information equals power. Dane took the biggest risk with this meeting. That was because of his and my friendship.”
“I’d heard rumors about Fox, but nothing like what Tollison shared.” Heath moved to the counter and glanced at Seth. “I wish you’d spoken to us first before signing that fucking statement with Fox.”
Seth couldn’t believe his ears. “You just said you didn’t know about Fox’s alleged crimes, so what the hell would you have said?”
A muscle ticked in Heath’s jaw. “I didn’t know about all of them, more rumors, but enough to at least sound a warning. And while Fox’s crimes are alleged, you can bet the DHS didn’t send Tollison on a wild goose chase to occupy his time.”
“Fox is guilty, Seth.” Adam’s deadpan voice cut through the group. “I found transactions he’d carried out, but often they were only shadows, the vapor of banking deposits that were through multiple shell companies, one after the other. Same with companies he’d buy and shed like dirty underwear. There’s also his meetings where he takes two cars and has his driver circle the block in neighborhoods someone of Fox’s wealth would never normally frequent.”
“Jesus.” Dillon tipped his head back and looked toward the ceiling.
“Innocent people leave trails. They don’t have business dealings that dematerialize into nothing. They don’t purposely aim to evade any possible tail. He’s got connections that stretch wide. And here’s the thing: I got the impression he’s not at the top of the food chain. That tells me that whoever he’s in with, it’s fucking big.”
“We can’t take on an organization like that.” Seth focused on Adam and saw the way his brother’s back straightened. “You can’t take that on.”