Dirty Thief

“She claims it was an accident,” I say, watching my brother from where I sit at the large table. “Either way, she wants to give it to the victims. The other girls he sexually assaulted.”

My younger brother’s jaw moves, and I see the anger on his face. It’s similar to the anger I felt when Ava first trusted me with this information. Only, Ava is my wife, and Dwayne Vega is soon to be a dead man.

Freddie’s eyes fly to me. “You never told us she was assaulted.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, glancing down. “I wasn’t sure Ava wanted anyone knowing. I’m still not sure she does, but the situation is more critical. He contacted her.”

“What?” Cal snaps. “How?”

Pressing my lips together, I debate whether to proceed with caution or put all the cards on the table. I decide to throw caution to the wind. They need to know how dangerous this has become.

“He emailed a special Gmail account she created to help find homes for the orphans. Apparently, the bastard heard about it and used it to get to her.”

Freddie’s fingers fly over the keys, and I know he’s hacking into the account. Soon he’s reading aloud. “He said she had to meet him, or he would hurt someone she loved.”

It’s my turn to flash with anger. “That won’t be happening.”

“Looks like it already did,” he says quietly. “This message was sent two days ago. Didn’t she slip away from Hajib yesterday?”

I feel my fists closing. I hate being mad at Ava, but dammit. How can I protect her if she keeps secrets? “Monitor that account, Freddie. If anything new comes through, I want to know about it.”

“Yes, sir,” he says.

“The moment it happens,” I add.

“Of course.”

Cal is watching me, and I know he senses this is news to me. “Zelda is with her. She won’t let Ava slip away again.”

“If she doesn’t slip away with her.”

He shakes his head. “I’ll talk to her. After her last ordeal, Zee’s been a lot more cooperative when it comes to her safety. Of course, Belle helps with that as well.”

“I will not have anything happening to Ava.” I don’t add the part about us trying to have our own little heir.

Cal claps his hands and pulls out a chair. “So where do we start?”

André takes the lead. “I’ve reviewed the research his majesty has done on the legalities of what’s happening. Since Vega is an American citizen, we want to be respectful of their laws.”

“Up to a point,” I add. “I won’t respect their laws over Ava’s safety.”

“He’s not staying in Monagasco,” the guard continues. “He’s actually at Les Plages.”

“Still,” Cal cuts in. “It’s close enough.”

As much as I hate to say it, I repeat the plan André and I’ve agreed to try first. “I’m going to contact him. I’ll propose a time for us to meet and offer to pay him off.”

My brother leans back in his chair. Hazel eyes study me, and I feel like I can read his mind. He knows me too well. “You want to kill him. I should go with you.”

Studying the ancient wood table in front of me, I speak the unsatisfactory words aloud. “I’m the king, the leader of Monagasco. If this lowlife will agree to go and leave her alone, I have to accept that solution.”

Cal’s eyes never leave my face. I hold my expression steady. “I’m still going with you,” he says. “When are we meeting?”

“Freddie located a telephone number for him, but at this point, he hasn’t responded to the message.”

Freddie jumps in. “Now that I have this email address, I will send the message again and see if he replies.”

“So it sounds like we’re in a holding pattern.”