163

BRANDON

I tread back and forth in my living room, listening to Cary and Stan’s report about their investigation. Oliver and Cassius are already speaking with the police while everyone is waiting for the news. I needed Arianna and Jason’s help, but the Valentine siblings sent their mother and kids home.

“Yep, if my speculations are correct, he’s taking her to Kansas—to Wichita.”

“Back to Kansas?” I halt when I hear Cary’s conclusion. “Are you sure?”

“I am.” He stares into my eyes with great seriousness.

According to their research, the piece of shit was born in Wichita. He is Donovan Mallory’s illegitimate child with his mistress, Annalise Miller, who died from suicide many years ago. Drake Mallory was a victim of child abuse and was rehabbed because of his traumatizing childhood events. He had a history of corneal transplant—twice.

Am I hearing a story about the most unfortunate Annalise Miller?

But it doesn’t justify his actions and sins. He hurt Alayna when she was younger—passing on his disastrous fate to her.

“We’re not even sure he’s our suspect. If proven wrong, this is a serious accusation. He’s still the mayor of this city,” Stan inserts.

“He’s the only one I suspect, Stan.” I cross my arms. “He’s been stalking her around, appearing like a mushroom everywhere Alayna turns. We have witnesses—the gallery’s owner, John, her friends from the restaurant. But why would he take her to Wichita?”

“To flee, maybe? Because that isn’t it. Hold on.”

To flee? “What do you mean?”

Stan tosses another black folder on the center table and opens it. “He’s been sabotaging his father’s deeds in the last couple of years under a firm named Mariel International owned by a Mariel Miller, the foundation founded in Wichita,” Stan continues. “Mariel is the name of his sister. She is Annalise Miller’s first child from her legal husband.”

I snatch the folder and read the contents.

There are numbers—funds, actually. Mayor Mallory has been transferring massive amounts to Mariel International’s account. The firm is an organization that supports children with eye disease and orphans. I turn the pages and find that Mariel International handles all the foundations under Senator Mallory’s care.

I’m impressed. Cary and Stan found out all about this in just two days?

“Senator Mallory needs these foundations for his publicity,” Cary explains. “It’s necessary to him because it’s his advocacy as a politician and nothing more. Mariel International is sabotaging the senator’s work by stealing all these foundations, tripling their fund donations—millions of dollars and updated facilities and education assistance. These small foundations must accept MI as their sole benefactor, completely leaving Donovan out of his own projects.”

“Why would he do this to his own father?” I ask. “Is he using his own money?”

“His mother left him quite a fortune.” Stan shrugs. “And maybe because he used to abuse him?”

“To this extent? No.” I shake my head. “There’s something more.”

“Yes, because perhaps he’s telling the truth when he told your fiancée that the senator murdered Richard Hart—given the current news about Donovan today,” Cary presses.

“Wait.” I hold up a finger. “That still isn’t proven. That fucker could be lying.”

“Or not.” Stan frowns. “Aren’t you following the news?”

“What news?”

Stan picks up his phone and types on the screen, then shows it to me.

CHILD TRAFFICKING AND SENATOR DONOVAN MALLORY SCANDAL

SENATOR MALLORY: “THIS IS AN ENEMY’S WORK. I LOVE CHILDREN!”

SENATOR MALLORY DENIED ALL ACCUSATIONS REGARDING CHILD TRAFFICKING

INSIDER’S REPORT: SENATOR DONOVAN MALLORY IS BEING ACCUSED OF MURDER?

“That has been going on for a week now, Brandon,” Cary informs. “It must be his son’s doing, so he’s on the run. But you know we’ve always analyzed a situation, right, Brandon?” he convinces.

I shut the folder. I have decided. “We need to move.”

“To where?” the twins ask simultaneously.

“I’m not wasting my time here. We’re going to Wichita. Now.”

***

We are a day late. It’s been twenty-four hours since Alayna’s gone, and whatever that fucker is planning to do with her, he probably thinks he’s won this fight. But he’s wrong. I’m coming to get my fiancée back.

Stan, Jason, and Oliver decide to go with me to Wichita while Cassius and Cary stay with the police in the states to visit the senator. It isn’t a clean move, but it’s brilliant.

If Drake fucking Mallory is telling the truth about the senator, we will send them both to jail, but if that fucker is lying, his father has to know he kidnapped Alayna. It isn’t my business to meddle in their family issues, but he has my fiancée. An insider at the airport has already confirmed he fled to Wichita last night.

“I know where we can find Drake. He told me before. And this is my parents’ hometown,” Jason says as soon as we land.

“Then we’re not losing any more time.”

We head straight out of Wichita airport, where a private car and a convoy wait for our arrival.

“He has two properties here, and I know where to find them: in S Broadway and West Rio Vista. I didn’t know he had a sister until today, but he often went home to Rio Vista. It’s his mother’s home,” Jason explains, and if there’s anyone among us who knows that fucker, it’s the Wolf. I heard they were once friends.

I halt before getting into the car. “Then we split. Stan and Oliver will go to Broadway, and Jason will take me to Rio Vista,” I instruct.

“Brandon.” Oliver extends his hand to me. “Be careful.”

I grasp his palm. “I am.”

Stan pats my shoulder. “Let’s get that son of a bitch.”

Stan and Ollie get the other car, taking two wolves, while Jason and I head opposite.