1
Gareth Lawson looked at the file. “Are you serious? That’s . . .” He couldn’t even bring himself to verbalize what he was reading. It stirred something in him that, for the first time in his life, he actually could kill.
“This is not even all of it. We could keep digging, but at this point, I wasn’t sure you wanted to know. Hell, if this was my family, I know I wouldn’t.”
“That’s you,” Gareth responded, not lifting his eyes from the paper. “What will it cost me to have you dig deeper, to get everything?”
Roy shook his head. “I hate to break it to you, Gareth. I like working for you and everything, but this is the Hendersons we’re talking about. I pushed my luck even getting this. The repercussions could be . . . well . . . really fucking bad. I’m sure this is something they would be willing to do anything to keep from getting out.”
He could see why. Being connected to a human trafficking ring would definitely put a nail in the coffin. Gareth would normally let it go, but what Roy didn’t know, was why that was important. If the Hendersons weren’t related to the Lawsons, then fuck it, let them deal with the mess they made for themselves. But there was no way Gareth would allow this type of shit to attach itself to the Lawson name. They might not be perfect, hell, not even close, but this was beyond anything even his family would’ve done. At least I hope so. One sad fact he’d learned over the past year: the Lawson legacy wasn’t everything they thought it had been.
Gareth pulled out his checkbook and paid Roy the agreed amount. He knew pushing Roy wasn’t going to do any good. He saw the . . . fear maybe . . . in his eyes. Roy might have come highly recommended for fact-finding, but he had no balls. Gareth wouldn’t have backed down from the Hendersons, not from anyone actually. And that’s why sometimes you’ve got to do it yourself.
He handed Roy the check and stated firmly, “As per the terms, this information remains confidential, understood?” He didn’t believe Roy would run his mouth but wanted to give him a reminder anyway.
“Trust me; I am beginning to wish I never took this job in the first place.” He got up and, before leaving Gareth’s office, turned back and said, “I hope you’re not foolish enough to continue with this. I have a feeling if you do, the cost will be something you can’t cover, even with a blank check.”
Gareth was beginning to wonder if Roy actually had more than he’d shared. Something had him scared. The Hendersons weren’t cold-blooded killers, yet Roy was acting as though they could be. Digging was exactly what Gareth planned to do. There was something about Tabiq no one wanted to talk about. The Hendersons were investing a shitload of money into that country. They said it was to make amends for something their father James had done. The question remained: how involved was James in what had taken place? Was he just an investor? That was bad enough, but his gut said it went deeper.
Even though Roy never mentioned Gareth’s great-granddad, he figured it was only an oversight.
Brushing the file to one side, Gareth growled, “This would be a lot fucking easier if Brice would’ve told us.” He had two choices: be more persistent with Brice and demand that he tells him everything or continue on his own. Until Brice figures out I’m not going away so easily.
Gareth knew his kid brother, Dylan, would’ve pushed too, but Dylan was like a sledge hammer. He knew Dylan could’ve gotten it done, but the clean-up was another story. This wasn’t like going after Maxwell Grayson. The skeletons in the Henderson closet were tied to the Lawsons. And this wasn’t about taking the Hendersons down either. Knowledge was power, and Gareth wasn’t about to leave his family powerless.
There were a few positive things going on that provided the family some much needed distraction right now. Little Penelope seemed to have everyone’s attention, and if they weren’t talking about her, they were talking about Dylan’s child, the one on the way.
Gareth still couldn’t believe Dylan was going to be a father. Hell, he thought for sure Dylan and he would be the last holdouts. The change happened so fast that Gareth never saw it coming. Their wedding was taking place in a few weeks and Gareth was avoiding anything to do with it. Even though Dylan said it was going to be a small low-key event, Gareth knew better. No way was Sofia’s mother going to sit back and let that fly. So he shut his mouth and waited for the bomb to drop. Holding back his laughter when it did would be difficult.
They were all close, but he and Dylan especially so. Maybe it was because they were so similar, or at least they used to be. Dylan now went home after work for a home-cooked meal while Gareth went out for a drink alone. At least it started that way, but now there was always some woman looking for him to buy her a drink. He looked up at the clock and it wasn’t even noon. He had quit working that early before, but he needed answers more than a drink right now.
Since he wasn’t about to include any of his family in this matter, he needed to make it appear that everything was normal. They wouldn’t be shocked to learn he was taking a week or two off without notice. Gareth had built a reputation as a playboy, one he lived up to quit nicely. His brothers might not like it and grumble, but no one would care if he was gone, as long as he was back for the wedding. If his research was going to take more than a few weeks, they all had a bigger problem than he suspected.
He picked up his phone and knew who to call: Seth. That was the one person who would give him the least amount of grief. Seth wasn’t much of a talker; he’d get to the point and keep moving. He was one of those guys who enjoyed his office job. Seth could spend hours reviewing a contract, and if anyone could find the minutest discrepancy, it was him.
If it wasn’t for the fact Seth would freak the fuck out, Gareth would’ve loved to utilize his skills right now. But Seth would never agree to suck information from the rest of the family. So he was on his own. It probably was better that way. If anything went wrong, he was prepared to take the blame.
Good thing, because I’m the one doing it.
“Gareth, if you’re calling me for an early lunch, you know my answer,” Seth stated. “I’m in the middle of—”
“Yeah I know. A contract.” What else is new? “That’s not why I’m calling. I’m heading out of town for a few days, maybe more. Yeah, probably more. You know how it is.”
“For some of us, yes I do. And you’re calling me instead of Charles because . . .”
“He’s probably tied up.” And will ask too many questions.
“I’m glad you feel as though my time isn’t as valuable. But don’t worry, I’ll pass along the message like usual,” Seth said sarcastically.
That was usually when Gareth would come back with some snappy remark, but he didn’t want to prolong the call any longer than necessary. “Thanks, Seth. And we’ll do that lunch when I get back.”
Seth grumbled, “I won’t bother telling you to have a good time. One of these ladies will trip you up and you’ll find yourself settled down, just like Charles and Dylan.”
Gareth laughed. “I’m not sure you’re reading a contract. It sounds more like a comic book. Mark my words, Seth, this guy isn’t falling for any batting eyelashes or sweet voices.”
“I wish I was a betting man. I’d gladly take your money,” Seth said. “Now if you don’t mind, I do have work to do.”
Seth ended the call, and Gareth had to admit Lawson Steel was lucky to have him. That kind of dedication was exactly what was needed to drive the company forward. Of course, what they didn’t seem to understand was it also took someone like Gareth to ensure nothing from their past jumped out and bit them in the ass.