LINDEN
“I think my past is coming to bite me in the ass, Linden.” I’d never seen Jasper so serious until today. He ran his fingers through his dark hair again. His eyes were haunted.
My stomach twisted. “What do you mean, Jas?”
“You know my father, what he did, and I was a part of it.”
“You’ve paid for your mistakes. You redeemed yourself back—”
“To the authority. When I thought I would be safe forever under the protection of the FBI, I was wrong. I just found out that someone dangerous has been asking about me lately.”
“I will do everything in my power to protect you. And we’re not alone anymore, Jas.”
“No. I can’t let you do that.” He shook his head violently. “I don’t want you to do that. You’re the closest to a family I have left, Linden.”
“Too bad that’s not your decision to make.”
“I’ve been thinking about this since I found out and decided it last night.”
“What is your plan, Jas?” I crossed my arms over my chest as I sat on my desk. “I can’t let you do that alone. That’s why you have me, Sax, Kye, and these people.”
“I can’t put your lives in danger and jeopardize the integrity of Osmium because of me. I need to do it on my own.”
“What exactly are you gonna do? Fight whoever asked about you alone?” I stopped in front of him, challenging him. I knew what he was capable of even before I took him under my wing. He was a good fighter, a good leader, a little bit violent, but that was how he was respected and survived in the underworld because he knew how life there worked. “That’s not how it works around here. You know that, Jas.”
“I know. I’m going away. You know my identity and where to find me. I have my passports, and hopefully, I can find intel on my own.”
“What about your sister?”
“I told Sadie I was going somewhere and would contact her soon. Please look after her. I know Cenric can protect her, but I wanna make sure you have her back.”
“Please, don’t do this?” I shook my head. I learned to care for him, to treat him like my brother. He never let me down over the years since we started the Firm together. He had my back and did something great for the company, friends, and especially my father.
“You have to let me do this. Don’t make it hard for me, Linden, please?” He drew a deep breath when his eyes became red.
I stood up and pulled him into a hug when I couldn’t take it any longer. “Come back home. Alive. Promise you will contact me when you’re safe or in danger.”
“I promise. And thank you for everything, Linden.” He clapped my back.
“This is not goodbye, asshole.” I patted his back as well before I let him go.
He smiled sadly. “Don’t let Estelle go. Fight for her. She’s worth it. Trust me.”
“I’ll make sure to send you my wedding invitation.”
He beamed. “I’ll have my tux ready.”
“Take care out there, Greer.”
***
I was staring at the dark sky, still couldn’t accept that Jasper was somewhere looking for the truth. I couldn’t and wouldn’t stop him because he needed that for himself. It is still sad, though, and I couldn’t stop worrying about his safety even if he knew what he was doing.
“How many stars you count so far?”
I chuckled. “How did you find me?”
“You? Out of my sight?” Moses took the seat next to me at the dock. “Rome has no plan to sell this place.” He was referring to the lake house.
“I didn’t ask.”
“This would be a good vacation house with a good renovation.”
“You’re rich. Give him an offer.”
“You are rich. Buy this. It’s good for you and Estelle.”
“I love your optimism, boss. But—”
“She will marry you, son. Of course, you have to do something because a woman like Estelle will get tired of waiting for you to make a bold move.”
“I wish you were right.” I drew a deep breath. It was so fresh and calm here. “Why are you here?”
“You should be grateful I am wasting my time on you.”
I was quick to sit straight and turned to him. “You know I am, old man. You have no idea. I may be terrible at showing how much you all mean to me and how I appreciate what you’ve done for me, my family, and The Firm but deep inside, I couldn’t contain my happiness and how grateful I am to have someone, and people like you guys.”
“You are very dramatic today. What’s going on?”
“Earlier today, I realized how important someone was the moment he walked away from me. I don’t usually say this, and I am not the kind of person who voices out my feelings, and I didn’t say how I appreciate him until this morning.”
“Jasper will be fine.”
I shook my head in amusement. “I won’t even waste my breath asking you how you know.”
“Then don’t.” He breathed deeply. “Do you like this lake?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure there are a lot of charities where you can donate your money instead of buying this from Rome.”
“I didn’t say I will buy this for you.”
“You’re so generous, boss. What you are doing for me is beyond enough.”
“Whatever you say.” He opened the ice box and grabbed a beer for himself.
I didn’t bother offering him because we didn’t do that anymore. We took what we needed as long as for something good and ate what was available there with gratitude.
“You didn’t come here to drink that cheap beer. Just say it.”
“The boards seemed convinced if Weston and Gustav wouldn’t find a counteroffer.”
I stared at him in disbelief for a moment as my hope rose, but he ignored my reaction. He was just looking at the moon’s reflection on the water.
“You fix this dock, clean the lake. Then you can put a big table under that tree. Ask someone to renovate, especially the second floor. Wood paneling would fit your personality. Estelle likes binge-watching romance movies on the couch. You need a good fireplace during winter in the living room.”
“Boss, how did you convince him?”
“I don’t waste time. I work for it. I’m not saying you’re wasting your time while you were with Estelle, but you won’t be able to spend more time if you don’t move fast and do something.”
“I thought we would do your plans together. I’m ashamed to ask you if you’re free because you’re a busy man.”
He bore his gaze at me. “Jesus Christ, Gabe. You’re like my son. Why are you even ashamed if you want something? And I will always have time for you.”
“I’m sorry.” I looked down, embarrassed.
“I can’t ever repay you for having my son’s back, but I am not doing this for that. If I can do something for the people, I care about, why not. Our plan is in motion. Tomorrow at this time, Star LLC’s stock price will drop in the stock market.”
“You convinced the major shareholders to sell? Why?”
“Not sell, but you will see. It’s just false information to rattle the two sharks. And I have a counteroffer. The minor stockholders will sell Star LLC stocks.”
“That’s the time Striker and I will come.”
“Yes, and someone like Gustav and Weston’s financial advisors will advise them for an emergency board meeting, questioning her credibility, voting to replace their chairman. Before that happens, you convince Estelle to stay grounded.”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t want your gratitude. I want you to convince Estelle to stay with you because that’s when she will be vulnerable to her father and Weston. After all, we’re talking of hundreds of million-dollar losses, Gabe. And if Weston thinks, there’s no future in Star, he will sell his share, and little Weston will lose his right to take over Star LLC and blame Estelle.”
“That’s what I’ve been thinking. I’m afraid they will do something to hurt Estelle.”
“Before your relationship with her comes between them, I suggest you make it public after the board meeting. I hope those greedy bastards will do their part.”
“How did you convince them?”
“They can’t say no to Moses Braddson of Hover,” he said proudly with a smirk.
I smiled. “Proven.”
“Now, this house.” Jesus. He wouldn’t let this one go tonight.
“Okay. Fine.”
“Good because it would be shamed to take back my word.”
“What do you mean?” I asked as he stood up and left me.
“You will receive a call from Rome tomorrow, and Mrs. Langston is nothing but happy for you to be the new owner of this house.”
Jesus Christ.