Page 52 of August

Carrying her tea back to the group, she accepted the chair Toth offered her then spilled what she’d been thinking, landing on Benny last.

Toth snapped his fingers at Taschen. “Get on that name, now.”

Taschen was already on his feet, pulling out his computer at the island. Gigi’s stomach lurched at the call to action. She blinked away the emotions battling inside her and took a sip of the sweet liquid. Oh, god. What if they found Todd? Part of her hoped it could be that easy to end this ordeal—just hand over the man they wanted and let the chips fall where they may.

And yet, the thought of sending a man to his death, likely a gruesome and painful one, made her throat constrict around the hot beverage.

As much as she despised Todd, she hated the idea of anyone being tortured. August’s hand smoothed her hair over her shoulder and then landed on her spine. His touch radiated comfort, and the tension in her muscles eased a fraction.

“Did Benny have any vacation properties?” Rami asked. “Somewhere he could’ve hidden Todd?”

Gigi screwed her lips to the side. “Not that I can think of.”

“He’s dead.” Taschen swiveled to face the group, his eyes hard as slate. The scar on the side of his face seemed to twitch with angst. “Benny’s body was found last month. Washed up on the beach.”

“Fuck,” Toth cursed.

The unease in Gigi’s belly curdled and she set down her drink on the counter, her hand trembling. “Maybe we should focus our efforts else—”

“What about clients?” Ghost asked. His voice low and commanding. He didn’t speak loudly. Instead, he exuded a stealthy control. He was clearly the type of man who didn’t need to raise his voice to get anyone’s attention. People stopped and listened when he spoke.

Gigi rubbed her hands on her jeans. “He had lots of clients,” she said crisply. “He didn’t disclose anything personal to me.” Certainly not any intimate details pertaining to cases or private matters. “Besides, why would his clients matter? I doubt anyone would take the risk of helping him.”

Ghost’s stubble and thick eyebrows were as black as his combed back hair. His fingers slid in and out of a tented position as he kept his gaze riveted on Gigi, making her unable to unglue her stare from his piercing, bottomless orbs.

“They would if they needed him.” Ghost inched forward, his head slightly tilted. “If Todd helped the cartel launder money, stole from them, I guarantee you this wasn’t his first rodeo. Someone doesn’t just take on a cartel client and start laundering without experience. He’s done this before.”

Ghost’s statement injected ice into her bloodstream. She stammered, her gaze swiveling to August for help. Then she looked back to the man who was still staring at her with intensity.

“Easy,” August said, his tone barely hiding a threat, his hand steady on Gigi’s back.

“I’m asking a fucking question,” Ghost said, cutting his gaze to August without moving another muscle in his body.

“And you’re freaking her out.”

“Do you want to find this bastard or not?” Ghost shot back.

Gigi reached for August’s free hand and squeezed his fingers. “It’s fine. I’m not freaked. It’s just—He’s right. I never thought about it before, but Todd had to have known what he was doing. The idea is shocking and... scary.”

Ghost blinked and his expression softened—maybe? At least it changed a bit. Wasn’t quite as ruthless or determined. “You need to think about names you heard repeatedly, dinner events, people you were introduced to. Something that felt off. Gifts Todd was given, trips, shit like that. It’s about pinpointing someone who wanted him to feel valued.”

She gasped and brought her fingers to the base of her neck. “Ohmigod, I think I know someone—” Doubt crept in. She gulped and shook her head. The happy, smiling older couple had seemed normal and genuine...

But, no. Warnings had sounded in her head at the time. Todd had shrugged off her comments, but of course he would’ve if he was doing something dirty.

“Who, babe?”

“The Radcliffes. Isabel and Roy Radcliffe.” She spoke their names on a whisper, partly wanting to deny the possibility, to refuse to believe that people of their stature would be involved in such crimes.

“The senator?” Taschen asked.

Gigi nodded. “I met them more than once at dinner parties. They’d always pull Todd aside, joke and... Well, it seemed like they were a little secretive.”

“That’s not really concrete,” Rami said.

“No.” She took a shuddering breath. “But they took Todd on their private jet often. I thought that was weird. They’d take him for a weekend here and there. I went once.”

“Where?” August’s hand moved to her shoulder, its weight as heavy as stone.

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