Page 92 of Dare to Love Again

“I don’t see how, either. He looked crazed today,” Esme declared, a tremor passing through her as she recalled his cold eyes bright with madness. “I’m surprised he held it together until now.”

“We didn’t find any mental health history while we were searching today,” Eric explained. “Carlos did well for himself, initially. He went to college, got out of the neighborhood, then he made some bad investments. His wife left him, and his child support payments for four kids were more than he wanted to pay. He reverted to the family business, recruited Martin as his lieutenant who was already dealing, but on a limited scale. Seems Carlos majored in supply chain management, and it paid off. Until Martin got cocky, sloppy, and was taken down. Left on his own, without his crew to protect him and Martin to hide behind, Carlos’ ass was swinging in the wind for weeks, and it was just a matter of time before he snapped.”

“Depression left untreated could explain a psychotic break,” Val observed. “And suicide is often the result.”

Eric nodded but offered another scenario. “Or he was scared shitless, facing a long stint in LA County for a host of drug-related crimes. Add to that the murder of Gerald Reinhart in cold blood in front of a witness, who slipped through his fingers. He was cornered and offed himself in his aunt’s house rather than do the time and face hisLa Emebrethren.”

Thomas grimaced in distaste. “Couldn’t take it like a man, because he wasn’t much of one.”

She shivered at the graphic and violent nature of the conversation. Everything was still fresh, and it was like rubbing salt in a wound.

“Esme, baby,” Finn repeated softly. “Come here.”

She’d heard him the previous times but was distracted by the story. Now, she looked at him and asked her own question, one no one had answered. “How did Gerald get mixed up with him?”

He exhaled heavily and moved toward her instead, stopping at the end of the small seating area where she spent most of her day while on lockdown.

“Remember me telling you about the Rossi client linked to Lopez?”

She nodded.

“They shared an attorney who was implicated. When the drug deals, dirty money, and cover-ups came to light, his license was suspended, and the family had to go shopping for a new fixer. In walks Gerald Reinhart. In financial straits, after his partner retired and billable hours declined, and with two alimony payments to make after a second divorce, he was looking for easy money, fast.”

“But we were doing free business, mostly pro bono work.”

“And on retainer for the Brotherhood, which paid the bills. Unfortunately, this meant when they said jump, he had to, no questions asked.”

“You mean I’ve been making a living off of drug money?” Her shiver increased to a full-body shudder. “That’s makes me feel dirty.”

“Baby, you didn’t know.”

“No, but I suspected he was up to something. I should have told someone sooner and reported those account numbers I found.”

“You did, Esme, to me. I had our guys looking into it, not because of any link I suspected to Carlos but because your boss sounded like an asshole and I wanted to make sure you were safe. The money trail always trips them up. In the weeks since Lopez’s arrest, Carlos was lying low while Gerald funneled his dirty money into offshore accounts. Those weren’t payments on accounts you found, Esme, but deposits in banks he could easily access when he fled to South America.”

“Gerald mentioned Buenos Aires.”

“Yeah, we found his passport. He planned to go, too. If you hadn’t given me those leads when you did,mo chuisle, we’d have had a much harder time piecing it all together. You helped us close in on him and end it tonight.”

“It’s over?”

“Yes, lass. But now I have a question for you.”

She looked at him, waiting.

“You were hysterical after Gerald. When I left, you were sedated. You’re calmer now but visibly shaking. This day has been traumatic, and this conversation can’t have been easy. I’ve asked you no less than four times to come to me. Why are you so far away rather than here in my arms?”

At last, she took a step forward then another, stopping out of reach. Hesitant, and not sure why.

“I thought we decided I was going to live to be ninety-seven,a stór.”

She nodded, his image becoming watery through her tears. “Gerald wasn’t all bad,” she blurted out. “I mean, he was a bad husband, and couldn’t keep it in his pants, and he got mixed up with Carlos, but in the end, though scared out of his mind, he stood up to him, and tried to protect me. What he did helped me get away. He saved my life.”

“I suppose that’s part of your curse, too, isn’t it, little subbie? Living to see another day?”

Finn’s head swiveled, and he frowned at Thomas. “What about a curse?”

“Have her explain it to you, Finnegan. After you beat her ass for being stubborn, then fuck her until she can’t breathe, to prove how lucky she is.”

---