Page 75 of Pirates in Calusa Cove

“The phone number,” Fenton said softly. “After I learned about the fire, I found the message from the man who called me, and I searched the number. I couldn’t believe it, but it was from someone I knew. Someone I had taken my boat to for service a few years ago. It got me thinking about Mallary and her past. How the guy I always used for fishing charters—Riggs—was connected to Eddy, the service guy, and he was always a bit shady. It’s why her dad fired him. He thought he was using his charter boats for his own side gigs—like pirating.”

“Still doesn’t tell us how you knew she’d be here,” Keaton said.

“Because Mallary told me to come here. She said she could see out the window, and she knew the marina,” Fenton shouted. “They have Mallary. Maybe they haveTrinity, too. You have to do something. We can’t stand back here and do nothing.”

“We need more,” Dawson said. “This isn’t adding up.”

“After you visited me this morning, I called the number that Mallary first reached out on. She answered. She was so scared. I told her I wanted to help, and she said the only way I could help was if I had the jewels. She asked me if I knew where they were. I told her I suspected Keaton had them and that I would get them. I would do anything to make sure she was safe. I might not love the woman, but I don’t want anything bad to happen to her.”

“So, you thought you’d come here, alone, and save her?” Dawson asked.

“Okay, so not my brightest move, but I didn’t exactly expect a tattooed man with a machine gun.” Fenton slumped his shoulders. “What would you have done in my shoes?”

“Called for backup, for starters,” Keaton mumbled. “And I’m still struggling with your story.”

“It’s not a story, man. I’m telling you the truth. Mallary?—”

“Is not who she seems.” Chloe came around the corner. “Earlier, we saw Mallary with a weapon.”

“What? You didn’t tell me that. You're lying.” Fenton stared at Chloe. “That can’t be. She’s being held against her will. They kidnapped her for the jewels from theFlying Victoria. They tried to kill Trinity…” Fenton let his words trail off. His eyes grew wide. His face turned bright red. “No. No. That can’t be right. Are you suggesting that Mallary has been behind all of this? Why?”

“You’re going to stand there and pretend you weren’t in on it with her?” Keaton took a step closer.

“Me? Why the hell would I blow up my life over jewels from a stupid sunken ship? Why on earth would I go along with kidnapping? That’s crazy.” Fenton stared at Keaton.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Keaton said. “Maybe because Trinity rejected you, and you wanted revenge?”

“That makes no sense.” Fenton shook his head. “I love Trinity. I was doing whatever I could to win her back.” He held up a shaky hand. “That certainly doesn’t include hurting her friend or stealing jewels. How would that help me get her back or extract this so-called revenge? If I wanted that, I would’ve done something to you, and no, I didn’t set fire to your home because she was in… Oh my God,” Fenton said softly. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.” He covered his eyes with his hands.

“See what?” Dawson asked calmly.

“Mallary and her games. I’m so stupid.” He shook his head and dropped his hands to his sides. “She was always playing stupid games, like agreeing to be the other woman when I was dating Trinity. Or how she’d tell me that she understood how important money was to me, and that’s why Trinity was more important when that wasn’t the truth at all.”

“But you did say you wanted Trinity for her father’s money,” Keaton said.

“That was taken out of context.” Fenton glared. “Iwill not apologize for my success in the business or wanting to go as high as possible. But that’s not why I was with Trinity, and I have always regretted saying those words and being with Mallary while I was with Trinity. Two things I can’t apologize enough for.” He shifted his gaze toward the water. “If Mallary is behind all this, and she does have Trinity, then she’s a woman who no longer has anything to lose.”

“Why do you say that?” Dawson asked.

“Because Mallary has always wanted what Trinity has, and that’s money and the respect of her family. If it’s the jewels she’s after for money, she won’t have that. And her father hasn’t appreciated the way Mallary has lived her life. My God, I’ve been such a fool.” Fenton stuck his hands in his pockets. “I know saying sorry isn’t enough, but I truly am. What can I do to help?”

“Stay out of our way,” Dawson said. “And I’ll need a full statement when this is over.”

“I’ll do anything.” Fenton nodded, staring at Keaton. “I hope you’ll be able to forgive me.”

All the air in Keaton’s lungs flew out like a flock of birds taking flight. He hated this man. Despised him. But if everything he said was true, the only thing this dude was guilty of was being an asshole—and stupid—and every man was guilty of that at least once in his life.

But forgiveness, in this case, wouldn’t come easily to Keaton. “If anything bad happens to Trinity, I will personally hold you responsible.”

“I suppose I’d feel the same way if I were you,” Fenton mumbled, nodding like a freaking bobblehead.

“I hate to break up this party,” Chloe said. “But weneed a plan, and we need to act.” She glanced at her watch. “The Coast Guard is in place, and honestly, there are way too many civilians in this marina to do this here.”

“Bradley has secured two speedboats.” Dawson jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Me, Keaton, and Fletcher on one. Chloe, Bradley, and Hayes on the other.” He pointed his finger at Fenton. “You are to stay right here. Do not move. If you signal them or do anything to make me regret not slapping handcuffs on you, so help me God, you will regret ever meeting me.”

Fenton held up his hands. “I won’t. I promise.”

“You better not.” Keaton inched forward. “Because if you do, it’s not Dawson you need to worry about.” With that, he turned on his heel but paused without taking a step and glanced back. “Hang on.”

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