Page 69 of Quiet Protector
I’m reminded of Leo’s mindreading powers when he says, “I’m not discrediting him. I’m just stunned. That man was head over heels in love with you. I didn’t think he’d let you go for anything or anyone.”
His words are like a knife to the chest, but I pull through his maiming—regretfully. “I know.” I restack the files in my briefcase like they fell as well as Leo’s words dropped my heart from my chest. “But sometimes that isn’t enough.”
My failed attempt to seduce Brandon is proof of this.
Once I have the folders in order as they were before I started fussing, I ask, “Is that all? I’ve got a ton of backdated work to catch up on.”
“Just one last thing.” He rounds the desk to join me on the other side. “He also told me you repaid the 1.5 million-dollar ransom he paid Rimi Castro.”
Lying will never be my forte, but I give it a whirl. “It was returned from evidence—”
My eyes snap up to Leo’s when he interrupts, “The sequence numbers didn’t match. They weren’t close to the ones they recorded before the drop.”
“They?” I interrogate, unsure about the possessiveness in his reply.
A dash of hesitation flares through his eyes when he says, “The CIA coordinated the drop with Julian. That’s why he couldn’t accompany you to the fundraising gala straight away. He was waiting for confirmation the drop had taken place, and that the sting it instigated went ahead.”
My heart drops from my stomach to my shoes when all the evidence slots into place. I kissed Brandon while Julian was paying an arm and a leg to keep me safe.
My God, could I be any worse of a person?
Sickened at the evil woman I’ve become, I confess my sins. “The money didn’t come from the sting. It was given to me by Henry Gottle.”
Leo tries to tuck away the shock my confession slapped him with, but he isn’t quite quick enough for me to miss it. “Why would Henry Gottle give you 1.5 million dollars?”
“He gave me 2.4 million dollars. I figured it would look a little suspicious if Julian received back more than he had put in, so I removed nine hundred thousand from the suitcase before handing it to Fetu.” Thinking back, it was pretty reckless of me to entrust so much money to a no-longer employed security detail, but Fetu hasn’t given me any reason to distrust him, so I don’t. “I donated the remaining nine hundred thousand to numerous charity organizations.”
“Please tell me you were given a receipt for each donation?” When I shake my head, Leo curses under his breath. “You do realize you could be prosecuted for bribery?”
“I didn’t take any of the money for myself. Furthermore, I would have given it back to Henry, but he refused to take it.”
Leo’s words fan my cheeks with coffee-scented air when he shouts, “So you not only accepted over two million dollars from a mafia kingpin, you visited him as well?”
I forcefully swallow, my mouth suddenly dry. “My visit wasn’t witnessed.”
“Of course it was, Melody. Henry has more law enforcement personnel on him than any other man in the country.” As he rakes his fingers through his dark locks, his eyes lift to the ceiling. He thought we were going to have a simple conversation about me coming into a small windfall. He had no inkling how murky the waters I’ve been swimming in are.
After several deep breaths, Leo’s head drops back into place. “Okay, first things first, was the money for anything illegal?”
I shake my head.
“Do you believe it has anything to do with your case?” His tone is lower this time around, more compassionate.
“No. Henry isn’t aware of what happened.” I stop talking before I add,Madden would be dead if he did.
I’ve mused over that outcome multiple times the past two weeks, and more times than not, I’ve been in favor of it. The only reason I haven’t taken the easy way out is because Grayson was right when he stopped Brandon from killing Madden. Mrs. McGee has been through enough. She doesn’t deserve more pain.
“Then why did he give you so much money, Melody?”
Needing to be honest, I say, “He’s my uncle.”
Leo’s head slants to the side as his brow cocks. “Henry Gottle is your uncle?”
It still sounds shocking to my ears. “Uh-huh. He found out I was selling the ranch, didn’t want it sold, so he gave me the funds to maintain its upkeep.”
“And that’s it? That’s all that happened.” When I hesitate, Leo grunts my name in a growly groan.
“There was an altercation at the ranch. BJ…” I stop before correcting, “Brandon fired at one of his goons.”
