Beautifully Brutal (Southern Boy Mafia #1) (26 page)

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Let her live … doesn’t seem fair.

Two days later

Thursday

Courtney entered the small, dark room when Leyton opened the door for her, stepping inside and then nodding for him to close it behind her.

“Where’s Max?”

Courtney glared at the bitch handcuffed to the bed of the safe house where they’d stashed her while they waited for Max to wake up, to tell them what to do with her. Not that she didn’t have her own ideas about what to do with Angelica, but Leyton had convinced her that Max deserved to make that decision.

Tamping down the rage that consumed her just by looking at Angelica, Courtney said, “Still in the hospital. Still unconscious, thanks to you.”

“Is he gonna…?”

“Is he gonna
what
, Angelica? Live? Die? Which would you prefer?” Courtney spat, fury consuming her once again.

“It shouldn’t have happened,” Angelica said, looking away from Courtney.

“A little late to feel remorse, don’t you think?”

“I loved him,” Angelica barked, her head snapping back around, her blue eyes slamming into Courtney’s.

“Is that right? Sorry, I forgot that one way to show that is to
shoot the man in the fucking head
!” she yelled, hating that Angelica had the ability to make her so angry.

Then again, she’d been in a constant state of rage ever since her father had told her about what he’d done. She couldn’t help but think that if he’d have minded his own business, stayed out of the Adorites’ business, they wouldn’t be here. Max probably wouldn’t be in a coma and … and Courtney wouldn’t be staring at the woman responsible for putting him there, ready to strangle her with her bare hands.

“When are you gonna let me go?” Angelica asked.

“Who says I am?” she questioned, moving to the window and pulling the curtains back and peering outside.

“If you were gonna kill me, you’d have done it by now,” Angelica said with a heavy sigh.

“True,” Courtney stated, dropping the curtain and moving toward Angelica. “I’ll be meetin’ with your grandfather. Once he hands over the land and the deal is done, I’ll give you back.”

Angelica’s eyes widened.

“And yes, you’ll spend the rest of your life watchin’ your back, never knowin’ if you’ll be eating a bullet when you come out of the store, or if someone’ll be waiting to pull every single one of your fingernails off before slicing you into little pieces. You’ll never feel safe again, and I’ll make damn sure of that.”

The two of them stared at one another momentarily, the hatred they felt for one another palpable in the small room.

“You only
think
he loves you,” Angelica snarled. “But if that were the case, why did he spend night after night fucking me when you were gone? Explain that one.”

Without thinking, Courtney pulled her gun from the holster on her hip, released the safety, and pressed it against Angelica’s forehead, smiling when Angelica’s smug expression was replaced with sheer terror.

“He’s a man,” Courtney said through gritted teeth. “They sometimes make rash decisions. But tell me this, when he was fucking you, did he look you in the eye? Or did he take you from behind? Did you ever wonder if he was pretending you were me? Huh?
Explain that one
.” Courtney pushed the gun against Angelica’s face.

She received all the answers she needed when Angelica looked away. The mere thought of Max with another woman made her want to pull the trigger, to send Angelica to hell, where she belonged, but she managed to refrain.

Barely.

“That’s what I thought.” Holstering her weapon, Courtney headed for the door. “I’ll make sure your grandfather knows you’re healin’ nicely,” she said as she opened the door.

Stepping into the hall, Courtney turned to look back at the woman. “Oh, and one more thing … I might be showin’ you some mercy by lettin’ you go, but just remember, you made your own bed. And yes, I know about Marcus Alvarez. I’m thinkin’ it might be time to have a little chat with him.”

Leaving her to chew on that, Courtney slammed the door harder than she had intended and met Leyton in the hallway.

“I need Artemis’s phone number,” she told him. “I’m ready to set up a meeting. We’ll get him to release the land to Max and let her go. It’s the only deal he’ll get. No money will exchange hands. I don’t think she’ll be causin’ any more problems for him in the future.”

Leyton pulled her up short, turning her to face him.

“You don’t have to do this,” he told her.

“Yes, I do,” she assured him, meeting his gaze head on. “I love him, Leyton. He will come back to me, and I will never let him go again. Until then, I’ll be handlin’ his affairs, keepin’ things runnin’ until he can.”

“And your father? The assignment?”

“It’s over,” she told him quickly. “Turns out, there never was a client.”

Leyton’s expression reflected his curiosity. Courtney couldn’t tell him the details, not until she was able to tell Max. As much as Max trusted Leyton, Courtney knew better than to go behind his back. If she was going to commit herself to him, she had to do it right. It wouldn’t be easy to earn Max’s trust, considering who she was and all that they’d been through.

Good thing Courtney was used to working for what she wanted most.

And she’d never wanted anything or anyone as much as she wanted Max. Enough that she was willing to cross that line, the one she’d never be able to cross back over once both feet were firmly in place.

“I’ll set up the meeting,” Leyton told her, opening the front door, where two armed men were waiting for them.

“I need to talk to Ashlynn,” Courtney said. “She and I have some work to do.”

He nodded, taking her arm and leading her to the armored Escalade in the driveway.

“I’ll call her, too,” Leyton stated, his approving smirk not going unnoticed.

Chapter Forty

Loyalty over love … not an easy choice.

After stopping by the hospital for a few minutes while Courtney visited with Max, Leyton did her bidding, contacting the senator and setting up a meeting for two weeks out. The man seemed overly anxious, which was why Leyton had decided to hold him off for a little while. He fucking deserved to wait after what Angelica had done.

Hell, it was a wonder the bitch was still alive, but he had to thank Courtney’s rational decision making for that. They’d both been tempted to put a bullet in her head more than once. If it weren’t for the fact he was trying to keep the peace until Max recovered, he’d have capped her the first time he’d gone to visit her in that safe house. He got the feeling Courtney wanted to, as well, but Max’s woman was proving to be significantly more sensible than he’d ever given her credit for.

Now, as the Escalade pulled into Max’s garage, the bulletproof door closing behind them, he listened to the phone ring, waiting for Ashlynn to answer.

“What can I do you for?” Ashlynn asked, her voice reflecting a hint of a tease.

Leyton was glad to hear her sounding a little better than the last time he’d talked to her. Saturday night had been hell on them all, as had been the following days while they’d waited for some good news from the doctors regarding Max’s condition. It seemed that no one had even breathed until they’d been told that his condition had been upgraded from critical to stable.

“Your future sister-in-law would like to meet with you,” he said, grinning when Courtney glared at him before she hopped out of the vehicle and went inside, leaving him alone.

“Does she know you’ve married her off already?” Ashlynn chuckled. “Not that it’s a bad thing, mind you. She’s proving herself nicely.”

“That she is,” Leyton said, going on to tell Ashlynn about the visit to the safe house.

“Someone needs to put that bitch out of her misery,” Ashlynn said. “It’s a good thing y’all are keeping her whereabouts a secret. I’d have put a bullet between her eyes by now.”

“I know.” Leyton loved listening to Ashlynn’s voice. He’d harbored a slight obsession with Max’s sister for quite some time. Only recently, and only once, had he given in to those urges. He knew better than to fuck with Ashlynn. She was as dangerous as Max, and she would be the first to say as much.

Didn’t mean Leyton didn’t crave her. He wanted to strip her naked and fuck her nine ways to Sunday, then start at the beginning and do it all again.

But Max had put a halt to that, and Ashlynn was loyal to her brother.

Not to mention, she had told Leyton that if anything had transpired between them, it would’ve only been temporary. As in one time.

Ashlynn wasn’t known for her relationships with men. She had plenty of men trying to get in her pants, and she liked to make people believe she was far more promiscuous than she actually was. But she seemed to forget that Leyton knew her better than anyone else. He’d been around the longest, had protected her as much as he’d protected Max over the years.

And he would continue do so, even if it was from afar. Beating down the urges he had where she was concerned wasn’t as easy as he would’ve liked, but it was necessary.

“When does she wanna meet?” Ashlynn questioned.

“Today. We’re back at the house for now. If you can get here in the next couple of hours, she said she’d like to talk.”

“I’ll have Jase bring me,” she said, referring to her head of security.

“Be careful,” he said firmly. “I know Angelica is out of the picture, but with Max out for the time being, the danger is escalating.”

“I know,” she said softly. “We can trust her, right, Leyton?”

Leyton glanced over at the door where Courtney had disappeared a few minutes before. “Yes,” he said affirmatively. “We can definitely trust her.”

“I thought so, just wanted to make sure.”

“So I can let her know you’re comin’?”

Ashlynn’s sexy chuckle made his dick harden. “I’m on my way. And let her know I look forward to talkin’ to her, as well.”

Leyton hung up the phone before he let his thoughts slip to places they shouldn’t be. He couldn’t have Ashlynn, regardless of how much he wanted her. Loyalty was the most important thing in Leyton’s world. Considering Max was the only family he had, he wouldn’t jeopardize that. No matter how hard it was to resist her.

Chapter Forty-One

Love… It’s why we keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Two weeks later

Wednesday morning

“Good mornin’, Ms. Kogan,” Sal greeted when Courtney made her way back downstairs.

She’d come back to Max’s house early enough to take a shower before her meeting with Artemis, leaving Max at the hospital with Dane and Rock. As each day passed, it was getting more and more difficult to leave him, although she knew that she had to keep moving forward while he was still unconscious. It didn’t change the fact that she wanted him to open his eyes, and she wanted to be there when he did.

“Good mornin’, Sal. Is Ashlynn here yet?” she asked, allowing him to fall into step with her as she headed to the kitchen for coffee.

For the last two weeks, Courtney’s entire world had shifted on its axis. She’d spent every single night at the hospital with Max while Leyton or Dane took the day shift if she had something she needed to do. Although Max hadn’t yet woken up, the doctors were holding out hope that he would, and Courtney was inclined to believe them. She wasn’t giving up hope, either.

He
would
wake up; she merely wished it was sooner rather than later.

“She’s on her way,” Sal replied.

“And Leyton?”

“He’s on the phone with Samuel. Said he’d meet you in Max’s office.”

“Perfect. Thank you.”

“Ma’am, if you don’t mind me sayin’, you look … better.”

She didn’t feel better, but she smiled at him anyway. Since the night of the shooting, she’d gotten little sleep and fueled herself with Mountain Dew and whatever someone brought to her from the cafeteria at the hospital. She hadn’t spent any time working out and had actually lost weight, which she didn’t consider a good thing. Not like this.

Truth was, she wouldn’t feel better until Max was awake and back at home where he belonged. But in the meantime, while he was still in a coma, Courtney had business to attend to.

Max’s business.

A knock sounded on the front door, and Sal excused himself. He returned a moment later with Ashlynn in tow.

Without hesitation, Courtney walked over to Max’s sister, hugging her tightly.

“How is he?” Ashlynn asked, her voice wary as she clutched Courtney.

“He’s gonna wake up any minute,” Courtney said cheerfully.

Ashlynn pulled back, a small smile on her lips.

“Dane’s with him right now. He promised to call if anything changes.”

Ashlynn nodded. “And we’re still set to meet with Artemis?”

Courtney nodded, her gaze hardening as she looked back at Max’s beautiful sister. “We are. He’ll be here in”—Courtney glanced at her phone—“ten minutes if he knows what’s good for him. Coffee?”

“Sure.”

After pouring coffee into two mugs, Courtney handed one to Ashlynn and then led the other woman into Max’s office.

Courtney had been running Max’s business with Leyton’s and Ashlynn’s help. After a lengthy conversation with Leyton on the night Max had been shot, she’d learned that there were things that needed Max’s immediate attention, and since he was currently decommissioned, she had no choice but to step in. Otherwise, Samuel would take over, and based on the impression Leyton had given her, confirmed by Ashlynn, that wouldn’t be a good thing. Since Brent wasn’t in any position to take over, although he would’ve been the next in line, Courtney had assured them she’d handle things, and Max would be back in power before they knew it.

Because she fully believed Max would wake up at any moment, she had agreed without an ounce of reluctance.

Not that it was easy.

Her brothers and RT were up in arms about her decision to move into Max’s house temporarily. They had no idea that she was currently managing his entire world, and she had no intention of letting them know, either. She’d compartmentalized the information Casper had given her, unable to talk to anyone about it yet, so she didn’t even have a stable argument. But they’d backed off somewhat, and she figured Casper had told them to.

She hadn’t spoken with Casper since that day at the hospital. She’d ignored his calls and his texts. Until she was able to wrap her head around what he’d done, she didn’t have anything to say to him. Courtney had decided that this war her father had waged with Max wouldn’t ensue until Max was strong enough to fight back. Which also meant that everything she learned during the time she was helping out would be off limits to Sniper 1. Indefinitely.

As with any time she stepped into Max’s office, Courtney struggled to breathe. She missed him. She wanted to talk to him, to feel his arms around her. Hell, she’d give anything to argue with him. It’d been too long, and the doctors had told her that there was still a chance he wouldn’t remember anything when he did wake up. That was something she couldn’t even fathom, so she refused to think about it.

“Mornin’,” Leyton greeted, stepping into the room behind them and closing the door.

Courtney turned to look at him, noticing the way his eyes drifted over Ashlynn briefly. There was certainly something going on between those two, but Courtney didn’t know what. They appeared to be trying to hide something, from each other or everyone else, she wasn’t sure which. But it was something.

Leyton met Courtney’s gaze as he pressed the transmitter in his ear and then nodded. “Artemis has arrived.”

“Good,” Courtney said, making her way around Max’s desk and sitting down. “Have him frisked before he comes in.”

Leyton smirked and nodded.

She inhaled deeply as she eased into Max’s chair, taking in the scent of him that still filled the room. An ache started in her chest, and she attempted to push it back.

Peering up at Leyton, Courtney waited for his instruction.

“Artemis is gonna demand to know where Angelica is,” Leyton told her as he moved closer.

“Of course he is,” she replied. Not that she had any intention of telling him. The bitch was lucky to be alive. Hell, if Samuel had been allowed to know where she was, the woman would’ve been six feet under at this point.

“He’ll be willin’ to make a deal in order to get her back.” Leyton nodded to the contract on the desk.

Which was the plan.

Courtney reread the first paragraph, then pushed it away. She knew what it said. It was the transfer of ownership for the land that the Adorites were seeking. More specifically, it was going to give them a route directly into and out of Mexico, not to mention a handful of border patrol agents who were already on Artemis’s payroll. In return, Artemis would walk away from the Adorites, forget anything and everything he’d ever learned about them, and get his granddaughter back safely.

If he were to renege on the deal at any time, Angelica would go to prison for the rest of her life. If she lived that long.

A knock sounded on the office door, and Leyton moved around behind Courtney while Ashlynn took a seat across from her.

“Come in,” Leyton called out.

The door opened, and Artemis walked in the room looking like death warmed over. His aging face was lined with worry, making him appear decades older than he probably was.

Not that Courtney gave a shit about his well-being. His granddaughter had attempted to kill Max. Shooting him in his own fucking driveway. The mere thought made her want to launch out of Max’s chair and strangle the old bastard.

“Where is she?” Artemis asked, fire igniting in his eyes when he looked at Courtney.

“Have a seat, Mr. Winslow,” Courtney said firmly, motioning for the chair across from her.

She heard Leyton shift, saw in her peripheral vision as his hand landed on the gun holstered at his side. Figuring what the hell, Courtney checked for hers, watching Artemis’s face as she did.

“Sit down, Mr. Winslow!” Courtney snapped when the old man simply stared back at her with hatred in his gaze.

When he finally slipped into the chair, Courtney relaxed against the high back, watching him intently. “As you know, we’ve got a score to settle with you. We’ve got something that you want, and you’ve got something that Max wants.”

“Max is in a coma. He doesn’t
get
what he wants,” Artemis snarled.

“See, that’s where you’re wrong. Until Max is fully recovered—which, mark my words, will happen—I’m seein’ to his affairs. And that means that what Max wants, Max gets.”

“Where’s Samuel?” Artemis asked, glancing over at Ashlynn, then back to Courtney.

Courtney’s phone rang, drawing her attention away from the man. Her hands shook as the screen lit up, Max’s name flashing before her. Glancing back at Leyton, she saw his eyes widen. He nodded and Courtney hit the button on the screen.

“Hello?”

“Hey, love,” Max croaked, his voice weak and strained. “I just called to listen to the meeting.”

Goosebumps broke out over every inch of her skin. He was … awake.

He sounded frail but good. Courtney’s heart threatened to explode; her belly churned with nerves as she soaked in the sound of his voice.

“Of course,” she told him, hitting the button to put him on speaker and keeping herself together as she stared at Ashlynn, watching a tear slip down Max’s sister’s cheek.

Artemis’s eyes widened. “Where’s Samuel?” he repeated. “Clearly he should be handlin’ this while Max is…” His words trailed off as he glanced down at the phone.

Courtney lifted her chin, straightened her back, and placed her elbows on the desk, pinning Artemis with a hardened stare. “You’re lucky that I’m handlin’ Max’s affairs until he’s home. We figured it was safer for your granddaughter if we kept Samuel in the dark about this one. If you wish to see Angelica alive, it’s in your best interest not to reach out to him, either,” Courtney explained sternly.

“How do I know she’s not already dead?” Artemis asked, his eyes flying to all three faces in the room.

Leyton moved, laying his phone on the desk in front of Courtney, alongside hers. She reached forward, punched a button. After two rings, a gruff male voice answered with a grunt.

“Put her on the phone,” Courtney commanded. “Her grandfather would like to speak to her.”

Artemis leaned forward, but Leyton growled, forcing the man back into his seat.

“Grandpa? Please help me. Please, Grandpa,” Angelica cried. “I want to come home. I don’t want to be here anymore. Please.”

“Angel? Are you—?” Artemis choked on his words. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you, honey?”

“I…uh… Grandpa? Please do what they want. Give ’em the land. Give ’em whatever the hell they want. I don’t wanna go to prison.”

“I will, Angel. You’ll be home soon. Very soon.”

A sob resounded through the phone, and Courtney disconnected the call.

“Now, shall we?” Pushing the paper toward Artemis, she once again leaned back in the chair, her eyes darting down to her phone as though that would allow her to see Max. As it was, she was ready to bolt, run out of the house, and get to the hospital. Swallowing hard, she remembered she still had business to conclude. “It’s cut-and-dry. The land belongs to Max. You sign on the dotted line, and one week from today, Angelica will be returned to you in one piece.”

“One week?”

“One week,” she confirmed, frustration consuming her. “The deal goes through, she’s back with you. You pull any bullshit—”

“Did you hurt her?” Artemis growled.

Courtney’s face heated from her anger. Leaning forward, she glared at the old man. “Mr. Winslow, your granddaughter shot Max. Twice. Once in the chest, once in the head. He’s clinging to life, and you ask whether or not we hurt
her
? What do
you
think?”

“If you laid one finger on—”

Courtney slammed her hand down on the desk, causing the phone to rattle and Ashlynn and Artemis to jump. “You’re not in a position to offer threats, Mr. Winslow. Her gunshot wound was tended to. If you do what needs to be done, she’s not gonna die, she’s not gonna lose her leg. But if you don’t sign that goddamn paper, all bets are off. I’ll kill her myself!”

Leyton leaned forward, handing Artemis a pen. She watched as he scrawled his name on each of the pages, initialed where required. A few minutes later, Sal escorted him out of the room.

Courtney exhaled sharply as she pushed to her feet, snatching her phone from the desk.

“It’s done, Max,” she told him. “I’m on my way to you right now.”

“Court?” he whispered softly.

“Yes?” she asked, her heart threatening to climb out of her throat.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she cried, unable to hold back the sob. “I’ll be right there.”