Tease Me Once by W. Winters

Declan

She’s already seen and heard too much. Most is intentional and a setup, in case she is an informant. The information will identify her and it’s not true. But some things … like the meeting yesterday … I should not have let her hear that conversation.

My family has only dealt with that particular situation one of two ways.

A quick death or marriage. All their wives have been involved in matters they shouldn’t have. And none of them can be forced to testify. If Braelynn isn’t an informant, but she hears things she shouldn’t … there’s only one of two ways we deal with that.

All morning the consequences of what our relationship has evolved into have bothered me. They’ve whispered into the back of my mind that it’s going to come to an end.  It would protect my little pet.  She wouldn’t have to worry if she overheard conversations.  It’s her worrying that’s the problem, I’ve come to decide.  I take it as my responsibility to ease that.

Time is not in our favor, but it will certainly help.

Knock, knock.  My gaze lifts to the door and then to the monitors on my left.  I hadn’t noticed Nate coming down the stairs.

I call out, “Come in.”

Nate closes the door quietly after entering, his custom-tailored suit looking more rumpled than I’m used to seeing on him.

“What is it?” I ask him and then click over to my schedule.  The night is nearly free and what I do have on my calendar can be pushed back. Nothing is pressing, so I’m not sure why the hell Nate has that look on his face.  There’s always a tell about him when he’s stressed.

“Your brother called a bit ago.”

“What for?”

“He said he wanted a quick conference.  He has orders.”  There’s something about Nate at the moment that I don’t care for.  There’s an anxiousness about him.

“Call him,” I order him and lean back.

Nate does as directed, calling on his burner.  As it rings, my thumb trails over my stubble.  If Carter has orders, something’s changed.

“Boss,” Nate says in greeting as the line is picked up.

“Is my brother there?” Carter questions.

“I’m here,” I call out. Nate places the phone down gently on my desk and resumes standing, his hands clasped in front of him.

“Declan.” Jase’s voice comes through next.  I get the impression it’s a fucking intervention.

“Fuck, if this is about dinner, it’s a bit of overkill.”  I let out a short laugh, but my brothers are silent.  “I’ll be there next week.”

I bite my tongue before telling him I may bring Braelynn.  I’m not certain I should.  Things have been difficult and I don’t know whether it would make things better or worse to involve my family.  I want them to meet her, though.

Carter speaks first.  “It worked.”

“What worked?” I question and I’m the only one.  I take it I’m the last to know.

“Whoever you set up with the numbers.”

My blood goes cold and I peek up, Nate doesn’t even look at me.

“What numbers?” I ask.  They can’t be talking about the books.  Denial sinks its claws into me, holding me steady as Carter confirms the unwanted thoughts.

“We got in the transcript this morning.  We notified Nate in case she came in.  Braelynn, isn’t it?”

Betrayal sinks deep into the marrow of my bones. My world turns blurry, reality bends and spins in front of me.  Taunting me.  Laughing at the very thought that I believed her.

She said she wouldn't hurt me.

Every doubt I ever had screams at me, demanding I acknowledge they were right.

Of course she stayed last night rather than leaving.  It’s the only reason she ever stayed.

“She’s working for the feds.  Now we know.”

Nate’s statement brings my focus back.

I clear my voice and sit up straighter, my shoulders stiffening as I tell my brother, “Send me everything. I want to be sure it’s her.”

“Declan.” Carter’s tone is reprimanding. “She’s the only one—”

My voice is harsh as chaotic anger burns inside of me.  “Send it to me.”

To keep my hands from trembling, I form white-knuckled fists.

“Declan, the information about the train tracks is in the testimony,” Jase tells me.  Matter-of-factly, but also with an air of sympathy.  If he were here, I know he’d grip my shoulder, then pat it.

He would tell me it’s all right, but it’s not.

Nothing about this is right.

“The tracks?”

“From our conversation,” Nate speaks, and when I look up his eyes are on me but only for a fraction of a second.  The moment my gaze narrows, he looks downward, focusing on his shoes instead.

My vitriol has nowhere to hide.

“And the numbers in the books, the ones that were off and you planted.  They’re in the report.”

“It has to be her.”

My body sags into the chair. “Get out,” I whisper as something else takes hold of me.  Something I don’t care to admit.  “Get out, Nate.”  When I glance up to scream at him, I realize he’s already gone.  He left quietly.  Smart man I suppose, given I was prepared to throw anything I could find at him.

“Declan? Are you there?” Carter questions.

“I’m here.”

“We’re coming, all right?  We’ll be there soon.”

I can’t explain why, but hearing Carter tell me that breaks something inside of me.

“Are you sure?” I ask him and then I think maybe he would misunderstand and think I’m referencing him coming down here to The Club, but before I can clarify he tells me.

“It’s her, Declan.  We need to take care of this.”

To take care of it … my blood chills.  I’m quick to end the call, before the emotions swarm and make me a weaker man.