Sins (Havoc of Sins #3)

Chapter 16

Simon

I didn’t want to, but I was the only one left to clean out Cameron’s office. I walked there to give myself time to think. It wasn’t far, just off the Strip. I found myself dragging my feet as my mind went back to the last time I’d been there with Calli. I shuddered at the thought. If I hadn’t had a few things of my own that I wanted from my desk, I would have found a reason to never step back in the place.

As I went inside, I thought of all the time I’d spent there over the years. I had disagreed with Cameron when he told me we were to split our time between the office here and the one on the twentieth floor of Indulge, but he said it was at Jim Gates’ request, and I couldn’t argue with that. I knew it would be a big move for Cameron and would bring him closer with them, but I struggled with the Devil’s Reach always being around. It brought an element I didn’t like.

I knew the place had been professionally cleaned, but the smell of her blood still lingered in the air, and a chill raced up my spine.

Calli and I had a different relationship. I was older, and she still had a lot of growing up to do, but I cared for her deeply, no matter what anyone thought. It angered me so much that she had lost her life, and the fact that it was because of her father made it worse. That son of a bitch should have been taken out years before, and Calli would still be alive.

I grabbed a box and hurried to the back to Cameron’s office. The quicker I got the stuff packed up, the quicker I could get out of there.

“I’ll start with his bookshelf,” I said out loud.

“I didn’t see you at Cameron’s funeral.”

“Jesus, Sonny, you scared the shit out of me.” My heart pounded, as he’d come up so silently behind me.

“Sorry.” He shrugged as I reached to pick up the box I’d dropped. “No one noticed you weren’t there, anyway. Only people there were a few clients and no family. I think most just wanted to see that fucker in the ground. It was all a little weird, if you ask me.”

“If you act like a monster?” I shrugged. “Where’ve you been?” I hated Sonny, but I tried not to show it. The guy was unhinged, and I couldn’t wait until he was gone from Vegas. I knew Grim hated him, so it was only a matter of time.

He moved around Cameron’s desk, sat, and kicked his feet up. “Layin’ low.”

“Why now?” I almost smiled at that. Sonny was often in shit, and usually in more ways than you could count.

He flipped open the cigar box on the desk, plucked out one of Cameron’s best Cohibas, and ran his nose along the side of it. “This and that.” He dodged the question. “My head’s still all fucked up from Matt’s death. He was a good friend.”

“I see.” I ran a strip of packing tape to seal the box and grabbed another as I moved toward the desk.

“Did you know about Cameron banging his secretary’s mother?” He lit the tip and sucked in the smoke as he took in my expression, then he grinned and blew a ring.

I pushed his feet off the desk, and he jolted forward with a curse. I thought of Zara. She was a pretty girl and was really nice. Smart, too. “No, I didn’t know, but it doesn’t surprise me. It’s the one thing he could do well. Cheat.” I used my arm and slid all Cameron’s crap into the box. I might clean up a bit, but most of it was going in the trash, and the rest I wanted to burn.

I worked quietly as Sonny smoked. He had rolled the chair back slightly to give me room.

“You know, that Benny guy told Grim that you were around Kenna way back in her high school years. Grim wouldn’t like that, Sonny, not at all.” Sonny didn’t answer, so I went on. “I also remember I overheard Minnie and Tess talking about it over coffee one day. A lot of people are looking to get a piece of you. Maybe you should think of leaving Vegas.”

He shrugged. “Not worried.”

“You should be.” Something nagged at me. “Would you have any idea who put out a hit on Kenna?”

“Besides her father?” He shook his head with a laugh.

I heard doors open in front, and I froze as I wondered if Sonny had brought trouble.

“Not me.” He lifted his hands.

I held a finger to my lips and peeked out the door. “Hello?”

“It’s me,” Zara called.

“You think her ears were ringing?” Sonny chuckled, and I rolled my eyes and hurried to the front.

I greeted her at her desk. “Hey.” I noticed she glanced at where Calli’s body once was.

“I’m just here to get a couple of things. I can’t believe she’s gone.”

I pressed my lips together and wished the day would be over. “I know. Me too.” I reached back and handed her a box. “Do you need any help?”

“No,” she seemed to snap out of her daze, “I mostly just want my charger and my calculator. I already took most of what I wanted the other day. I guess I have no reason to be here anymore. Everything just feels like a lie now, anyway.”

“I’m sorry. Truthfully, I had no idea about your mother and Cameron. I really don’t think Calli did either.”

She stuffed the charger and calculator in her bag. “Yeah, well, that makes three of us.”

“What will you do now?”

“I got a job offer across town, but I really want to get out of this city.” She checked the time. “I should go. Take care of yourself, Simon.”

“You too.” I locked the door after she left to ensure no one else could drop in and headed to the back. Sonny must have slipped out while Zara and I talked. Good riddance.

I spent the rest of the afternoon packing, then I locked up and began the walk back to Indulge to do the same at the office there. The sooner I closed this chapter of my life, the sooner I could move on. I’d been waiting for this moment; I just hadn’t expected it for a few more years.

“Hey.” I found Kenna on my couch. She looked deep in thought. Her tight dress hugged her waist, and her slender legs were crossed. My attention was drawn to her upper thigh, and I spotted her engagement ring.

“Wow, I guess congratulations are in order.” I nodded toward her finger. She looked down and then wiggled the ring off. “Or has it been called off?”

“No,” she shook her head, “I had it on when we met some clients today. It’s complicated, and I wish things in my life could just be simpler.” She sounded so unhappy.

“I know a lot’s happened over the last few weeks.” I wanted to give her a hug.

“To top it all off,” she gave a little laugh, “I’m taking one of Vegas’s biggest bachelors off the market. I’m not ready for the backlash on that either.” She gave another dry chuckle.

“I don’t blame you for that.” I smiled and dropped the box on the floor. I took two water bottles from the fridge and handed her one as I settled into a chair. “What brings you by?”

“I have a few questions.”

“I figured you might.” I took a sip and gave her my full attention.

“I don’t understand, Simon. Why would you work with a man like my father when you knew what he was really like?”

I had known this question would eventually come, so I made sure to choose my words carefully. The life choices I’d made over the years had usually been forced on me by events I had no control over. I knew I was probably warped by a lot of those things.

“Sometimes we have to be a version of ourselves that we don’t always like in order to survive. I don’t really expect you to accept that, but?—”

“I understand that.” She nodded emphatically. “Believe me, I understand what you’re saying. It’s how I got through my teens.” She looked around my office. “Why did you become a PI?”

I sipped my water. “It’s complicated.”

“I can follow complicated.” She held my gaze.

“I was framed for murder once, dead man in my kitchen and all, feds were waiting on me, and before I knew what was happening, I was behind bars.”

“Do you know who framed you?”

I took another swig of water as I nodded then waited a few beats. “Yeah, I do. It was Allen, Trigger’s father.” Her chin pulled in and her brows pinched together. “Punishment for not joining the DR.”

“You knew Trigger’s father?” She swung her legs off the couch and sat up straight.

“Yes, I did. I told you it’s complicated. I was smart, and I think he saw potential in me, probably thought he could control me too, unlike his son.” At her astounded look, I nodded. “I know more about the Devil’s Reach than you realize.”

“Okay, go on.” She settled back a bit.

“The club had a lot of rules, and I knew I could never live by them.” I shrugged. “I wasn’t interested, and Allen punished me for it. Then, once I was behind bars, things changed for me. Kurt was the guy who attacked you in the parking lot. I knew nothing about that. I was as shocked as you were, honestly.” I watched as she drew her arms around herself. “He tried to recruit me, too, but I won’t be forced into any club or organization. I refuse to be a member of anything.”

My shirt was sweaty from all the work I’d done, but I pulled back the sleeves to show her I wasn’t a Poten. “I’m not one of them, Kenna. I just wanted to prove my innocence and be free. I tried to find out what I needed, but everything had been wiped clean. It was too late. Then I heard Allen had disappeared. Word was Trigger killed him. But that’s beside the point.

“I learned I was pretty good at finding out stuff, one thing led to another, and I got out with the help of my cellmate. I ended up with a new deal. Working for your father. I’m not proud that I’m working off a debt to the Potens, but they gave me my freedom, and all I had to do was keep an eye on your father.”

“What did you report back and to whom?” She was all business now.

“I never met who I communicated with. I only had one phone call. After that, I just texted if Cameron couldn’t or wouldn’t do something, but my main job was stepping in when his temper flared and try to keep him out of trouble. They had some kind of hold over him.”

“You should’ve gotten paid a lot for that.” She snickered. “I had no idea. I have a hard time knowing all this. You never let on.”

I removed my glasses and cleaned the lenses. “My past isn’t something I enjoy reliving, but it’s the truth.”

“It’s been quite the eyeopener. You know I’ll share all this with the Gateses.”

“Of course.”

“I appreciate your honesty. It’s a lot to take in.” She checked her phone. “One last thing. The Gateses know there are more Potens out there. Who else is connected to all this?”

That was a loaded question. “Who isn’t? They’re everywhere. This group runs so deep. It could be your driver, Shore, or the girl at the coffee cart, or one of your clients like Yen Hong, for all we know. Their tattoo is basically out of sight. Although most go shirtless here, it’s still basically hidden. You wouldn’t notice it unless you were looking for it.”

“Very true.” She seemed to slip into a thought for a moment. “I should get going.” She stood. “Thanks, Simon. It’s nice to have some answers and to get to know you a little better. In spite of all the surprises.”

“Nice to be able to be open with you.” To my shock, she leaned in and gave me a hug. I took a moment to savor it.

She headed for the door, and I looked down at the box filled with Cameron’s crap that I still needed to deal with.

“Simon?”

“Mm?”

“When we last spoke in this office, you said your days were numbered here.”

She didn’t miss much. “I did.”

“Now that Dad is dead?”

“I didn’t mean your father.”

“The Potens?”

“No,” I turned my back, “they’re the least of my problems. Have a good night, Kenna.” I turned back to the box and heard the door shut behind me.