Chapter 186
Chapter 186
“Damn!” Silas muttered through gritted teeth, punching the air as he paced in his study. Pain coursed through him and so did disappointment
He should have known Thomas wasn’t coming for dinner. His brother had changed lately and it hurt.
Yet, Silas didn’t want to give up. He had made that promise, and he intended to keep it, so he dialed Thomas’s line again.
The phone rang but still, no response.
Silas exhaled, the realization hitting him harder than he had expected as he perched on the edge of his table.
He had always known their lives would change after everything Rosie did, but not like this—not with lies and disappearances.
He knew he was supposed to be mad at Thomas, but he couldn’t. That was his big brother, the one who had always done everything for him. He had to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Succumbing to the feeling, he dialed Thomas again, but when it was still unanswered, he called Wade.
“Hey, Silas. How are you?” Wade answered.
“Good. Have you heard from Thomas recently?”
“We spoke earlier, but that was it. Why?” Wade asked, curiosity creeping into his tone.
“Nothing major,” Silas replied, trying not to sound too concerned. “He was supposed to come for dinner, but he hasn’t shown up.”
“He’s probably just busy. Don’t worry, I’ll call him and let you know.”
Silas sighed in relief. “Thanks, Wade.” Then he told him about the phone number.
“Oh, that’s excellent!” Wade exclaimed. “I’ll call the detective right away. They’ll proceed with everything.”
“Alright then. Take care,” Silas said and ended the call.
He sighed again, hoping Wade could get through to Thomas somehow. Adjusting his shirt, he stepped out of the study.
Just as he walked down the hall, he saw Bailey.
“Hey, Bai.”
But she wasn’t smiling like earlier, Her brows were drawn and her expression tight.
“Are you good?” he asked.
“We need to talk,” Bailey said, her frown deepened. “Somewhere private. Now.”
The urgency in her tone startled him slightly, but he nodded and led her into the study. He gestured toward a chair, but she didn’t sit. Instead she folded her arms, her eyes sharp.
“What do you know about Mateo Castro?” she demanded.
He blinked. “Mateo who?”
Bailey dropped her arms and pointed a finger at him. “Don’t give me that shit! Who is he to you? And why the hell was your mother’s account used recently.”
Silas raised a hand. “Whoa, slow down! What account? What are you talking about?”
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Chapter 186
Badley & eyes Chimmered with disbellet, and she slowly lowered her feber. “valy didn’t keep
Silas stopped eluses, conluulen spreading through his chest. What are you talking dout Bailey t
The vaid nothing as she walked to the chair and clumped in hi, kai eger wit
Silas moved to her, partially confused, partially spooked. “Buley,” he said softly. “What’s gring and
Bailey looked up. “I’m sorry, Si. I should have… I apologize
“Your apology doesn’t clear things up.”
“True”
He frowned. “Then explain.”
Bailey stood up. “You can’t tell anyone what I’m about to tell you.”
“I can’t hide anything from my wife,” he said quickly.
Bailey groaned. “Fine, but she can’t tell my mom. Promise?”
Silas rolled his eyes. “Alright. I promise.”
“This is serious,” Bailey said. “Even Aaliyah doesn’t know, well, not everything.”
Silas leaned against his table. “I’m listening.”
“So…” she began hestiately. “I am a police officer.”
“I know.”
“I don’t mean police police, I mean FBI.” Then her voice dropped into a whisper. “Secret agent.”
Silas’s eyes widened. “Wow! Badass Bailey.”
She gave him a weak punch on the arm. “I’m serious, I’m on a special mission to bring in Mateo Castro. I can’t give you all the details, but he’s a very dangerous man.”
Silas nodded, his heart suddenly thudding.
“I found out today that money was moved from one of his accounts to your mother’s account.”
His stomach twisted. “That’s… impossible.”
“I know, which is why I need answers,” Bailey said, her forehead creasing. “If the Bureau decides to pursue this, I want to be sure your family is safe.”
Silas swallowed hard. “How much was it?”
“Eight hundred million dollars,” Bailey replied. “Why?”
His stomach churned. Oh, it was definitely Rosie, but how?
Was Thomas’s offshore account in their mother’s name? Why hadn’t he said anything before now?
Bailey stepped closer, watching his reaction/ “Do you know something about it? Because if you do, Silas, and you’re not talking. Jesus Christ, it’s- “Easy,” he said softly. “Everything you said is news to me. I’m shocked.” He scratched his chin, his heart pumping wildly.
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Chapter 186.
If Thomas was involved with a man like Mateo, this couldn I got out. At least not yet
He moved to Baller: “I need a favor
Bailey stepped back Immediately. “Hell no. Silas. Ith hot obatnicting the law”
“No obstruction, just tline,” he pleaded. “I also need to know more about this. Just five to figure things out, plesna
Bailey hesitated, then sighed. “Just for a while.”
2
“Oh, thank you, Bailey!”
-but when you find anything, you come to me first.”
“Definitely, Bai,” Silas said and hugged her. “Thank you so much, badass.”
She chuckled. “I’m serious.” Then she walked to the door. “Call me.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Silas said with a smile.
Once he was alone, the anxiety washed over him. Something was definitely wrong, and he knew exactly who he needed to call
But before he could dial Thomas, his phone rang.
“Hey, Wade.”
“Hey, Silas,” Wade replied. “I just got off the phone with Thomas’s head of security. I called and he didn’t answer me either. Anyway, I was told Thomas left the hotel alone.”
Panic gripped Silas. “What do you mean by alone?”
“Just him, no bodyguards, and he has been unreachable for hours.”
“Hours?” Silas felt his throat dry. “Something is wrong. We have to find him!”
“I’m alerting the police now. Just try to stay calm, I’ll update you.”
“Thanks, Wade,” Silas said and ended the call.
He tossed his phone on the table and rubbed his face. Things were getting crazier now.
Where was Thomas? Was he with Mateo, or had he been kidnapped by him?
His heart pounded so violently that he thought it would leap out of his chest.
He pressed one trembling hand to his chest. “Just breath,” he whispered.
Just as he started to feel better, the door opened and Ivy walked in.
“Oh baby,” he sighed with relief as he walked to her But her expression stopped him. “What happened?”
Ivy hissed, her mouth twisting. “It’s you guys.”
He blinked. “Who?”
“All of you,” she said, pacing now. She told him about Aria’s old sex tape. “I tried to act like it’s okay, but it’s not. What else do you use money to fix?”
He frowned. “I don’t understand you. Are you mad that Aria had a sex tape or that her father handled it?”
Chapter 186
Ivy flared. “It’s the handling! It’s disgusting!”
A small laugh escaped him, and she turned, her green eyes blazing.
“You think it’s funny?”
“It is,” he replied. “Would you rather let it ruin our reputation when we can solve it with money?”
“Oh my
y God!” she snapped. “How many more things have you handled this way?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted with a shrug as he moved to touch her arm. “But I’m sure we don’t all do terrible things.”
Ivy brushed his hand off, her eyes widened with disbelief. “You’re sick. All of you.”
Annoyance swelled in his chest at her tantrum, but he controlled it. He already had too much to deal with.
“Baby,” he said softly. “You worry too much. It was a one–time thing and-”
“It was not!” she spat. “How can you… be comfortable with something like that?”
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re going on about, but that’s enough. I’ve got bigger problems right now, please,” he pleaded.
“Then just fix those with money too.”
Maybe she was right. Maybe he could hire someone discreet to find out about what was really going on. Nobody would know.
Not Thomas. Not Bailey.
Ivy scoffed, snapping him back to reality. Her mouth curled with disgust.
“You’re just like them,” she whispered. “You’re sick too.”
“What? No, baby-”
But Ivy was already gone.
