Page 38 of Jethro

“I can’t believe they tried to ruin you,” said Aurora shaking her head. “I knew they were ruthless but I never thought they’d do something like this. Never.”

“You and Jethro are off rotation for the time being,” said Mike. “We can’t risk them trying to do something during a fire.”

“Mike! That’s not fair to the others,” said Aurora.

“Your life is not about what’s fair, Aurora. We will not risk you or Jethro. We’re going to end this. Together. As a team.”

She was quiet for a long time, just staring at the dozen men around her in the diner. Jethro had said they were just having a casual meal but she knew it was more.

“Why are we here?” she asked. She heard the bell above the door behind her and turned. She felt herself stiffen, an audible gasp coming out of her mouth.

Dustin Morgan and Lawrence Beauvois were standing in the doorway, both with blindfolds on. Gator, Cowboy, Cade, and Bodhi were standing behind them. They shoved the two men inside, then removed the blindfolds.

The light of the room assaulted them like a million tiny needles. Both men wiped their eyes, then scanned the room finding the person they now feared the most.

Jethro Lyons was huge. The men who’d taken them were enormous and this guy was every bit as tall but somehow wider, thicker.

“Shit,” muttered Dustin. Aurora stood beside Jethro looking up at him, then back at the two men.

“Why are they here?” she asked Jethro.

“We have some questions for them,” said Ham. “We figured you might be able to get some information from them as well.”

“They’ll lie,” she said folding her arms across her breasts.

“No! No, we won’t,” said Lawrence defensively. “We’ll tell the truth. Neither of us ever wanted to marry you. You figured that out for yourself. It was your parents pushing it because they wanted the inheritance and trust.”

“I know that now,” she said swallowing the bile rising in her throat.

“That’s not all,” said Dustin. “If your father dies, all of the businesses go to you. Your father’s investment firm, his seat on the board of directors for the banks, the properties they own. Everything.”

“Why? Why didn’t he list my mother as the beneficiary?” she asked.

“Because your father isn’t as stupid or compliant as your mother believes,” smirked Lawrence. Bodhi shoved the back of his head hard and he frowned, rubbing the spot. “Ow.”

“Ow? That’s your response?” frowned Bodhi. “Fucking pussy.”

“What’s happening with them?” asked Jethro. “Why are they going broke?”

“She knows,” smirked Dustin. “Her mother spends money like they make it in the basement. Some of their investments have tanked in the last few years and the once sweet, southern bride, Missy, now is the biggest bully in that household.”

“And the people in the cannery?” asked Aurora, fearful of the answer.

“We don’t know it all. Only that they saw and heard things they weren’t supposed to. Your mother called us, asked for the name of someone who could transport them, and leave them in the warehouse.”

“But the dumpster fires? Was that her?” asked Aurora.

“I’m not sure but my guess is that it was. She was probably watching for you and when it didn’t happen on your shift, she just left it as a dumpster fire.”

They could see the questions on the faces of those around them. Lawrence finally stepped forward.

“What the hell, I’m dead anyway. Your mother watched the station while someone waited at the cannery. If you were on duty or in the truck, they were directed to push the dumpster closer. She planned it all.”

“She killed five people that I considered family,” said Aurora shaking.

“They were dead when they arrived, Aurora. She’d drugged them all,” said Dustin. “Look, I know this sucks but you need to hear this. When you left to work overseas your mother was seriously pissed. She knew that you were out of her reach and if you discovered more about the inheritance and trust, she’d never get her cut of the money. She casually mentioned that the best thing would be if you were killed there.”

“Dear God,” she whispered falling back against Jethro.