Prologue

Latent Concern

Joel Kenner

“So, you didn’t get your girl?”

Kenner took a drag of his cigar, drawing in the taste before blowing the smoke in the faces of the two men seated on the other side of his desk. Craig sneered in the direction of Bennett, aware that the question wasn’t aimed at him. Sensing the focus of both pairs of eyes on him, Bennett shifted awkwardly on his chair.

“No.” Bennett grimaced at the incoming cloud of cigar smoke, attempting to waft it away. “She was gone when we arrived.”

“They were both gone,” Craig corrected, as though Kenner was unaware of Bowman’s part in the plan.

“It was all a waste of your time, then.” Kenner’s gaze narrowed as he stubbed out his cigar in the crystal ashtray on his enormous desk. “And my money.”

That was why Bennett was there, after all. It was no secret that Bennett had squandered his assets and now expected Kenner to pick up the price tag for his extravagant lifestyle. Kenner had more money than one man could ever spend, but that didn’t mean his inclination to help was infinite. Bennett’s endless needs were starting to grate.

“Not entirely, boss.” Craig flashed him a grin. “We managed to burn down his so-called sanctuary.”

“And half of the forest with it.” Kenner had already received reports from the local fire chiefs who’d been called to deal with the aftermath. Just as well they were on his payroll, too. “That was a stupid plan, Craig. The old adage is true, you know—you shouldn’t play with fire.”

It was a maxim Kenner could apply to both of the men sitting before him, but calling the odious Bowman to inform him of his cabin’s destruction was still one of the sweetest moments of his life. He’d never forget how broken he’d sounded.

“We were fine.” Craig shrugged as though he didn’t understand the warning.

Hell, he probably didn’t. Craig was good with a gun and commanded the respect of most of the other mercenaries Kenner called upon, but he wasn’t the sharpest tool. There was a real scarcity of intelligence in Kenner’s ranks these days.

“I see that.” Kenner’s gaze shifted from Craig to Bennett as he tried to decide which of them was the more useless. It was a tough call. “So, what now?”

“I’m sorry about the money.” Bennett fidgeted in his seat. “I expected to have Ella back.”

“If you had her back, Bennett,”—Kenner leaned back in his leather recliner, eyeing the balding man opposite him—“then you’d have owed me the four million on top.”

Had Bennett forgotten Kenner’s terms? He’d come to Kenner begging for assistance, needing cash, somewhere to live, and the financial backing for his foray into the forest. Whichever way Bennett swung it, he owed Kenner big time.

“I know.” Bennett nodded. “And I’m ever so grateful, Mr. Kenner.”

Kenner bet he was. “You’ll still want that four million, I assume?”

Bennett’s deferential routine was getting as tired as Kenner felt. Surrounded by goons and sycophants, just once, he wanted to be confronted with a man who was his equal. Someone who could match him.

“I do,” Bennett confirmed. “And I’ll do whatever it takes to make the repayments.”

“Yes, you will, Mr. Bennett.” Kenner eyed Bennett thoughtfully, imagining all the things he could demand of the cretin. Once upon a time, Bennett had clout of his own, but he’d frittered it all away with his cash. “What about Bowman? Do we know where he and Miss Bennett are?”

Craig and Bennett exchanged glances.

“Not yet,” Bennett admitted.

“Bowman has multiple properties,” Craig elaborated. “They could be holed up in any of them.”

“Or, none of them.” Kenner rolled his eyes. “So, how do we find out more?” Jesus, did he have to spell it out for them?

“I’m going to touch base with Susie again.” Bennett blew out a breath.

“Who’s Susie?” Kenner’s gaze scanned the line of decanters on his nearby dresser. He’d have Nicole come and pour a large drop of something strong for him. Hopefully, her short skirt and the liquor would take the edge off the growing thud in his head.

“Ella’s mother.” Bennett pressed his lips together. “She said she hadn’t heard from our daughter, but now I’m starting to wonder. If Ella was going to reach out to anyone, it would be her. They’ve always seemed close.”

“How lovely.” Kenner’s jaw twitched. The allure of the twenty-five-year-old whiskey was getting difficult to ignore. “Do you think this Susie is withholding information?”

“Possibly.” Bennett tensed. “That bitch has never liked me.”

“I can’t imagine why,” Craig scoffed.

“Fine.” Kenner had heard enough. “Reach out to your ex again and pump her for details. In the meantime, I’ll muse on what I’ll require from you in return, Bennett.”

“Okay.” The color drained slowly from Bennett’s face. “I understand.”

“Marvelous.” Kenner couldn’t care less if he understood or not. His patience was wearing about as thin as Craig’s cheap suit. “Now, get out of here. I have a date with my decanter.”