Chapter 3: A fool in love makes no sense to me. I only think you are a fool If you do not love.

Chapter 3: A fool in love makes no sense to me.

I only think you are a fool

If you do not love.

Logan

What the hell was I thinking, touching her? Over the past couple of days, I’ve been asking myself that question over and over again. Every time I think of Bella, my cock swells up to an unbearable level. I’ve never had this problem. Not even when I was a teenager. The first day we met, I tried to work it off by running up and down the beach until I was exhausted. When that didn’t work, I masturbated, but that was hopeless too. It’s as if puberty has struck me again. I’m a forty-year-old man, and she’s twenty-one─we’d never work out. Let’s also not forget she’s Matilda’s granddaughter, which only adds to the wrongness of it all.

I considered going somewhere to find another woman, but the mere thought of touching someone else makes me grow cold. This is not good. I don’t obsess over women─women obsess over me. I figure the best way to get over this strange infatuation is to avoid Bella. I like my life as it is, and I have no desire to be in a relationship. And Bella has the word relationship written all over her.

Seph runs ahead of me, with her golden fur fluttering in the wind, and her tongue lolling out of her mouth. Running behind her, I exhale and inhale in tempo. Sweat glides down my neck and chest, and my heart is pounding erratically. Seph and I run on the beach every morning. It’s a ritual we partake in when I’m in town. I love to feel the heat of the sun on my skin, to see the beautiful blue sky, and the feeling of the fresh breeze coursing through my lungs is incredible.

Stepping through my patio doors, I head to my kitchen and take several gulps of water.

“Hades!” Oliver “Phoenix,” McCall calls out.

“I’m in the kitchen!” I call back.

Phoenix strides into the kitchen, holding his tablet in one hand and places it on the counter. His suit jacket flaps behind him, and his tie is unraveled around his neck. “Hey, did you see the new assignment?”

I nod my head and place a glass of orange juice in front of him. “I saw the file last night and moved it up to the queue. I figured you’d like something interesting.” Phoenix nods. “It’s definitely interesting to be assigned state senator, Rockwell Park, for kidnapping, prostitution, and murder. That would be the ultimate assignment.”

I nod my head and look down at the tablet. “According to the police, Park has been recruiting women who are in desperate situations. The men who help him run this operation invite the women to parties where they kidnap or kill them. Park’s associates tell him that it’s for business networking parties. But the reality is that the men are scoping possible sex slaves. They either take the women home under the pretense that they’ll work with them, lock them up in their basements to never be seen again, or they’ll take a group of women, drug them, rape them, and kill them. In some situations, they’ll auction the women to depraved men in other countries.”

Phoenix frowns in consternation. “It’s crazy how the Confradia only learned about this because Jordan Fletcher’s daughter was kidnapped.”

I snort in reply. “Yeah, it took a movie star’s daughter disappearance for people to finally take notice. Park is a very powerful man with deep connections in the underworld. Drew has connected him to several cells across the state where many women have disappeared. We just need to catch Park with his hand in the cookie jar, find his associates, and see what information we can get from all of them. I called Viper, Bullet, and Edge to help us monitor Park. They’ll be checking a few possible leads to several parties in San Francisco, and we’ll be scoping out the ones here. Hopefully, we’ll catch him before his people take any more women.”

Phoenix, hums. “Sounds like a plan. What’s the next step?”

I flip through a few pages on the tablet until I get to a profile. “This is Camille Leavenworth. Camille is a real estate agent. We’ve been able to connect a few of her listings to possible places where the parties are taking place. They’ve never been able to uncover actual addresses, but Drew’s theory is that the parties are being held in empty homes being sold in the area. According to Fletcher, his daughter disappeared near one of the houses. Several of the victim's friends and family stated that each woman was texted a location by a recruiter. The locations all led to empty lots in nearby houses. We’re assuming that once they go to the house, someone took their cellphones. Park was seen with Camille on several occasions near the party houses that the women were taken from. Drew also found large deposits to Park that coincide with each woman’s disappearance. It’s just too coincidental.”

Phoenix scrolls through the tablet with a frown. “I don’t understand how he finds these women.” I shrug my shoulders and prep Seph’s food bowl. “Some of the women were college students with large debts they couldn’t pay or women who just thought they found an easy way to better their lives. Park has only gotten away with it because there is no direct link. If Fletcher’s daughter hadn’t spoken to her roommate about it, it would have never come to light, and the only reason they took her is that Fletcher disowned her. She was easy prey. A drugged-out girl, desperate for money. Fletcher is still searching for her, but we’re assuming she’s long gone.”

We both contemplate the women’s pitiful end for a few minutes. Unfortunately, situations like these are commonplace in our business. There is always a sad story to contend with.

After a moment, Phoenix clears his throat and gazes around the room expectantly. His dark brown eyes glimmer with untold emotion until he shakes it off. “Where’s Mati? She’s usually here making something delicious to eat.” I shake my head and step away from the counter to clean up the dirty dishes. “She wasn’t feeling well, so I gave her some time off.”

Phoenix’s brow furrows with concern. “Is she okay?” I nod my head. “Bella told me that she was just tired.” Phoenix's head snaps up at my words. “Did Bella mention me?”

I resist the urge to scowl at his hopeful tone. What the hell? “We met briefly. She came in Mati’s stead to do some cleaning because Mati wasn’t feeling well. She only mentioned that you’d met after I asked her who the hell she was. That’s why I called you.”

Phoenix’s eyes widen. “Wait, I can’t believe she was here. Damn! I missed her. That girl has got the finest ass, and did you see all that hair?”

I will admit to myself that I want to kick Phoenix’s ass at that moment, which is odd because I’ve never given a crap about Phoenix’s irreverent locker room talk. But when it comes to Bella, I’m irrational. The girl has me reacting like an idiot, and I only met her once.

“I guess,” I mutter dubiously. Phoenix snickers in reply. “Are you telling me that you didn’t think she was gorgeous?”

I shrug, unwilling to give anything away. “She’s young,” I mumble unconvincingly. However, Phoenix is not easily fooled. “She’s twenty-one, which means she’s legal.”

My nostrils flare with anger, and breathing quickens. Before I do something I regret, I collect my towel and calmly reply. “Don’t forget that Bella is also Matilda’s granddaughter. If Mati hears that you’re sniffing around her granddaughter, she’ll kick your ass. So, I’d stay clear of that girl if I were you.”

Phoenix sighs and hangs his head. “Damn, that’s a shame. You’re right, though. She’s Mati’s granddaughter and a good girl. Whatever man, I think she’s hot, but I’m still dealing with Cleo.”

I quirk a brow at Phoenix’s sullen comment. Cleo is Phoenix’s best friend’s sister. Before his best friend, Jori, died, he asked Phoenix to keep an eye on Cleo. The woman has been giving Phoenix a run for is money since.

“Is she still refusing to accept the money you gave her?” Phoenix rolls his eyes and releases an exasperated breath. “Yeah, and I don’t know what else to do. She’d rather live in the hood and work as a public defender than take my money.”

I furrow my brow questioningly. “Maybe you should just leave things as they are. You’ll only piss her off if you force the issue.” He nods in reply. “I guess. I just hate that I can’t keep my promise to Jori. Anyway, let’s change the subject. What do you want to do?”

“I think we should start with Camille. We can set up separate appointments with her office. Divide and conquer. It’s better if she doesn’t know that we’re working together. You’ll tell her you’re shopping for a new home and I tell her I’m selling mine. We can work her from both angles. Throw a few hints that we’re looking for company and let her get a glimpse of our bank account. If we’re lucky, she’ll take the bait and lead us to Park.

“Sounds like a plan, boss. I’ll make an appointment right away. Have you heard from Jaxon?” I nod. “I spoke to him last night. Ewan was with him.”

Phoenix’s lips curls into a jeer. “You’ve got to give Ewan a break, man. He’s actually a pretty good guy.”

I roll my eyes at his words. Jaxon told me the same thing earlier. They’ll never understand how much my half-brother ruined my life by the mere fact that he exists. My family was devastated. “Look, Ollie, I’d rather not talk about Ewan. How about you make your appointment, and I head over to Camille Leavenworth’s office to see her in person. I’ll probably stop by Mati’s house to see how she is.”

“Say hello for me. And if you see Bella, tell her to call me.” I narrow my eyes but don’t respond. I get the feeling he sees right through me, and it bothers the hell out of me. I hate being so transparent. Damn Bella and her beauty!