The Havoc We Wreak - Becca Steele Page 0,32

continued.

“First thing you need to know is that I’ve been looking into something for a friend. It’s nothing to do with Alstone Holdings, nothing to do with our family rivalry. I want to make that clear. I’m not working against you.”

“Except for the whole video thing, but let’s not mention that, yeah,” I growled.

“Cade! Please,” Winter hissed, frowning at me.

Granville suddenly rose to his feet and strode across the deck to me. “I let you hit me, because I know I messed up. I’m apologising. I’m sorry, okay?”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Let me get one thing clear. You didn’t ‘let’ me do anything.”

“Cade.”

Winter’s voice came from behind Granville, and I swallowed my pride for her. “I accept your apology,” I gritted out, even though the words tasted like ash in my mouth.

“Thank you.” A hesitant expression crossed his face, but he held out his hand, and I groaned. I had to shake hands with this fucker? Feeling my girlfriend’s eyes on me, I sighed and gripped his palm. For Winter’s sake.

He turned to Z, who shot him down with one look. “Don’t even think about it.”

Granville lifted his hands in surrender and sat back down next to Winter. “Back to the story. I was at the docks because I was looking into this…thing, for a friend. I overheard—”

“Wait a minute,” Winter interrupted, the wheels turning in her head. I could guarantee her thoughts were along the same line as mine. “Does this ‘thing’ have anything to do with dog fighting, by any chance? And is the friend Lena?”

Granville’s mouth fell open. “H-how did you know?” he stammered.

I rolled my eyes. “Not important at the moment. Get to the fucking point, will you?” Winter glared at me, and I added, “Please.” She blew me another kiss, then smirked at me. I’m gonna punish you later, I mouthed at her, watching a wicked gleam come into her eye.

“Yes, to both of your questions.” He met Winter’s gaze. “When Lena told me you’d caught her at the docks, I asked her to keep my name out of it. I didn’t want any more trouble, you know?”

“I knew she was hiding something,” Winter muttered under her breath, then raised her voice. “Yeah. I get that. What happened?” She cocked her head, staring intently at him.

“I was hiding round the back of one of the warehouses, waiting for the guard to finish his patrol, when I heard him on his phone. He was talking to someone, who he referred to as ‘madam,’ saying he was holding someone captive. As soon as I heard that, I moved closer so I could hear better. When he asked whoever was on the other end if he should dispose of the captive, I—”

He immediately stopped speaking when Winter gave a small, agonised whimper, the sound stabbing right through my heart. I was straight over to her, scooping her up and sitting down with her body curled up against mine. “I’ve got you, baby.” I held on to her tightly, kissing her head.

“Thanks,” she whispered, before she turned back to Granville. “What happened next?”

“Well, once I’d heard that, I couldn’t very well leave without checking it out, could I? Anyone would have done the same.”

I looked at him with new interest, and he shuffled in his seat uncomfortably when he noticed my stare.

“It sounded like the guard had arranged for whoever he was speaking to come down to the docks the next morning, and I knew I didn’t have long. I didn’t know where you were—” He looked at my girl. “—so I had to follow him.”

“Were you scared?” Winter breathed, completely caught up in his story.

“More scared than I’ve ever been,” he admitted with a shrug. “I was jumpy enough being down there in the first place. I wouldn’t have been there if we hadn’t received a tip-off, and Lena was supposed to meet me, but she was running late. Couldn’t sneak out of the house, which turned out to be the best thing that could’ve happened. She…she’s more fragile than she realises.”

“Sounds like you know her well,” Zayde commented. His voice was flat and emotionless, but I knew he was just as curious as I was.

“It’s not like that. We hang out sometimes, and we’ve been working together to look into something. That’s irrelevant at the moment, though.”

Yeah. It wouldn’t be, once Cassius found out Granville was hanging out with his sister.

“Back to it. I picked up an iron bar from the junk that was round