Weapons. He’d been talking about the weapons and the charity. He stared at his brother. Only the eyes were still the same. “How much surgery did it take?”
Lips that weren’t his own tugged up on Rory’s altered face. “Quite a bit. I was out of pocket for almost a year. I had multiple surgeries and made a careful study of Thomas Molina. Nelson had identified Molina as the perfect target. He formed a sort of friendship with Brian Molina.”
Brian Molina had been an addict. Liam could guess just what kind of friendship Nelson had formed. “He became Brian’s dealer?”
“Nelson knows many people, and Brian was easy to control as long as he got his fix. Brian kept an eye on his brother while I was preparing for my role and then he coached me on his brother’s history and mannerisms. I couldn’t simply appear one day. I had to make connections. I had to take my time. The fact that he was perfectly terrified of leaving his house, and he hated talking to people on anything but his computer made it easy. Even after Brian and I took over the fund, I had to keep him around for a bit and bide my time.”
“You killed them both?” It was a dumb question, but it kept him talking.
“Absolutely.” Rory was nearly purring. “I obviously needed Molina dead in order to take his place, and Brian had outlived his usefulness once I was set up as his brother. I couldn’t have him hanging around. After all, he wanted some of my money.”
“I bet Nelson wants more.”
The first crack appeared, a frown that covered Rory’s face. “I’m in control of this business. I have all the power. Eli Nelson is simply the man who gave me my start.”
“Yes, brother, he’s such a philanthropist. He just looks for little criminals with hope in their eyes and plucks them from obscurity and sets them up because he’s got such a big heart.” Pain flared in his arm, but he’d slid his pinky finger under the knot. Patience. Gain purchase and work the rope.
Ian had taught him this. Ian, the asshole. Ian, who had been more of a brother to him than the man in front of him. Ian had taught him, and Jake had practiced with him. Adam had sat in the background drinking beer and making sarcastic comments while Sean had timed them. His real brothers were still here with him. The skills they had taught him would come through in the end.
“I can handle Nelson,” Rory said, his fingers tapping impatiently along the desk.
“I doubt it. If he put you in a position, it was so he could use you and perhaps get rid of you when he decides to take over. Nelson lost his big payday. My boss took it away from him a couple of months back. He can’t go back to the Agency. He needs cash, and he likely needs it bad. Did you spend all the bond money on the surgeries?"
Rory shrugged, a negligent move Liam remembered from their childhood. “Ten million doesn’t go as far as you think it would. The surgeries cost money, setting up the infrastructure of the business costs money. The bonds went fast. That’s why we had to use Molina. I could easily take over his income and his trust fund, though some of it is tied up legally. I’ve been slowly shifting money to other accounts. When I leave here tonight, I’ll have millions at my fingertips.”
“How are you going to explain Avery’s death?”
“That is a problem, actually. Maybe I won’t kill her. Maybe I’ll take her with me to Dubai and marry her. We’ll spend plenty of time in Africa and the Middle East. Lots of bad things happen there.” He chuckled a little. “Actually, I could make some cash off the little cow. I’ll put a good insurance policy in place and then get her killed. Yeah, I like it. Thanks, brother.”
Rage churned in his gut. If his brother put a hand on Avery, he would cut Rory’s bloody balls off and shove them down his throat. He would tear him limb from limb. But she was alive. She was fucking alive.
“Do whatever you want with the girl. I don’t care.”
A long sigh filled the room. “Oh, Liam, really? I listened in while you fucked the bitch. Avery, dear, why don’t you come in?”
A door opened and one of Rory’s thugs shoved Avery inside. She’d changed or been forced to. She was wearing a long white gown, silky and lovely. It showed off her figure to beautiful advantage, and it made her look a little like a bride on her wedding night.
The only problem was she was his bride, and Rory was going to try to take her.
Avery stumbled, her leg giving way beneath her. She hit the carpet, her body crumpling. He wanted to howl. His woman. His to protect and he couldn’t get to her because he was bloody tied up. He was impotent and useless, and she was going to pay the price.
“Ah, look, the little cripple seems to have lost her footing. It’s all right, dear. I don’t need you for your grace.” Rory pushed his chair back, standing up. “Colin, you may leave us. Go and watch the door. We’ll be leaving in an hour or so, and we might have a guest with us. I haven’t decided yet.”
The massive thug nodded and walked out, closing the door behind him.