Chances (Mystic Nights #1)(39)

They both smiled at her. “With you and Eve.” Joseph pulled a lock of her hair like he’d done when she was small.

Dawn glowed under their praise. “Apparently Peter tried one more time after that. But Mom was so head strong and independent. She was raising her kids. She was still trying to get the state to approve our First Nation status. Funny that the federal government granted it first. But she did that too. It took sixteen years, but she did it. Peter left for a while, but came back years later. He never bothered her anymore. Only after she brokered the deal with that company in Malaysia to build Mystic Nights, he started to come around again. He wanted to head the project. He had a business degree, she a law degree. He was furious when the council chose her over him. That’s when he ran for a seat on the council. So he still gets to have a say in how things are run here.”

“I wish Mom had told us this.”

“I don’t think she thought you would want to know that kind of stuff. Mostly I got the story in bits and pieces.”

“The pieces definitely fit together.” Jonathan’s mind tried to wrap itself around all he had just learned. Again his stomach rolled. Peter now had a motive, Simon’s was greed. And Aliya’s betrayal, well he still had to figure that one out. But everything else fit. And as much as it pained him, he would bring them all down to protect what his mother had created. All of them. Even the woman he loved.

“There is one other thing,” Dawn interrupted his thoughts.

When both brothers were looking at her, she went on. “His status. His father is western Pequot, but his mother’s eastern. I don’t know if this will help or not, or even if it is important, but he lost out on Foxwoods and Mohicans. He’d already be a millionaire by now if he was part of that tribe.”

Jonathan had more than enough information now to know that Peter was behind it all. Greed. Jealousy. Unrequited love. Check. Check. Check. That plus the man was an egomaniac who felt wronged by his people, and that he was owed more than what was his lot. Jonathan now knew for sure that Peter was the mastermind behind it all.

Joseph’s comment reiterated what he was thinking himself. “Well, he has all kinds of motive, that’s for sure. What about Simon?” he asked Dawn, not expecting her to have an answer, but shocked when she did.

She let out a sound of disgust. “You boys really need to get out on the floor more. You miss all the good gossip. This is just a rumor, but I heard his cancer was back. Remission didn’t last too long and he has been talking about some new age therapy that isn’t covered by his insurance. Or maybe he did it because he just wants to enjoy what time he has left.”

At that moment there was a subtle knock on the door. “Come in.” Jonathan called out. It was his weekend Secretary, Glenna, and she just came bustling in.

She gave him a perplexed look noticing the disarray in the office. And she hadn’t expected to find over half the family hunkered down inside. “There are two men, a Mr. Bruno and Mr. Wilder to see you, sir.”

“Show them in, Glenna. Please. And could you please have the kitchen send up a tray of bagels and fruit. Some coffee, too. Lots of coffee. It’s going to be a long day.” Glenna backed out quickly to complete her tasks. Jonathan turned to his brother. “Joseph, please go do what I’ve asked you to, and Dawn. I think, no, I know, I could use your help after all, with the accountants. You know them. That will help too.” He put his arm around her small shoulder and directed her towards the door. “Nothing like having family to support you when your back is against the wall.”

Dawn beamed and waited with him as Joseph slipped out the door. She stood with her brother as Wilder and Bruno entered. Jonathan greeted each of the men introduced by his sister, and then all four walked to the conference room together where Risolli was doing his thing.

When Jonathan shut the door on the group in the conference room, he clapped his hands once. “Let’s catch those crooks,” he muttered to himself as he headed back to his office. Dawn was working with the accountants, Joseph was handling security issues and customer issues. If his sister, Eve, wasn’t in New York wooing a client, he’d have her using her special skills too.

But now it was his turn. He needed to deal with Aliya and Peter. Who first, he thought, as he passed by his secretary. “No one goes in or out of that conference room except Joseph and you.”

“Yes sir,” came Glenna’s quick reply.

Who first? He passed right by his office door and headed to the bank of executive elevators.

His decision was made by the time he reached the ground floor level. Aliya.

He needed to know if she was involved.

Peter was a given.





Chapter 16




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Aliya was shocked by the unexpected arrival of Jonathan and from the looks of it he was in a hurry. She was just putting away her dishes when she heard the squeal of tires. Glancing out her window, she saw his car, a black Mercedes, pull up in her driveway shortly before noon. She had just gotten back from her parents, where she had brunch, and was tidying her home which she had neglected of late. Her plans were to get back on her computer and continue her search for alternative locations for the dance studio she wanted to open. She found several locations for a studio. Peter had done some research for her and sent her a note of apology, which she appreciated. And promised he would fight for her to have the space on the reserve. No strings. She hoped he would come through. The price tags on the properties that would suit her needs were astronomical, but two of them looked good. The leases on them were affordable and within her budget. She could always purchase the place later, or rent to own in the lease agreement on one of them.