Any Way You Want It (Brand Clan #2)(21)
“I’m giving you an opportunity to protect Zandra from potential scandal,” Keegan continued. “If you investigate her agency and uncover any wrongdoing, then you can warn her to get her house in order before it’s too late. But you have to do it by the book, Brand,” he added sternly. “You can’t tip her off about the investigation. You need to get legitimate results—good or bad. Covering up the truth will only hurt Zandra in the long run.”
The knot in Remy’s gut pulled tighter. He knew Keegan was right, but damn it, he hated the idea of going behind Zandra’s back to investigate her agency. It was the ultimate breach of trust, and she’d never forgive him if she found out.
“I can’t do it,” he said flatly.
Keegan frowned. “Brand—”
“If my investigation reveals that her escorts are having sex with clients, then what? You’ll report back to the mayor, he’ll go public and Zandra will suffer the repercussions.” Remy shook his head. “I can’t do that to her.”
Keegan looked him in the eye. “You have my word that I won’t report any damaging information to Norwood.”
Remy frowned in confusion. “Then what the hell is the point of all this?”
“To appease the mayor. When he’s got his sights set on something, there’s no moving the target.” Keegan’s expression softened. “Look, son, I know how much Zandra Kennedy means to you. Whenever you talked about home, her name came up as often as any of your family members—sometimes more. I have no desire to cause her any trouble, but if the mayor hires another firm to investigate her agency, all bets are off. And we both know there’s nothing to stop any of the other candidates from going that route. If I were you, I’d want to know what kind of ammunition the enemy can use against me.”
Remy held the commander’s intent gaze for a moment, then shoved to his feet and stalked to the windows. He rubbed a hand down his face, rasping the short whiskers of his goatee.
Behind him, he heard the soft creak of leather as Keegan rose from the chair. “I’ve heaped a load onto your shoulders, so I’ll give you till this evening to get back to me with your decision.”
Remy nodded tightly.
Not only had Keegan been one of the best mentors he could have ever asked for, but when the shit hit the fan, he’d put his neck on the line for Remy, intervening with the brass to spare Remy the ignominy of a dishonorable discharge. And now he’d come through for him again.
Remy turned from the window. “Sir.”
Keegan stopped at the door, meeting his gaze.
“Thank you for bringing this to my attention. You didn’t have to. You could have gone to another firm, and I’d have been none the wiser. I really appreciate you looking out.” His lips twisted ruefully. “Of course, if I go through with this and Zandra finds out, she’ll never speak to me again.”
Keegan gave him a smile of sympathetic understanding.
“‘Cheat if you must,’” he said, quoting an old Navy SEAL expression, “‘but don’t get caught.’”
Chapter Six
Landis Kennedy’s unexpected visit left Zandra shaken for the rest of the day.
On her way home from the office that evening, she mentally replayed the painful confrontation until her insides churned with anger and her eyes burned with fresh tears.
After all these years, and after everything she’d done to put her traumatic past behind her, she should have been immune to her father’s cruelty and hatred. But she wasn’t.
And something told her she never would be.
Closing her eyes, Zandra let the memories wash over her, pulling her deeper under.
Fifteen years ago when she’d graduated from high school as class valedictorian, she’d had her choice of any college or university to attend. Determined to get as far away from home as possible, she’d stunned everyone by accepting admission to Oxford University in England. She’d majored in economics and spent the next four years studying rigorously while working odd jobs to help pay her tuition. She’d loved living abroad, and had only returned home every summer to look after her mother, who remained trapped in an abusive marriage.
No matter how often Zandra implored Autumn Kennedy to leave her husband, to run away and start over someplace new, Autumn had insisted on staying. She was afraid to do anything else. And after her mother passed away, she seemed to cling even more to Landis.
But when Zandra graduated from Oxford, Autumn had made the trip overseas without her husband, who couldn’t be bothered. After the graduation ceremony, she and Zandra had celebrated over lunch. Autumn’s face had held the serene glow of someone who was at peace with herself, a memory that would haunt Zandra years after her death.
When she announced her decision to remain at Oxford for graduate school, Autumn had reached across the table and taken Zandra’s hands between hers. She’d told Zandra that she loved her and was very proud of her, which Zandra already knew. But hearing it again, on that day, had meant the world to her.
Over dessert, Autumn had opened up and spoken poignantly of her own dreams of living the artist’s life in Paris, painting masterpieces inspired by the beauty and romance of the city.
So for the next seven days, she and Zandra had lost themselves in Paris. They’d visited museums, gone for long strolls, sipped coffee at cozy sidewalk cafés, enjoyed the simple pleasure of breaking the crust on a crème br?lée while watching pedestrians dash across a busy street.