The Fearless King (The Kings #2)(69)

“That about sums it up.”

He kept reading. They’d thought they found all of Elliott’s debts—and that they all had been paid by his mother. They were wrong. Frank looked at the numbers, at the zeros behind them. “Four million? How the fuck did he dig himself that deeply?”

“He was paying it off at first, probably from money supplied by Lydia King, though it’s damn near impossible to track.” Mateo lifted his mug in the direction of the file. “The fact I managed to pull that much together is a testament to how good I am at my job.”

“Trust me, you’ll be compensated. More than compensated.” Frank finished reading and sat back. The picture painted by the file wasn’t a pretty one. A decade of loans from the Russians, of all people. Elliott had paid them back repeatedly…until six years ago, when the repayments stopped, but the spending didn’t. He shook his head. “Ivan Romanov gave him enough rope to hang himself with.”

Mateo nodded. “If he hasn’t already called the debt due, he will before too long.”

There were other ways to pay. Frank knew better than most the value information held. The Bancroft family had its fingers in more pies than anyone knew, from overseas trade to arms manufacturing. Elliott could be doing anything from insider trading to allowing Romanov to smuggle things in or out of the country.

“What I don’t get is why he didn’t go running to Mommy with this.” Mateo leaned his head against the back of his chair and closed his eyes. “She’s paid off every other debt he’s acquired.”

That, at least, he had an answer to. “Bancrofts aren’t stupid enough to get caught with ties to the Russian mob. Admitting he owes them money is putting the entire family name in danger if it comes out—and it will.” The only reason it hadn’t until now was that the information was leverage Ivan Romanov no doubt held over Elliott’s head.

I could buy the debt and be the one holding that bastard’s leash.

His people depended on him to keep them safe, but Journey was relying on him as well. A soft snore made Frank sigh. Mateo had fallen asleep in his chair. If he left him there, the man would wake up with a crick in his neck. He set the file on the desk and clasped his shoulder. “Mateo, use my couch.” Frank quietly closed the door of his office behind him and made his way to Mateo’s desk, where he could continue to consider this new information.

The facts didn’t change on his second read-through of the brief—or his third.

Mateo had anticipated his needs, and there was a Post-it note with Romanov’s number on the last page. Frank studied it for a long moment. Getting into bed with organized crime wasn’t part of the plan.

But if he didn’t do something, Elliott would keep going after Journey—after her siblings.

He could kill someone if they didn’t act fast.

He took a slow breath and dialed the number Mateo had provided.

“Ivan Romanov.”

That didn’t take long. “My name is Frank Evans of Evans Inc in Houston. I have a business prospect for you.”

A pause, and the man’s Russian accent thickened. “I’m listening.”

“A mutual friend of ours, one Elliott Bancroft, owes you a significant amount of money. I’m willing to negotiate terms so you stop putting pressure on him. I have information I think you might find valuable in your business dealings.”

Another pause, longer this time. Finally, Ivan chuckled, the sound rumbling down the line. “I like you, Frank Evans. You have balls, and a man like myself can appreciate that. But the debts have already been paid for the man of who you speak.”

What? “By who?” He spoke without thinking.

“I’m not in the habit of giving information for free.”

A bargain, then, but one with different parameters. Frank leaned back in his chair, tension working its way through his shoulders and cascading down his back. “Information for information, then.”

“There is word of a merger with Kingdom Corp,” Romanov hinted.

Easy enough to answer that question that isn’t a question. “I have it on good authority that Kingdom Corp is acquiring Cardinal Energy in a merger, though I can’t speak to the terms of the deal.”

“Good. Good. This is good news.” Ivan laughed, the sound booming down the line. “The man’s debts were purchased by a close relative of his. Nice older woman, though she is strong enough to scare weaker men out of her path.”

Esther. It has to be.

“A pleasure exchanging information with you, Ivan.”

The amusement fled from the Russian’s tone. “Do not call this number again.” He hung up.

As soon as Frank set his phone on the desk, it buzzed with a text from Ethan. Incoming.

Frank pushed to his feet and strode down the hallway. It hadn’t been all that long since he’d seen Journey last, but the sheer relief he felt down to his very bones as she made her way toward him rocked him back on his heels. Safe. She’s safe. Her dress and understated pumps made it look like she’d just come from the office, but the last he’d heard, she was with Samara.

Journey walked herself right into his embrace as he raised his arms and folded her into him. Frank stroked a hand down her back, the touch soothing something inside him. He turned his head and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Things with Samara went well.”