Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 289

CHAPTER 163-2

“That sounds deliberate” I said.

“It is.” He said as Derek walked closer.

“Could someone be cleaning up the trail as we follow it?” Derek asked.

“That’s possible. And if it is happening, whoever is doing it knows what we are looking for.” Ethan replied as I felt the muscles in my shoulders tighten.

“So we have an outside player.” I said.

“I think so.” Ethan said.

“Not Victor?” I asked.

“Not entirely.” He said as I looked toward Ethan.

“Do you have proof?” I asked.

“No, but the financial pattern tells us something important.” He said.

“What?” I asked.

“Victor is messy.” He said and Derek snorted.

“That might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said about him.” Derek said but Ethan ignored him.

“Victor’s operation leaves obvious patterns because he relies on intimidation, cash, and direct relationships. This is different. Whoever built these transactions is patient, organized, and careful.” Ethan said and I knew exactly where his thoughts were going.

“Mr. Black.” I said and Ethan nodded.

“I can’t prove it yet.” Ethan said.

Neither could I but the name sat between us like a locked door.

I looked at the investigation board again, and my eyes landed on the symbol Charlotte had recognized from Victor’s office.

The same symbol Uncle Will had drawn years ago.

The same symbol that had appeared in records connected to the old warehouse investigation.

“We need to know what Uncle Will found.” I said.

“We are still trying to recover the missing pages from his journals.” Ethan replied.

“Keep looking.” I said.

“I will.” Ethan said.

1.4

CHAPTER 16

The door opened behind us, and Pälge stepped into the room.

She had changed into work clothes, and there was a faint strear of grease on one hand because she had clearly already been working at Lawson Customs.

Her eyes moved from me to Ethan and then toward the financial reports

“What did you find?” She asked as I walked over to her.

“More financial activity.” I said as she studied my face.

“Bad?” She asked.

“Complicated.” I said and she sighed.

“That usually means bad.” She said and I smiled faintly.

“It is connected to several companies that appear legitimate, but the money eventually disappears through layers of businesses.” I said.

“Do you need me?” She asked.

The question was quiet, and I knew what she meant and I shook my head.

“Not for this.” I said and she nodded.

“I figured.” She said.

Paige had never been interested in club business for the sake of being involved, and although she supported me completely, she had her own life, her own business, and enough problems without adding another investigation to the list.

“I have three motorcycles waiting for me. One customer wants a full restoration, another needs an engine rebuilt, and the third one has an electrical problem that Ben swears he can solve.” She said and I smiled.

“Can he?” I asked.

“He can if he stops pretending he knows everything.” She said and I laughed.

“That sounds like Ben.” I said as Paige stepped closer and kissed me quickly.

“Just be careful.” She said.

“I will.” I said.

She started toward the door before turning back.

“And Jace?” She asked.

“Yeah?” I asked.

“Don’t let this consume you.” She said as I looked at her for a moment.

“I’ll try.” He said as she smiled before leaving and the room became quiet again as Derek glanced toward

the door.

24

CHAPTER 1

“She keeps you grounded.” Derek said.

She does.” I said and Ethan returned to his laptop.

“We have another problem.” Ethan said as I looked at him.

“What now?” I asked.

“One of the companies we traced has a strange ownership history.” He said as Owen leaned forward.

“Which one?” Owen asked as Ethan typed something into the search field.

“Blackstone Logistics.” Ethan said as Derek frowned.

“Never heard of it.” Derek said.

“Neither had I.” Ethan said.

The company had operated for almost six years, and according to the records, it provided transportation and storage services to several businesses across the county.

At first glance, there wasn’t thing suspicious. Then Ethan opened the ownership records.

“The company changed owners three times.” Ethan said.

“Who were they?” I asked.

“The first owner was a man named Richard Cole.” He said and he opened the second record.

“The second was Michael Grant.” He said before he opened the third.

“Charlotte’s old social circle.” He added as I stared at the screen.

“What?” I asked as Ethan enlarged the record.

“The current owner is a woman named Vanessa Reed.” Ethan said but the name meant nothing to me.

“Who is she?” I asked.

Owen pulled up another file, and his expression changed.

“Wait.” Owen said as he looked through the records again.

“I know that name.” He added.

“From where?” I asked.

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