Without Warning: A Billionaire Romance (Playboys of New York Book 5) by JA Low (the best novels to read .TXT) 📕

“He’s missing?” Jackson reiterates my words, and all I can do is nod my head. “And your ex hasn’t heard from him?” I shake my head. “Fuck.” He whistles. “Not looking good. But don’t worry, we will find him.” Jackson grins. “What else?”

“Madison’s brother is in jail. She said that whoever is behind this is blackmailing her. And she believed them because they were able to get to her brother in jail. They roughed him up pretty good because she looked terrified,” I explain.

“Right.” He takes a sip of his scotch. “I’ll look into the brother and your ex a little more. It might have something more to do with them, more so instead of you,” Jackson explains.

That would be fucking fantastic if it was the case because knowing the I have someone who hates me this much that they want to destroy me is a little hard to comprehend.

“I’ll also look into your father and brother,” he explains. “Is there anything else that sticks out?” Other than a conspiracy against me. No. “I can’t say this tomorrow.” Jackson gives me a grin. “But as you’re friends with Anderson here, and we are practically family—”

“Like hell we are,” Anderson grumbles as he takes a sip of his scotch. “I’m still pissed that you took advantage of my little sister the way you did.” He shoots him a dirty look.

“I did nothing she didn’t consent to.” Jackson chuckles while Anderson shoots the guy daggers. Anderson’s a big dude and one I wouldn’t want to go up against, but from what they have told me, Jackson was a marine and could probably kick his ass from here to Christmas.

Mental note… Never, ever, get on the bad side of either of them.

“Anyway, what I was saying was, as Anderson’s personally recommended you, I may go a little rogue in regard to our fact-finding mission,” Jackson explains.

“What he’s saying is he’s hacking into everyone’s stuff, and the stuff that they have deleted or ever googled or pretty much ever thought about he will uncover.” Anderson chuckles.

“Yeah. What he said.” Jackson grins.

“I don’t want to get anyone into trouble,” I tell them.

Jackson and Anderson look at each other and burst out laughing.

“Don’t you worry, I never get caught.” Jackson grins knowingly. “Once I find the information I need, I go back and try to find the breadcrumbs legally.”

“He’s a fucking tech wizard,” Anderson states. “Just don’t trust your sister around him.” I’m guessing there’s a little bit of tension in regard to their relationship.

“You have a sister?” Jackson chuckles.

“I do, actually.”

Jackson bends over and laughs even harder.

“Hey, fucker, you’re with Elise. No one else’s sister is available to you,” Anderson curses at his friend, and Jackson dissolves into laughter again, which I can’t help but join in on. “Don’t you gang up on me, bro.” Anderson points at me. “Not when your best friend is hooking up with your sister.”

What did he say?

Everything inside of me stills.

“What did you say?” Looking at Anderson, whose eyes widen as he realizes he’s just said something he shouldn’t have, my face must tell what I am thinking right now.

“Oh, shit, man, you just dropped a damn bomb.” Jackson shakes his head.

“I’m just messing around,” Anderson adds, then takes a massive gulp of scotch, emptying his glass.

“No, he’s not,” Jackson adds, which gets him a stern look from Anderson.

“There’s no way Stirling is messing with my little sister.” Looking at the both of them, Jackson shrugs his shoulders and sips his drink while Anderson looks like he wants the floor to swallow him whole.

“He’s not, is he?” I ask Anderson.

“No...” Anderson shakes his head unconvincingly.

What the hell is going on?

“Babe… we have a code red down here,” Anderson calls out. Then I hear footsteps, and then they echo down the stairs.

“What is it?” Emma takes a seat on the edge of Anderson’s chair and drapes her arm around his shoulders.

“Anderson put his foot in his mouth.”

Jackson chuckles, enjoying this way too much.

Elise takes a seat beside him and gives him a weird look. I look over at Ariana, and she is definitely confused by what’s happening.

“Did you know anything about Stirling and Audrey?” I ask.

“No.” She shakes her head and looks around the room. “Rhys, I promise I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Seriously, the stuff I tell you in our bed needs to stay there,” Emma chastises Anderson.

“I know, babe. Jackson said something to rile me up, and I just kind of took it out on Rhys here,” Anderson states.

“What’s going on?” Am I missing something big here?

“Nothing. Really,” Emma tries to placate me.

“But they’ve hooked up?” My blood begins to boil when Ariana places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

“You should maybe speak to your sister,” Emma explains.

“Stirling wouldn’t do that to me. He promised,” I tell the room, but as the words fall from my lips, flashes of their interactions come back to my mind. “That motherfucker.”

“Right, I think that’s us done.” Jackson stands, holding out his hand for Elise to take. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”

“We might show you to the door.” Anderson stands and Emma follows, leaving Ariana and me behind.

“You okay?” Ariana gives me a weak smile.

“I can’t believe he would do this to me?” I’m shocked over the entire situation.

“You don’t know if it’s true,” Ariana tries to calm me down.

“Why would Anderson lie about something like that?” Looking over at Ariana, she shrugs her shoulders because she knows he wouldn’t.

“Even if they have, is it really that big of a deal?” she asks. “I mean, it’s the twenty-first century. Her honor is not ruined.”

A frown falls across my forehead. “I know they’re adults, but still, she’s my sister, and he’s my best friend.” It’s a weak-ass argument, but it’s all I’ve got right now.

“Just hear them out if it’s true. Don’t go in there with all guns blazing. You have enough going on at the moment. Something like this is nothing compared to the big picture,” she tries to