Forever Golden: Dark High School Bully Romance (Kings of Cypress Prep Book 3) by Rachel Jonas (beach books TXT) 📕

My mind is reeling right now, and I drop down into the chair across from Boone, thinking about all the signs we likely missed. But how could we have known? Before agreeing to this trip, I double-checked that the family he wanted to visit here in Louisiana had nothing to do with his dad, and West seemed so certain Vin had no inkling who his father was.

Now, we both know that was a huge lie.

“Vin got in good with Augustin at some point and the family took to him all right, I suppose, but word never got out about Augustin having an illegitimate son. Could’ve been out of respect for his wife who was still alive at the time, could’ve been about control. Who the hell knows? But what I do believe is that it suited Vin that this familial tie was an easy secret to keep. After all, the name Ruiz—from what I gather—is one of a few surnames synonymous with criminal activity up there in Cypress Pointe. Is that correct?”

I nod to confirm. “It is.”

“Just as I thought,” Boone says with a sigh. “Long as I’ve known Vin, he’s been two steps ahead. My guess is that he knew he’d want to practically own that damn city one day and couldn’t risk having his reputation associated with the likes of the Ruiz family. Now, don’t get me wrong, he gets in the dirt with them up to a point, gets entangled with some of their endeavors when it suits him—like when he’s got a business venture to fund. How do you think his career in commercial real estate got started? But he’s a proud son of a bitch, and a smart one. As much as I hate to admit it,” he adds with a laugh. “Vin’s always got an angle, though, and you can bet your ass whatever moves he makes, it’s what’s best for him and him alone.”

“The campaign posters,” I say to West, but it’s Boone who’s staring.

“What campaign posters?”

“A… friend—at least, I guess you can call her that—she sent me a proof of a poster announcing Vin as a mayoral candidate in the upcoming election.”

Boone’s expression tenses. “No one knows about it yet?”

I shake my head. “No, my guess is the two months he gave me to end things with West marks the date he plans to go public with this. He doesn’t want West and I associated, we just haven’t completely worked out why.”

Boone lets out a frustrated sigh. “It’s likely what West shared with me a couple days ago about your brother. There any connection between the two? Does Vin have any ties with that girl your brother was accused of murdering?”

“If there’s a connection, we haven’t found it yet.” I hate that I don’t have a definitive answer, but that’s the truth of it.

“West tells me you’re concerned about your sister’s safety, so focus on her. Let your detective friend handle things regarding your brother. That’s something you can’t control right now, sweetheart,” Boone adds thoughtfully. “And while I know the information in this box might not be the smoking gun you two hoped it would be, maybe the detective can use it to his advantage.”

“You’ve done more than enough, Grandpa. Thank you,” West says with a gracious nod. “Half the battle’s been proving that my dad’s even got the means to make those girls disappear, so I imagine linking him directly to a known crime family does just that.”

My stomach turns a little because, while the Ruizes can be reduced to ‘a known crime family’ to most people, Shane and Ricky are definitely more than that to me. With Scar’s safety on the line, there’s no question what my priority is, but I pray Ricky meant what he said about not being involved with this side of his uncle’s business. If he is, there’s a chance he could go down with the sinking ship.

I race through every recent conversation I’ve had with him, searching for any indication that he hasn’t been honest, but then I remember who I’m dealing with. Ricky is a lot of things, but a liar isn’t one of them. If he says he’s not involved, he’s not involved.

Suddenly, I’m anxious to get this particular bit of info into Roby’s hands. It at least establishes that I wasn’t crazy to think Vin had some sort of tie to whatever new operation Paul has going on.

“I put in a call yesterday morning and officially brought my guy out of retirement,” Boone informs us. “He’s got about forty years of investigative experience under his belt and I don’t trust anyone else to finish the job he started two decades ago. If I pay him well enough—and I will—he’s willing to set up camp up there in Cypress Pointe and do some more digging. So, even though I won’t be there in the flesh, I’m on you kids’ side,” he assures us.

Tearful and so, so confused, I take Boone’s hand when he offers it to me. “Thank you. For everything.”

He nods with a warm smile. “Anything I can do to help family, I’ll do it. And as long as my grandson thinks the sun rises and sets on that pretty little head of yours, you’re family.”

I stand and go toward where West is still leaning beside the bookcase, but I pause when Boone calls out to me.

“The folder belongs to the two of you. I’ve got no use for it anymore. But if I could give you one more bit of advice…”

West nods. “Of course.”

Boone stands from his seat and comes close. “Your daddy may be a slippery son of a bitch, but one thing he’s never been is an idiot. Now, I’m all for you kids working together with that task force to bring Vin Golden to his knees, but in the meantime, march to the beat of his drum. Or, at the very least, give the appearance that you are. It’ll buy