The Final Chapter: Enigma, #4 Read online

  Enigma: The Final Chapter

  Shandi Boyes

  Shandi Boyes

  Copyright

  © Shandi Boyes 2019

  Copyright notice: No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Contents

  Also by Shandi Boyes

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Epilogue

  Also by Shandi Boyes

  Also by Shandi Boyes

  Perception Series

  * * *

  Saving Noah (Noah & Emily)

  Fighting Jacob (Jacob & Lola)

  Taming Nick (Nick & Jenni)

  Redeeming Slater (Slater and Kylie)

  Saving Emily (Noah & Emily - Novella)

  Wrapped Up with Rise Up (Perception Novella - should be read after the Bound Series)

  * * *

  Enigma

  * * *

  Enigma (Isaac & Isabelle #1)

  Unraveling an Enigma (Isaac & Isabelle #2)

  Enigma The Mystery Unmasked (Isaac & Isabelle #3)

  Enigma: The Final Chapter (Isaac & Isabelle #4)

  Beneath The Secrets (Hugo & Ava #1)

  Beneath The Sheets(Hugo & Ava #2)

  Spy Thy Neighbor (Hunter & Paige)

  The Opposite Effect (Brax & Clara)

  I Married a Mob Boss(Rico & Blaire)

  Second Shot(Hawke & Gemma)

  The Way We Are(Ryan & Savannah #1)

  The Way We Were(Ryan & Savannah #2)

  Sugar and Spice (Cormack & Harlow)

  Lady In Waiting (Regan & Alex #1)

  Man in Queue (Regan & Alex #2)

  Couple on Hold(Regan & Alex #3)

  Enigma: The Wedding (Isaac and Isabelle)

  Silent Vigilante (Brandon and Melody #1)

  Hushed Guardian (Brandon & Melody #2)

  Quiet Protector (Brandon & Melody #3)

  * * *

  Bound Series

  * * *

  Chains (Marcus & Cleo #1)

  Links(Marcus & Cleo #2)

  Bound(Marcus & Cleo #3)

  Restrain(Marcus & Cleo #4)

  Psycho (Dexter & ??)

  * * *

  Russian Mob Chronicles

  * * *

  Nikolai: A Mafia Prince Romance (Nikolai & Justine #1)

  Nikolai: Taking Back What’s Mine (Nikolai & Justine #2)

  Nikolai: What’s Left of Me(Nikolai & Justine #3)

  Nikolai: Mine to Protect(Nikolai & Justine #4)

  Asher: My Russian Revenge (Asher & Zariah)

  Nikolai: Through the Devil's Eyes(Nikolai & Justine #5)

  Trey (Trey & K)

  K: A Trey Sequel

  The Italian Cartel

  * * *

  Dimitri

  Roxanne

  Reign

  Mafia Ties (Novella)

  Maddox

  Demi

  Rocco

  Clover

  Smith

  * * *

  RomCom Standalones

  Just Playin’ (Elvis & Willow)

  Ain't Happenin' (Lorenzo & Skylar)

  The Drop Zone (Colby & Jamie)

  Very Unlikely (Brand New Couple)

  * * *

  Short Stories

  * * *

  Christmas Trio (Wesley, Andrew & Mallory -- short story)

  Falling For A Stranger (Short Story)

  * * *

  Coming Soon

  Skitzo

  Dedication

  To everyone who has rode the Enigma ride with me.

  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

  To our Enigma, Isaac—thank you!

  Shandi xx

  Chapter 1

  Isaac

  “Social security number, birth certificate, and passport.”

  When Hunter places each stated item onto my desk, I undo the button on my suit jacket and take a seat to scrutinize them. “Were there any issues having them verified?”

  Hs scrubs his hand along his scruffy beard. “No, I used the same guy I did when we got Hugo’s identification.”

  “Cooper?”

  Hunter nods. Cooper has worked with Henry Gottle, Sr. for the past decade. When it became vital for Hugo to disappear, Henry steered me to Cooper. He lives and breathes for his enterprise, and he's damn good at what he does. Although he comes off as blunt, I soon realized he’s hardened his shell to ensure he remains viable in the ruthless industries he’s immersed himself in.

  Cooper’s knack for forgery ensured Hugo became a ghost, a phantom, the invisible man—until the whirlwind of Isabelle arrived in our lives. She unearthed the real Hugo faster than those who have been hunting him for years. Now I need to ensure the breadcrumbs she left during her investigation don’t have a recoil effect on Hugo, which, in turn, will have a carry-on effect on my empire.

  Hunter slouches into a chair across from me before balancing his boot-covered ankle onto his opposite knee. “Cooper’s charges have substantially increased in the past four years.”

  “It’s a price I’m willing to pay for legitimacy like this.” Even acutely aware the U.S. passport is counterfeit, the expertise is so compelling, I'm beginning to wonder if Cooper works for the State Department.

  A tangle of emotions holds my thoughts hostage when my gaze zooms in on a pair of big chocolate eyes in the passport photo. They’re the eyes that hold the key to unraveling the real Isaac Holt. They could fully reveal me, leaving me open and exposed for my competitors to see. Although they’re eyes that will bare me as a mere man instead of an enigma, they could also inflict my greatest demise. That could decimate me. Everything I’ve built the past seven years teeters precariously on one pair of big brown eyes.

  My silent contemplations are interrupted when Hunter places a large manila folder onto the desk. A handful of noted papers fall out of the overstuffed document wallet when he slides it across to me.

  “Isaac, I have the pleasure of introducing you to Mr. Lucas Marco, District Attorney of Ravenshoe.” I flip open the folder and peruse the first few documents as Hunter continues with his dynamic introduction. “Married, father of three, thirty-two years old, has resided in Ravenshoe the past two years after leaving his hometown of Merryville. His wife is�
��” He stops talking, his lips twisting impenitently before a rough, deep growl emits from his throat. “… a mom I'd really like to fu—”

  Any further words about to spill from his lips trap in this throat from the wry look I direct at him. He grins and winks, relishing that he forced a reaction out of me. He’s clearly noticed my usually ruthless equanimity has faltered the past two weeks. Because I failed to react to his taunting behavior, his personal digs have become unyielding.

  For years, my hunger for success was urged on by the excitement of power and wealth. I wanted to conquer it all, to be in complete control. So I aspired to build an empire that amassed substantial wealth because with wealth came power. The wealthier I became, the more powerful I wanted to be. But with more power, came more wealth. And thus began the vicious cycle that had me always yearning for more.

  The rancorous events altered my perspective of living. Before Isabelle came into my life, it had no conclusion in sight. She forced a steel bar into the cogs, stopping the rotation that would have soon had me spiraling out of control.

  After I was arrested, I stepped back and evaluated my life. I realized everything I'd built, the years of blood, sweat, and tears didn’t crumble when I left my office before my club reached full capacity. It didn’t collapse when I spent a weekend with Isabelle at my private residence after she officially became mine. It ran like the well-oiled machine I had built it to be.

  It was only then I realized my greatest accomplishments can’t be calculated by wealth or power. It’s measured by the people in my life. That’s why I'll stop at nothing to ensure Isabelle once again becomes mine because she is without a doubt, my greatest accomplishment.

  This morning, after running into Isabelle at Avery’s office, the blood pumping through my body became potent, thickened by the thrill of the hunt. Only hours before, she said she didn’t know if she could forgive me for my betrayal, but I saw sparks of the old Isabelle in her eyes when I assisted her off the ground after her tumble. She had the same wild, frenzied look she had the morning she crashed into me at the airport. A look that promised she’d not only be my greatest possession but also my hardest battle. I'm up for the challenge. I’ve been fighting my entire life. It’s who I am, and it’s what I do. I’ll fight every day until Isabelle is once again mine.

  My bed.

  My house.

  My rules.

  MINE.

  But first, I need to guide her through the minefield she's precariously tiptoeing through. Once the landmines have been annihilated, my focus will shift to a more personal endeavor.

  I lay a piece of paper on my desk. “Mr. Marco’s bank accounts, although not as pitiful as some I’ve seen, are less than stellar, so how can he afford a Cartier Diver watch?” I lift the surveillance photo of Lucas that shows the expensive timepiece encircling his wrist off my desk. “They sell for eight to twenty thousand dollars each. A new DA would be lucky to take home sixty thousand a year, let alone the fact he has three young children to provide for.” My gaze shifts to Hunter. “Does he have family money, an inheritance?”

  Without glancing at the documents, Hunter shakes his head. “He still has student loans in the thousands. His mom was a primary school teacher, and his dad was a car salesman before he was laid off at the end of last year. Lucas’s past fiscal year tax return was for fifty-eight thousand.”

  “His wife?”

  Hunter shrugs. “She's a stay-at-home mom, and although her family is better off than Lucas’s, they wouldn’t gift such an expensive item.”

  I’m not surprised by his revelations. I’ve always had a knack for reading people, and even through a computer monitor, I had a feeling Mr. Marco wasn’t quite the saint he’s portraying with his family-man image. He's often photographed at charity events with his wife on his arm, and in local newspapers he's reported as a well-respected member of the community, but there's something dark in his eyes.

  That's why for the past two weeks, I shifted my focus from having the evidence in Isabelle’s case squashed to unearthing the man who’s campaigning for her false conviction. It wasn’t just Mr. Marco’s inaccurate description of Isabelle the morning of her arraignment that piqued my interest. It’s the fact I read him as a sly, underhanded man, a wolf wearing sheep’s clothing. I see an evil man hiding beneath a reputable job description. Those are the people you should be wary of. The quiet, calculating men are often the ones who create the biggest ripple.

  Hunter’s tattoo-covered hand ruffles through the documents on my desk. “Watches aren’t the most elaborate purchases he likes to fiddle in. Expensive, high-caliber hookers are his pleasure of choice.”

  My head shifts to the side as my lips tug high. Although my empire doesn’t dabble in the prostitution conglomerate, I have a close connection to the man I allow to run the one and only high-priced brothel in my town—Henry Gottle, Sr.

  “I contacted Henry on your behalf. He gave me access to his security servers,” Hunter advises, reading my thoughts. “We have some noteworthy pictures that will create a spark from Lucas.” His broad grin peeks out from behind his scraggly beard. “If not, I’m sure his wife will be more than appreciative to find out the information I have unearthed.”

  He hands me a collection of photos of Mr. Marco in compromising positions with various members of the personnel from Henry’s brothel, Kiki’s Kinks. My smirk merges into a full smile. Bribery has never been a forte of mine. Not a soul receives a penny from me or my empire unless they have rightfully earned it, but blackmail is an entirely different story.

  Although it’s evident Mr. Marco is a man happy to accept a golden handshake under the table, he will soon learn that isn’t how things are run in Ravenshoe. Even with Ryan being confident Isabelle’s charges will be dropped tomorrow morning, I'll follow through with ensuring Mr. Marco is displayed as the wolf he is to the community, shamed and exposed for all to see.

  “Call Regan and request contact information for Mr. Marco. I need to schedule a meeting with the soon-to-be ex-District Attorney of Ravenshoe.”

  “Your meeting is at four tomorrow afternoon,” Hunter interrupts, grinning.

  My eyes snap to his. Even with a broad smile etched on his face, he looks exhausted. His work ethic the past three weeks has been tenacious. Very rarely does he leave my side as we continue to evaluate every viable threat to Isabelle. Although my staff is compensated well for their loyalty, Hunter isn’t here seeking a larger bonus check. He’s here because of the burden of guilt he carries over the ‘Megan’ incident.

  Hunter, although reserved, shouldered the blame for my security team’s lack of knowledge regarding Megan’s personal records. Instead of thoroughly evaluating the situation, they brushed it off as a side effect of fame. Even though he’s taking the blame, it doesn’t lessen my anger. I appreciate that he had the gall to admit his error, and considering it’s been his only lapse in judgment the past four years, I don’t see the need to further reprimand him. He’s punishing himself enough. He doesn’t need additional guilt on his already-weighed-down shoulders.

  My eyes drop to my Rolex. It’s a little after two in the afternoon. “Why don’t you head home, and we’ll reconvene our compilation about Mr. Marco’s indiscretions after Isabelle’s court hearing tomorrow morning?”

  Hunter scrubs his hand over his weary eyes before nodding. “I have a few back programs running on my home servers I should probably go and check, anyway.”

  I shoot him a sardonic look. “I wasn’t suggesting you go home to continue working. Go rest and revive. Maybe even give Kiki a call and see if she can send someone over to help get those kinks out of your shoulders.”

  His rumbling chuckle barrels around the quiet of my office. “Thanks for the offer, but I don’t require the services of an establishment like Kiki’s to unkink my tension.” His shimmering eyes float up from the desk to glare at me. “But if I do, I’ll be sure to ask for a family discount since you have a recurring tab there.”

  I grin, but I
don’t attempt to refute his accusation, as everything he said is accurate. I have used Kiki’s services before but not for what you're thinking. Tatiana and the many other women I dated those four weeks after Isabelle and I returned from the McGregor’s residence were employees of Kiki’s. I figured if I used a paid service instead of the regular women who approached me daily, the chances of them expecting something more after the date would be significantly reduced.

  Although most were overly friendly like Tatiana, their disappointment at not being invited into my bed was eased when I handed them the envelope with their five-thousand-dollar paycheck inside. I did occasionally get caught unaware when ushering them back to my town car after our date. One, at the very beginning, even managed to sneak in a brazen kiss on my mouth after I refused her third attempt at seducing me by offering her services free of charge.

  Before Isabelle, I wouldn’t have hesitated, but after I tasted her in the office of my nightclub, 57, no other woman has aroused the slightest bit of interest from me. One taste was all it took for my obsession with her to surge to levels I’d never experienced before.