ir was discharged two hourster with a bottle of painkillers and strict instructions to take it easy for the next few days. Roman had managed to charm, intimidate, or bribe someone into letting them leave at the same time, despite the doxor wanting him to stay the night.
Roman’s parents had called to talk to Roman, but he told them to stay home. They would be going home soon, anyway,
“I’m driving,” Sutton announced as they walked toward the hospital parking area.
“Thank Sutton, but,” Roman said. “Ethan’s meeting us with a car
“I hope you are letting him drive because you have one good arm and you’re on pain meds”
“I’m not on pain meds. I refused them?
ir looked at him. “You refused pain medication for a dislocated shoulder<i>?</i><i>” </i>
“Pain meds make you slow<i>, </i>Can’t afford to be slow right now<i>” </i>
“Jesus Christ, you’re stubborn. That’s why you have security, right?” Keira muttered,
Just as Keira stopped say that, Ethan appeared with a ck SUV, nked by two other security vehicles, ir was getting used to the convoy thing, but it still felt weird. But there was more security than before. Had Peters or Roman got more
men?
“Shit, anyone would think you were royalty or something like that,” Keira said before kissing ir on the cheek.
Sutton kissed her as well before turningser eyes on Roman. “Look after her.”
Roman nodded, exhausted, but he would protect ir with his life. He hadn’t worked so hard to get her to lose her now. “I need you both toe back to the estate. I need it’ste, but I need to share some information with you.”
Sutton tilted her head. “What?”
“It’s better youe back to the estate. I have all the information there, and you need to see it.”
Twenty minutester, they were back at Roman’s estate, sitting in his office while Petersid out everything they’d found so far. ir’s head was still pounding, but she needed to hear this.
“The driver’s name is Marcus Kellner,” Peters said, pulling up a file on hisptop. “Ex–military, dishonorably discharged five years ago for excessive violence. Since then, he’s been frencing.”
“Frencing what?” Sutton asked,
“The kind of work that doesn’t appear on tax returns,” Roman said grimly.
“A hitman,” ir said tly. <i>“</i>Someone hired a fucking hitman to kill me.”
It was one thing to suspect it. It was another thing to have it confirmed.
“Professional grade<i>,</i><i>” </i>Peters confirmed. “Kellner doesn’te cheap. We’re talking significant money–the kind that leaves <b>a </b>paper trail if you know where to look.”
Roman leaned forward. “How significant?”
“Based on his previous jobs? Probably fifty thousand, minimum. Maybe more, given the multiple attempts and the high- profile nature of the target.”
16:18 Wed, 18 Jun
?. 93%<b>[ </b>
<b>28 </b>
ir felt sick. “High–profile? I’m a secretary.”
“You’re a secretary engaged to one of the most powerful men in the city,” Peters pointed out. “That makes you high–profile by association.”
“So someone paid fifty grand to have me killed because I’m marrying Roman?” ir looked <i>at </i>her fiancé. “Jessica?”
Roman shook his head. “<b>Jessica’s </b>crazy, but she’s not murderous crazy. And she doesn’t have that kind of cash. That’s why she wants me back.”
Keira whistled. “Nice to be wanted for your wallet.”
“Then who?” ir needed to know this was her life on the line.
“That’s what we’re going to find out,” Peters said. “I’ve got people tracking Kellner’s finances, looking for the source of his payment. Professional killers usually get paid through intermediaries, but there’s always a trail.”
“How long will that take?” Keira asked.
“Could be days. Could be weeks. Depends on how careful they were,” Peters told them all.
“We don’t have weeks,” Roman said. “This bastard’s escting. Tonight proves that.”
ir rubbed her temples. Between the concussion and the stress, her head felt like it was going to explode. “What about motive? Who benefits <b>if </b>I’m dead?”
went quiet for a moment.
tually a good question,” Sutton said slowly. “I mean, who does benefit?”
couldn’t be Dan or Laura. Dan is <b>a </b>coward, and Laura has what she wants.” ir was thinking out loud. “My death doesn’t really change anything for them.”
“Yeah, the bread basket.” Keira mumbled.
“What about your family’s money?” Roman asked. “The trust funds, the inheritance from your parents?”
“What inheritance? Uncle Peter said Warner Industries was basically broke when my parents died. Everything went to keeping thepany afloat. Plus a whole heap of his money. Thewyer told us that was the only thing that stop thepany from bankruptcy and everyone losing their jobs.” Sutton exined. She was older when their parents died and remembered more.
Roman and Peters exchanged a look that ir didn’t like.
“What?” she demanded.
“ir,” Roman said carefully, “I’ve been looking into Warner Industries‘ finances. Something you said didn’t make sense to me,”
“And?”
“Warner Industries wasn’t broke when your parents died. Its worth was at least fifty million dors, probably more.”
ir stared at him. “That’s impossible. Uncle Peter said-”
“Uncle Peter lied,” Roman said bluntly. “Thepany’s had been profitable for years. Very profitable. We believe thewyer was paid off to somehow faked the finances of thepany, because now he is living it up on a tropical ind. A very wealthy man.”
16:18 Wed, 18 Jun
“How could he?” ir’s voice was barely a whisper.
“Because if Warner Industries is worth fifty million dors, and your parents died while you guys were still very young. It was like taking candy from a baby.”
ir felt like the floor had dropped out from under her. The room was spinning, and it wasn’t just from the concussion.
“But we saw the paperwork,” Sutton said slowly. “Thewyer showed us everything. The debts, the bankruptcy proceedings…”
“All fake,” Peters said, pulling up another file on hisptop. We tracked down thewyer who handled your parents‘ estate. Harold Brennan. Turns out he’s been living in the Cayman Inds for the past eight years. Veryfortable lifestyle for someone who supposedly helped save a failingpany.”
ir’s hands were shaking. “So Uncle Peter… he stole everything?”
“Not just stole,” Roman said grimly. “We think your parents‘ deaths…” He didn’t know how he was going to tell them, tell ir what they had found out.
“You think he killed them?” Keira’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“We think your parents‘ ne crash wasn’t an ident,” Peters said carefully. “And I think Peter Warner wanted what your parents had before you girls got older.”
ir stood up abruptly, then immediately sat back down as dizziness hit her. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
Sutton moved to her side immediately. “Breathe, ir. Just breathe.”
“Our uncle killed our parents,” ir said numbly. “And now he’s trying to kill us…. well me anyway. But why me?”
“We don’t know that for sure yet. It could be because questions started to get asked and you are now involved with someone as powerful as Roman.” Peters said. “We’re building a case. evidence is stilling in.”
Roman’s phone buzzed. He nced <i>at </i>it, and his expression darkened even further. “That was my contact at First National Bank. Peter Warner just tried to make arge cash withdrawal. Fifty thousand dors.”
“For another payment to Kellner,” ir said.
“That’s what we think. But here’s the interesting part–the bank gged it as suspicious and put a hold on the transaction.”
“Why?” Sutton asked.
“Because fifty thousand in cash raises red gs<b>, </b>especially from a business ount. They have to report anything over ten thousand to the government.” Roman’s smile was cold. “Peter’s getting sloppy. The hitman isn’t a business, so it was for a personal ount.
Peters closed hisptop. “He’s probably calling the bank right now, trying to figure out why his money’s tied up.”
“How long before he realizes it’s not just a temporary hold?” ir asked.
“Not long,” Roman said. “Which means he’s going to panic. And when people panic, they make mistakes.”
ir looked around the room at her sisters, Roman, and Peters. Her family… what was left of it and the people trying to keep her alive.
“So what do we do now?<b>” </b>she asked.
“Now we wait for him to make that mistake,” Roman said. “And when he does, we’ll be ready.”
16:18 Wed
“I want to confront <b>him</b>.” ir said suddenly, “I want to look him in the eye and ask him why he killed our parents.”
Absolutely not. Roman said immediately
“ir, that’s–Sutton started.
“Suicide.” Keira finished. “Complete suicide.
“He’s our uncle. He raised us after our parents died. True, they did a shit job,” ir’s voice was getting stronger. “I want to know why I want to hear <b>him </b>say it.
“He raised you so you wouldn’t ask questions. It would be odd if they didn’t take you in,” Peters pointed out. “And now he’s trying to kill you to keep it all quiet. Family loyalty doesn’t mean shit to him.”
Roman was studying ir’s face. “What are you really thinking?”
ir met his eyes Tm thinking Uncle Peter believes he’s gotten away with murder for ten years. I’m thinking he’s arrogant enough to believe he can do it again.” She paused. “And I’m thinking we can use that against him.”
You want to bait him?” Roman said slowly.
I want to make <b>him </b>think he’s won. Let him getfortable, let him think his n worked.” ir’s voice was steadying as the idea took shape. “Then we record him confessing to everything.”
Sutton was shaking her head. “That’s too dangerous.”
“Everything’s dangerous right now,” ir pointed out. “At least this way, we’re in control.”
Roman was quiet for a long moment, and ir could practically see the gears turning in his head.
“It could work,” he said finally. “But we’d need to be very careful about how we set it up. Your safetyes first.”
“Roman.” Sutton said warningly.
“No, he’s right,” Keira said suddenly. “Uncle Peter thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. He’s been ying this game for ten years, and no one’s caught him. His ego is his weakness. ir isn’t safe until this is over.”
ir felt a cold knot of determination settle in her stomach. “Then let’s use it.”
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