Ty fiddled with the collar on his shirt. “There’s an LLC trying to purchase a manufacturing plant from Keller Enterprises. When I first received their offer, I did some digging. The owner was deceased, so it didn’t add up. I asked for more information from them but haven’t heard anything back. Then we discovered the same LLC deposited money into your account. Suffice to say, I think this Liam guy is connected to it all in some way. Something’s off, Liza.”
I blinked in shock. “What does that have to do with me?”
Ty shifted his gaze to the window and went quiet. I wondered if I’d completely lost him. He finally spoke up. “I can’t help but feel like it’s all somehow connected to your old pack. Maybe some of the Keller pack’s skeletons aren’t buried after all.”
An uneasy feeling settled in my gut. “Do you think that Liam realized I was alive and decided to give me the money anonymously? Maybe he owed it to my parents.” My mind swirled with possibilities. “Perhaps that’s the reason behind the email. What if Liam thought I was broke and needed an escape?”
“Maybe.” Ty leaned back in his chair, his expression darkening. “But we went public with our relationship. Everyone knows you’re not hurting for money. Hell, Liza, you’re the wealthiest woman in Texas between my family’s wealth and the money your parents left you.”
I chewed on my lip, mulling over his words. Ty was right. Everyone knew we were together now. My mind raced, trying to connect the dots. “If that’s true, then this could be connected to what happened to the Wylde pack. It means Liam might know what happened in Heather Falls.”
Ty shook his head. “That wouldn’t be good for the pack. For us.” Ty’s jaw clenched, and I could see his mind working.
We sat in silence for a few moments until I glanced at my watch. “When do you want to go to the bank to look into the security deposit box?”
Just then, my phone rang, an unknown number flashing on the screen. My stomach twisted into knots as dread washed over me again. I looked across at Ty and showed him the screen.
“Answer it,” Ty said, concern etched across his face. “Ignoring it might bring more trouble.”
I hesitated for a moment before putting the call on speakerphone. “Hello?”
“Hello, my dear.” Castro’s voice oozed from the other end, making my skin crawl. It was as if he had been waiting for a new bomb to drop on me with the new information about Liam. “I see you’re using some of your smarts, Liza dear, putting some of the puzzle pieces together. Well done.” Castro gave a sarcastic, slowclap. “I have to ask… what triggered it? What made you look into Liam Russell?”
“Fuck.” Of course Castro knew what we’d been focused on. The bastard was always two steps ahead of us.
Castro laughed. “Don’t be mistaken, Liza. my silence doesn’t mean I’ve given up on you, regardless of you being mated to Ty. I have absolutely no intention of just letting you go.”
Ty snarled and glared at the phone with an intensity that scared me.
Castro continued to laugh. “I’ve been lying low since the truth about Cecily was revealed.” He tutted with his tongue. “What a shame it was to kill poor Cecily, but she started questioning me, even when I asked her not to. How rude. Then I picked up on the fact that she’d been so damn sloppy, leaving little breadcrumbs all over the fucking place. I knew it wouldn’t be long before you both figured out she was working for me.”
Castro paused for a moment.
“Ty? I know you’re there. I must commend you for your new lap dog. Isaiah is a very capable man and that, unfortunately, makes him dangerous.” Castro sighed into the phone. “It’s a shame I can’t touch him. He knows people in high places. If I were to make a move against him… well, my game would be over far too quickly. So sad. I’ll just have to make sure I’m smarter than Isaiah from now on.”
I swallowed hard, my voice trembling. “Why are you calling, Castro? What do you want?”
“Ah, Liza.” The unsettling tone in his voice made me sick to my stomach. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m calling because of Liam Russell. You see, this isn’t just about business. Liam knows things. Things that no one else does. The money he sent you wasn’t for a business deal. It was because of his guilt.”
“His guilt?” I asked, my knuckles aching as I clutched the phone like my life depended on it. “How do you know about any of this, Castro?”
He laughed, the sound chilling me to the bone. “Now, what fun would it be for me to just give you the answers, my dear? I would have told you everything had you chosen me, but instead, I’ll leave you to figure it all out on your own. Just remember, once everything comes out, you’ll realize I’m the only one who can help you.”
“Help me?” I spat, anger rising within me. “All you’ve ever done is hurt and manipulate me.”
“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong,” Castro said smugly. “You see, your parents had more secrets than you know, and I can’t wait for you to see them for what they truly were. You’ll need me then, Liza.”
“Like hell I will,” I muttered under my breath, wishing I could reach through the phone and strangle him.
“Time will tell, my dear.”
Before I could say another word, Castro ended the call.
My hand shook as I lowered the phone, barely able to keep my grip on it. Ty’s snarl echoed through the room, matching the turmoil inside me. I couldn’t believe Castro had reared his ugly head again, just when we thought we were making progress in unraveling the mystery surrounding my family and the Wylde pack.
My entire body quaked, and I had to grip my phone with both hands to keep from dropping it. The aftershocks of Castro’s call coursed through me, leaving me on edge and craving relief.
“Son of a bitch,” Ty spat, his eyes blazing with fury as he paced the room. “We knew Castro would rear his ugly head again, but why now? Right when we start sniffing around Liam?”
