He frowned at her casual response.“Ah, the cops got to her.The place she’d been inside—it exploded right after she got out.”
The smallest bit of tea sloshed over the side of her cup, splashing onto her hand.“Oh, dear.”
“She is safe,” he told her.“I do not want you concerned.”
“I’ve spilled my tea.”
“She was taken to a hospital and examined.The reports on the news say that she is safe.There were videos taken of her—her and Atlas Bennett.”
Oh, Lily.She stared into the tea.What are you doing?
“They’re together.Romantically, I mean.I…didn’t realize that Lily was involved with him.Atlas Bennett is quite the wealthy individual.”
“Quite.”She put down the cup.Picked up a napkin and dotted at the small spill on her hand.
“I thought you’d want to know.Seeing as how you and your daughter are so close.”
She folded the napkin.“Did they catch the man who took her?”
“Not yet.I’m sure they will.But, uh, about Atlas…I’ve heard he donates generously to charitable causes, and I was thinking?—”
Why start thinking now?But instead of saying that, she nodded in an agreeable, encouraging way.“You were thinking he may contribute to some causes very near and dear to your heart?”Her smile was as sweet as a cube of sugar.“I bet he would.Know what, Lawrence?I have a great idea.Why don’t you invite him here?I’ll even talk to him for you.Send him straight to me.We’ll have a one-on-one chat.I’m sure he will be more than willing to aid you.”
The warden beamed at her.“You think so?”
“Oh, I think a private visit with Atlas Bennett is one hundred percent in order.”And she thought that the visit needed to be arranged immediately.“Call him.Tell him Lily’s mother sends her regards.That I am dying to meet him.”
Someone would be dying, all right.It would not be her.
ChapterTwenty-Four
The damn doorbellwas ringing again.Now dressed, still pissed, and done with his current batch of phone calls and orders, Atlas bounded down the stairs.
The doorbell pealed again.“Seriously?”Atlas snarled as he reached the landing.“Who the hell is it now?”
“It’s the doctor.”Desmond waited in the foyer, arms loose at his sides.“Guards at the front gate texted to let me know he was approaching the main entrance.”
“Are the guards at the gate just letting everyone through today?”What good were the men out there if they weren’t stopping anyone?
Desmond arched one eyebrow.“Not like the guards can stop Feds.”
“And they can’t stop this guy?They just let some bozo waltz past them?”Maybe some of those guards needed to be fired.
“Not some bozo.He’s your doctor.”
“What damn doctor?”The only one he wanted in his house was Dr.Lily Gallo.Speaking of Lily… “Where is she?”Only Desmond was waiting in the foyer.No sign of his Lily.
“Lily is in the kitchen, telling Roland that he made the best omelet she’d ever had in her life.And informing him that his French toast is to die for.”
Atlas grunted.Good.She’d eaten.
“Thedoctorat the door is the man who checked you and Lily out at the hospital.Now, call me crazy, but I didn’t realize Dr.Phillip Owen was the type to make house calls.”
Atlas’s gaze cut to the door.“Didn’t think he was that type, either.”
“Interesting that he’s here, isn’t it?”
Interesting enough.Atlas would handle the man.He rolled back his shoulders.“What the fuck is up with the cufflinks, Desmond?”Something that had been bothering the hell out of him ever since Gage had dropped his little bombshell.
