Page 160 of The Broken Keys

“Why was Livianna upset?”

“She and the woman had words in the bathroom.” I think back to that night. “She was one of Livianna’s old co-stars. They didn’t get along.”

“Zara Blackthorn?” Cash’s face pales. “Was it Zara Blackthorn?”

“Yes, that was her name.” I hesitate for a beat. “By the look you’re giving me, I take it Zara could be a problem.”

“Not could be. She is a problem!” He rakes his fingers through his hair. “Fucking hell. That woman needs to die.”

My back goes rigid. “Would she hurt Livianna?”

“In a heartbeat.” Cash glances at the door toward her office. “Zara… Shit. I think Lily needs to work from home today.”

“Cash, tell me what I need to know about Zara.”

“She hates Livianna.” His chest heaves. “She’s the reason Livianna and I broke up.”

Since I seem to have nothing better to do at night when I should be sleeping, I’ve reviewed some online theories about what happened between them, but the media has only reported speculation.

Most people thought Livianna cheated on Cash because she was seen with a guy walking on the beach in Malibu. I saw the picture of the kid. If anything, he looked like her drug dealer.

I toss that thought to the side and dive into what I really want to know. “Did you cheat on Livianna with Zara?”

“No!” Cash glares streams of fire my way as he shakes. “Zara is evil.”

Somehow, I’ve triggered him. This is the same scared boywho begged me for help in Paris. All my intuition screams Zara is a huge issue we need to deal with.

I gesture to the couch in an effort to defuse him. “Why don’t we sit down? You can tell me all there is to know about Zara.”

“There’s nothing to say other than she needs to be taken care of.”

I sit near the right arm of the sofa. “Your reaction reminds me of how you were in Paris. Is Zara the reason you needed an undetectable recording device?”

“No.” He runs his palm over his neck. “I was with her before Livianna. She didn’t even go by that name when I was with her.”

“She changed her name?”

He nods and sits on the edge of the other side of the couch. “She went by Faith Thorne back then.”

“Faith Thorne?” That name is familiar, but I don’t let Cash know that. Not when I can’t explain it myself. “What else?”

“What else would your people need?” He points toward the door. “That’s why you’re asking? To let the people who are keeping Livianna safe know, right?”

“Correct.” I rest back. “Do you know where Zara lives? Where she works?”

“I don’t give a fuck about her, so I tune her out.”

“Then I’ll give my team her name and they can sort out the rest.”

“Thanks.” He peers over at me. “Look, I’ve got a lot of shit to do today, but…”

“But?”

“Would you mind keeping an eye on her? Not your team. It needs to be you.”

“Why?”

He stares at the ground. “Because you love her and won’t let anyone touch her.”