Page 137 of High Reward

“Good.”

He chuckles and picks up his keys from the corner of the kitchen island. “You know the rules. Don’t leave and listen to my security over my father’s goons.”

“I really wish they would leave,” l mutter.

“That makes two of us.”

He kisses Lili who has stayed largely quiet, and then me before heading for the door. “When I get back, we’re going to have a talk about your bookstore dreams.”

I groan and glare at Lili again as the door shuts behind him. “Why did you do that?”

Lili shrugs and slides off the barstool. “Because you needed a push. We both know you don’t actually want to be a nurse.You light up when you’re writing, and every time I mention the bookstore idea, you smile even when you’re busy glaring at me.”

I can’t help but laugh. She’s right, and I need to take that into consideration.

For now, I do my best to set aside the disturbing news about Griffin Price funding my mysterious scholarship and head for the stairs. I have boxes to unpack. Victor gave me one of the spare bedrooms as an office but insists I sleep with him at night. Lili sleeps with us too but maintains her own bedroom for now.

As I unpack a box of books, I imagine what it would be like to have my own bookstore. My own little corner of the literary world where I could stock the books you can’t always find in Barnes & Noble. Where I can let people soak up the cozy atmosphere and read while enjoying baked goods or a glass of wine.

Nursing school was never a passion. It just felt like something I would be good at that would make a decent living. But the thought of using Victor’s money, or the money associated with Griffin Price to pay for it just doesn’t sit right. If I’m going to let Victor pay for something, it should at least be something I’m passionate about.

I slide another book onto the bookshelf and let myself dream. I have a lot to consider, but for the first time in a long time, I’m excited about the possibilities in front of me.

Victor

“Whenwillshebereleased?”

“She can be released into police custody tomorrow,” Dr. Singh tells me as we stand outside Harper Cantrell’s hospital room. “She was extremely sick. Do you have any idea who did this to her?”

I shake my head. “No. And it’s pissing us off. We have no idea who got to her or how. But Owen is digging into it.” I start to mention the voice recorder but decide against it. Jacob would want her to be left out of it.

“Owen will find them. Do I need to have security make sure you don’t kill her, or can I trust you to be civil?”

I let out a sharp laugh. “Don’t worry Amarjit. I’m not here to slit her throat. We just need to show her a couple of pictures and see who did this to her.”

“Leave the door open,” the doctor says as she steps back to allow me in.

“Fine,” I growl, giving her a sharp look. “You’re lucky I like you, Doctor.”

“Lucky indeed,” she says with sarcasm dripping from her tone. “I’ll be at the nurses station charting if you need me.”

In the hospital room, Harper is curled up in bed with one hand chained to the bed with a handcuff.

“Harper,” I say, trying to keep the anger out of my voice. “I need to ask you some questions.”

“I’ve already told you everything I know. Please, just go away.”

“It’s important. I need to show you some photos and see if you recognize any of them as the people who lured you into their scheme to hurt Grace.”

She sighs and tries to sit up a little. I help her and then hold the tablet out to her. On the screen, I’ve placed an array of photos of six different men and six different women.

“That one,” she says, pointing at Kara. “She’s the one who approached me in a nightclub one night asking me to have a drink with her and her boyfriend.”

She scrutinizes the men’s photos for a long time before she points at Griffin. “He’s mean,” she whispers, fear evident in her voice. “He’s the one who threatened me after he showed me the videos and pictures. I’m so scared my parents are going to see them.”

“Does he have your parents’ information?”

Tears stream down her face as she nods slowly. “He… he cloned my phone and stole all my contacts.”