Page 37 of No Lies No Promises

“Sooo…” Her younger sister shifts her gaze to Dante while drumming her fingers on the table. “Whoever threatened us is related to your investigation. Have I got that right?”

When he nods, Becks rises to her feet. “Fuck them. Take ’em down.”

Grams high-fives her. “Guess we’re staying. And don’t worry about Buddy, Lillian. One of Mr. Antinori’s nice boys will feed him and TJ, too.”

I don’t know which is more disturbing—the fact she knows an infamous criminal or that he owes her a favor.

“Now where’s my candle?” She digs through her purse. “I must do a reading.”

Before I can object, Dante shoots her a rare, dazzling smile before stepping forward. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Clark, but I need to steal these two for a bit. Mason, you come too. Bring your laptops. Leave your bags.”

Once we’ve escaped into the hall, my boss puts one foot back in the conference room. “My assistant will be in shortly to see you settled. Sit tight.”

Leaving Grams with Becca, the rest of us follow Dante to his office, where he motions to the seats. Lil and I settle onto the brown leather couch facing the coffee table. Mason claims the oversized chair on the right. Prince Charming sits to my left.

“Hey, everyone.” Looking like he just came in from the ocean, Daedalus appears on the screen mounted to the far wall. “We’ll get right to business. Lillian, can you share what you’ve found?”

Several minutes later, she logs in. Everything’s running, so she opens a spreadsheet. The columns include purchase prices, resale values, estimated renovation costs, and actual expenses.

Frowning, she clicks through a few more tabs. “I can’t prove anything yet, but as you can see, there’s the potential for millions in unaccounted-for funds. Although it could easily turn into a hundred times that.”

Daed whistles through his teeth. “Parkhaven accepts dirty cash, inflates the remodeling figures, then sells at an enormous profit. After which, they’ll bring in outside investors. Everything legit.”

“The business model resembles my father’s,” Lillian explains, “but he uses his profits for sex slaves, drugs, or weapons. He bribes politicians while donating to charities.”

“I say we focus on Pearson. He’s the key.” Daed must be reading Lil’s mind because she starts bouncing in her seat.

Eyes bright, she grips my hand. “What if I convince Jeff I broke up with Sean? Pretend I quit, yeah? I’ll beg for a job. Confess who my father is. Claim I discovered you’re still working for the Feds.”

Mace shakes his head. “Why would he believe you?”

“Because I am Liam Boyle’s daughter.” My partner shrugs. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he already figured it out. Besides, Sean only recently left the IRS. The timing fits. If I play the betrayed angry ex, he’ll bite. I know it.”

Use her as bait?

Has Lillian lost her ever-loving mind?

“Abso-fucking-lutely not.” I may have shouted, but hey, sometimes a man must be heard.

“We’ve done this before, Big Balls. Remember Johnny Defoe?” Her grin widens. “I can handle myself.”

Daedalus catches her excitement and smiles, the bastard.

“If she can locate an air-gapped computer or paper ledgers, we’d have everything we need to shut them down. Once word gets out, legitimate investors won’t touch them.”

“Let me do this. I’ll find the books, Sean. I’ll wear a camera—a wire. Your contact will have people close by. I’ll be safer than safe.”

When her determined hazel eyes lock onto mine, I’m thrown back in time. First, shielding her body as fertilizer explodes. Then walking into the ER, not knowing if she’d lived or died.

“What if he blows up another building?” My voice shakes. “Or stages another unfortunate worksite accident?”

“Can you guys excuse us for a minute?” She snatches my wrist and pulls me into the hallway, out of earshot.

Letting go, she plants her hands on her hips. “You said we need to go on the offensive. This is how we do it. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life behind a desk. If we’re going to have a future together, you have to accept all of me—including the parts you don’t like.”

“So if I say no… what? We break up?” My pulse pounds so loudly I almost don’t hear her reply.

“I said no such thing.” Her sexy mouth pouts.