AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Do you know why he would have murdered Popov?”
“Who?”
“The Russian in the hospital.”
“Oh. Right. That must be it then, right? He’s working for the Russians.” She frowned. “But that means he was involved in the abduction.” She shook her head. “It still doesn’t make sense. Why would he organize protection if he was part of it?”
“Maybe he was trying to cover up his involvement.” She was playing him again.
“Maybe.” She pressed her fingers to her lips, thinking.
Aaron had had enough. “Or maybe he decided that if you were going to get your cut, he wanted to get his.”
“My cut?”
“I know your abduction wasn’t real.”
“What?”
“I know about your boyfriend.”
“My boy — I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Well, whatever you call him.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Leo Pasternak.”
She stood with her arms stiffly at her side. “Leo? Are you kidding me? He’s the Russian Mafia guy I dated in college. I told you about him at dinner the other night.”
“You also told me you haven’t seen him recently.”
“I haven’t — I mean, not on purpose.”
“So you have seen him?”
“It seems to me you already know I have.”
“I saw a picture of you laughing with him. You looked like you were having a great time.” The calm resolve that flattened her face was unnerving.
“You saw a picture?”
“Yes.”
She sat back down. “Do you remember those church picnics we used to have?”
“I’m not sure this — ”
“Do you remember?”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember how my mom and dad were together at those picnics? How they held hands and they’d whisper in each other’s ears?”
“Yes. It made me sick because I knew what was happening behind closed doors.”
“Exactly. My mom was terrified of my dad. Afraid that if she did the wrong thing while they were out, she’d get a beating when they returned home.”
