AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“My guess is that you do know exactly what you need to do but you’re afraid.”
I chuckled. “That’s part of it.” If I tried on my own to find out what was going on, maybe I could help free us from this nightmare. “The other part is that I have no means of doing what I’d like to do, which was tracking down information of my own. I don’t have my phone with me.” An idea popped into my head, one that was a little devilish, but I couldn’t help myself. Had her father told her not to allow me to use her phone? And there wasn’t a teenage girl who didn’t have one, even considering who her father was.
“That’s easy to fix.” She pulled her phone from her jeans pocket, placing it on the piano. “My code is all sixes. Feel free. I’m going to see if Ginger can prepare us some lunch.”
I held my breath as she left, trying not to jump up and down. Once she’d left, I rose to my feet, staring at the iPhone as if it was a sign from God. Then I grabbed it, playing over the last few weeks in my brain.
If I could find out who’d sent me to the party in the first place, that would lead me down the trail of whether my father had any responsibility for the threats being made. There was only one person I could get it from who had the ability to find out anything in the world.
So I made a call, uncertain whether the phone would be answered given the odd number. I continued holding my breath, my heart racing in my throat.
When I heard a voice, I waited for a couple of seconds. “I need your help and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
* * *
Arman
The developments were back on track, no additional issues at this point. It would appear Ramsey had shifted his concentration to my immediate family and not the businesses just as I’d surmised. Now it was time to lay down the cards in such a way that Ramsey and his partner Devin Carlos knew I was deadly serious.
They either weren’t too bright or that concerned about what my capabilities were, information about their families easy to find. I had men poised to act on my verbal warnings should it become necessary.
They would either be smart men today or face my wrath. The choice was entirely up to them.
“Nice place,” Francois said as we exited the second SUV. Maddox had gotten our names on the list of guests by way of a sizable donation to the foundation in the limelight on this beautiful yet stiflingly sunny afternoon. “Incidentally, it’s owned by Carlos.”
“Of course it is,” I said as I put on my sunglasses, able to see the oversized tent set up near the massive stables and shiny new barn. I’d learned everything I could about both men in a short duration, including their holdings. Ramsey had been clever, hiding his wealth in offshore accounts under a fictitious name. It would appear he’d been on the take for a long time.
I’d had the information photographed and emailed to my buddy, the police chief of New Orleans. He would know exactly what to do with it if Ramsey didn’t play by my rules.
“Let’s go, gentlemen. I want to get back to the house tonight.”
“Does that mean you’re going to take my advice?” Francois asked as he flanked my side. “About Raven?”
“Being taken under advisement,” I told him.
“Don’t bother, Francois. He’s not really listening to anyone’s advice these days. Are you, bossman?”
Maddox could crack me up. “I am the kingpin. Remember?”
“Oh, God. There he goes again thinking he’s all that and a bag of chips.” Francois took off ahead of us, still grumbling under his breath.
“He’s right. We’re both right,” Maddox said more in passing.
“Don’t go there.”
“I’m not saying anything else except if you are stupid enough to allow Raven to get away, you’re going to regret it for the rest of your life.”
“Did you ever stop to think that maybe letting her go will allow some of the demons to disappear?”
Just before we made it to the tent, he stopped, turned, and faced me. “Then ask yourself this. Is that what Sophia would want?” As Francois had done seconds before, he left me standing by myself.
To contemplate.
And I still didn’t know what the hell I was going to do with the woman I loved.
Fuck me.
I knew what love felt like and there was no doubt how I felt. Now I was really furious with the asshole who continued to try to destroy my life.
