“I helped gather up information for him. I knew it was risky . . . if I was caught, he could hurt you guys.”
Aleki started swearing.
“The day that William died, he gave me a copy of the flash drive and the number of his contact. We finally had enough material. He said he was going to set things up. He told me to hide the flash drive and if something happened to him to use that number to get in contact with his friend and that I should take him the flash drive.”
“Sounds like he was worried your father was onto him,” Caleb said.
“I thought so too.”
“Do you think William could have been murdered?” Caleb looked at Wolfe.
“It’s possible to create a heart attack,” Wolfe confirmed.
“So you do think it’s possible my father had him killed.” She placed a hand over her stomach. William hadn’t been a good man but at the end, he’d been trying to do the right thing.
“Any idea who William’s contact was?” Wolfe asked
“No. William never told me.” She licked her lips. “After the police told me he was dead, I texted the number and packed a bag. I panicked. I wasn’t sure if it was really a heart attack or if my father knew what we’d done. His contact texted back and told me to meet him in the basement level of the Triton building. I called a taxi to pick me up a few blocks away from the house and snuck out.”
“Do you think you were followed?” Caleb asked.
“I don’t think so, but I don’t know. I was mainly trying to avoid the press.”
“Did you meet with the contact?” Aleki asked.
“No. While I was waiting for the contact, this car . . . this car came squealing around the corner and this person got out. They had a ski mask on. And they were holding a gun. I panicked. I left my handbag and ran. In it were the flash drive and my phone, along with all my money. I heard this other man call out, I’m not sure but maybe he was William’s contact. He yelled out something about a gun. I don’t know what happened to him. I couldn’t stop and find out.”
And the guilt was eating her up inside.
“If you’d stopped you would have died too,” Caleb said softly.
She nodded. She knew that. Still didn’t make her feel much better.
“I was racing towards the exit when I felt something sting my arm. Then my ankle turned as I made my way up the stairs. Thankfully, I slipped into the crowd and got away. I didn’t know what to do. I had nothing but a change of clothes and Piggles. I thought about calling my Uncle Ben, but I didn’t want to endanger him, and I was worried he’d tell my father.”
Caleb stood and lifted her from the bed, sitting back down with her on his lap. He rocked her gently. Silent tears raced down her cheeks. Aleki looked stricken. He was so pale, she thought he might faint.
And Wolfe . . . he looked so cold and still. He could have been carved from marble.
“We need to find this mystery man,” Wolfe stated. “Could be that either he or your father found out what William was up to. And they discovered your role. Maybe they had someone follow you to the meeting place. Or maybe this contact of William’s sold you out. Any one of them could have shot at you.”
“You can’t get involved,” she told them. “It’s too dangerous.”
Wolfe turned those dark eyes on her. “I think you’re underestimating how deadly I am.”
“We’re not helpless, jelly bean,” Caleb told her. “We need to find out who shot you.”
“And then we take care of them,” Aleki said grimly.
“No. No!” She shook her head and tried to push herself out of Caleb’s hold, even though it hurt to jostle her arm. “That’s not what’s going to happen. All of you are going home. You need to stay far away from me.”
“Jesus fucking Christ!” Aleki burst out. “Do you really think we’d fucking leave you?”
She flinched.
“Aleki, calm down,” Caleb said firmly, sending him a quelling look. “What are you saying, Vivi? That you want us to leave and forget this happened? Forget you told us this shit? Forget the way we feel about you?”
A tear dripped down her face. “Yeah. That would be best.”
He set her down on the bed and tucked her in. It was then that she knew she’d won.
And her heart broke all over again.
14
She woke up when she was shifted. She gasped as she found herself in the air. She was laid down and something was wrapped around her firmly. Her arms were trapped. She let out a whimper of fear.
“Easy, Vivi, it’s just me. You’re safe.”
Aleki. She breathed out a sigh of relief.
“What’s going on? What are you doing?”
He picked her up, blanket and all. She felt like a giant burrito. He carried her out of the room, whistling under his breath.
“Aleki? What the hell?”
She tried to wiggle her way free, wincing as she bumped her arm.
“Don’t move like that, you’ll just hurt yourself.”
Great advice. She rolled her eyes at him. “Put me down and I won’t wiggle.”
“No can do.” He continued walking as he moved towards the elevators. A sliver of alarm filled her but she pushed it down. This was Aleki. Her fun-loving jokester.
“Is this some sort of prank?” she asked him suspiciously.
The man was known for his pranks.
“Hmm. A prank? Not exactly.”
The elevator arrived and he stepped inside.
“Wait! What are you doing? You can’t walk around with me like this.”
“Why not?”
“Someone will see us!”
“Don’t worry, when I get downstairs, I’ll pull the blanket up over your face. And it’s the early hours of the morning, so there won’t be many people.”
“Okay, Aleki, this prank isn’t that funny. It feels like you’re kidnapping me.”
The elevator opened and he drew the blanket up over her head. “Of course I’m not kidnapping you.”
Relief flooded her.
“I’m stealing you.”
Right.
She wished she could pinch herself. Because she really needed for this to be a dream.
“Aleki! Put me down! You can’t just steal me. Where’s Caleb?”
He would talk some sense into the crazy man. Caleb was always the voice of reason.
A sharp smack landed on her ass. “Stay still. I don’t want to accidentally drop you.”
“Did you seriously just smack my ass?” she growled at him.
“Yep. What was your question? Oh yeah, where’s Caleb.”
“Yes. Where is Caleb? I want to see him.” Caleb would tell Aleki that he was being a dickhead.
“You can talk to him in a minute. He’s bringing around the car. Oh yeah, here he is.”
Suddenly, Aleki ducked and sat with her on his lap. The blanket was removed from her face and she looked around the dark car. What the hell?
“What is going on?” she screeched.
Caleb turned around in the front seat. He raised an eyebrow at Aleki. “You didn’t tell her?”
“No, he didn’t! He made some joke about stealing me.”