My eyes go to Scar’s, and he lifts his chin. I’m not sure what this means or what to do until my phone buzzes with another text. It's Dirk. $25K just moved from the new account to Trip’s.
It’s all I needed to know. I turn my phone to Scar, and his brow lowers. His expression goes dark, and I look back to where Trip has just polished off the last of his drink and stands, straightening his blazer.
We’re on our feet, following him out into the damp night. My friend is breathing like a bull on red, and when Trip takes a sharp turn down a narrow alley, Scar moves so fast, it’s a blur.
With a sharp slam, Trip is pinned against the wall by the neck.
Scar’s fist closes over his windpipe, and Trip’s expensive loafers dangle, kicking against the wall as he struggles for his life. “You’re the asshole blackmailing Hana?”
My partner’s head tilts to the side like he’s about to take a bite.
Trip claws at Scar’s fist around his neck, his face red and grimacing. “Stop,” he snorts.
Slowly, I approach where my partner is strangling the life out of this piece of shit. As I told Hugh, I don’t condone violence. I don’t think of myself as a vigilante, and I certainly would not take someone out unprovoked.
I’ve been provoked.
“Let go…” Trip grunts, trying to push Scar off with his foot.
My partner won’t be moved. “You were her friend. You exploited her, assaulted her–”
“NO…” Trip’s nose is running, and his wild eyes meet mine. “Trying to help.”
As much as I want to let Scar continue, I exhale slowly, and put my hand on his shoulder. “Let him speak.”
It’s a hard order to follow, but my partner releases him, stepping back with a growl. Trip falls to his ass on the wet pavement, dropping back against the brick wall of the alley. His knee is bent, and he’s holding his neck as he gasps for breath.
“Choose your words wisely,” Scar warns.
I’m not going to hold him back if this piece of shit doesn’t say what we need to hear. I’ve had enough of his lies, pretending to be Blake’s friend.
“I’m trying to help them,” he finally croaks out.
Scar makes a move like he’ll grab him by the neck agan, but I shoot out my hand, holding him by the chest, even though I could never stop him in a rage.
“How are you helping?” Disbelief drips in my tone.
“Blake told me she was being blackmailed.” He lifts his chin, regaining his strength. “When she said it was a porn racket, I knew who it was.”
“Who was it?”
“Ivan is the only one who does film.”
My eyes meet Scar’s, and we hesitate. “Continue.”
“I was getting her money back.” Trip scowls at me like it should be so obvious.
I’m not buying it. “You expect me to believe you?”
“I don’t give a shit what you believe. It’s the truth.” He rubs his hand over his eyes. “Blake’s been good to me. I owe her.”
“You’re damn right you do.” I grip the front of his shirt, pulling him closer. “I don’t like your friends, and I don’t like your looks. If I find out you’re lying to me, I’ll take it out of your hide.”
His eyes close, and he shakes his unfeeling head. Releasing his shirt, I shove him back against the wall, rising to my full height.
Scar is still glaring hard like he doesn’t care if this guy is telling the truth. He’ll do anything to protect Hana. I get that.
Trip shakes his head, still managing to put on the act. “You let that guy do these things?” His voice is raspy from the near-strangulation he received.
“He’s working his angle. I let him.”
“What angle is that?”
“You messed with his girl.”
Trip’s brow furrows. “But I thought you and Blake were–”
“Hana. He’s going to protect Hana.”
A bitter laugh rasps from Trip’s damaged windpipe. “Good luck.”
It’s not the first time I’ve gotten that response to helping Blake’s sister, but I know how important she is to Blake. So she’s important to me.
“You’ve got twenty-four hours, then I’m coming for you.” I signal to Scar, and he hesitates before taking a step to follow me.
Trip slowly pushes himself to his feet, leaning against the wall and narrowing his eyes. “Hey, what would you say to a little three-way split? I could skim it right off the top, and you could still be a hero.”
Anger roars to life in my chest, and I catch him by the front of his silk shirt. “Didn’t you get enough or are you asking for more?”
He does a little snap-point with his finger. “That was a test. Just making sure you’re not secretly a bad guy.”
“Are you familiar with the phrase ‘morally gray’?”
“Yes, and it’s not you. That guy,” he nods towards Scar. “One hundred percent. But you? Brutally moral.”
Pulling him closer, I get right in his face. “Blake belongs to me now. You mess with her, you’re messing with me.” I release him with a shove. “Return her money, all of it, or you’ll see how brutal I can be.”
We start to go, but his voice stops us.
“One thing I don’t understand.” Pausing, I turn to see what he’ll say. “You big shot detectives never asked why.”
I’ll take his bait. “Why what?”
“Victor Petrova stole millions from Charles van Hamilton. Grisha manages a whole operation to launder the money. Some two-bit minion goes after Hugh’s niece, and you’re called in like it’s a mob war. Why?”
Scar’s fists are balled, and he’s ready to snatch him up again, but I hold him back. “Are you trying to say you know something?”
“No.” Shaking his head, he looks down, exhaling a chuckle. “But I’d be asking why all of this is happening. What’s the bad blood? It’s something I’d want to know.”
“I’m not you.”
We leave him sitting on the damp street, but his words itch in my brain. As soon as we’re back, I’ll ask Hugh about what Trip is saying, whether there’s more to this than I thought. In the meantime, it’s after two, and I have one more visit to make.
29
Blake
“Look at this one–it’s your first Virgin cruise!” Hana cries with a laugh. “You were a virgin on the Virgin!”
“Shut up. I was only thirteen.”
“Who allowed me to wear those glasses?” She turns the phone so I can see her cat-eye purple frames on her tow-headed, ten year-old self. “I look like an elf.”
“You look adorable.”
We’re sitting on the edge of my bed swiping through old photographs when Natasha’s text appears on my phone. You’re back, beesh! Let’s celebrate. Meet me at Gibson’s in twenty.
Glancing down at my sister, she rolls her eyes before falling back on the bed. “Nooo!”
“Come on. I don’t want to leave you here alone.”
“Natasha is fucking annoying. She’s such a suck-up, I feel like she’s sucking my soul whenever I’m around her.”