“I’d like to say I don’t believe that could happen,” Reese replies, “but I’ve seen enough, and been around enough, to know that it can. The FBI and the DA need to be working with Blake’s team to take down your attackers. I suggest we set-up a meeting and get everyone on the same page, then ask for you and Mia to be given immunity.”
Grayson hands me his drink and I take a sip. “Grayson talked about doing an sit-down interview to shut down the press obsession, something in-depth.”
“God no,” Cat objects. “You think a sit-down interview will be controlled, even scripted with pre-approved questions, but they’ll go off script. The press are monsters, but that’s why I’m here. If you decide to go public, which my gut says you should not, use me. And believe me, when we heard about this situation, we talked about me helping with my column in some way.”
“Before we explain that idea,” Reese replies, “the bad actors don’t know you know they exist, correct?”
“They do not,” Grayson confirms.
“Then as far as they’re concerned,” Reese continues, “they can move about and plot against you freely. In theory, that allows Blake to watch them and catch them.”
“Except we’re dealing with an advanced hacking operation,” Grayson counters. “Blake’s good at what he does, but this breach is apparently widespread across operations and states.”
“So if we expose the underground operation in my column,” Cat says, “we might scare them off and that would let them know we’re onto them, but that idea comes with negatives.”
“I don’t know,” I say. “I mean, when Grayson suggested doing an interview, it was more about answering questions about my attack and just getting the fascination with us and me over with. If we actually expose this plot, it doesn’t necessarily get rid of the bad eggs. In fact, it might encourage them to stay to avoid notice. A rapid departure might indicate guilt, but I suppose at least it suppresses any bad actors.”
Cat sighs. “Yes. That could happen. It’s a ridiculous catch twenty-two situation. In which case, you end up with all these dirty eggs rotting away inside your operation.”
“No to exposing the plot to take me down,” Grayson says, his tone steel. “That could come with consequences.”
Reese narrows his eyes on him. “You’re afraid they’ll act hard and fast before you shut them down.”
“And decisively,” he says, and I know Grayson. I don’t even have to ask what that means. He’s afraid they’ll act against me. He’s afraid the hired hacks will succeed where Ri failed and kill me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Mia
Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.
The room fades to white noise as I remember Grayson talking about eloping. I know him and understand his urgency. This man seems to have the world—money, power, friendship and more, afraid of nothing except losing someone else he loves, and that means me. How did I ever think this man cheated on me? How? I’m such an idiot. Neither of us has dealt fully with Ri’s attack. For me, I’ve consciously, and perhaps to more of an extreme, unconsciously, used his fear to suppress Ri’s attack for both our sanity, but unbidden, I’m back there now. I fight it, I do, but I lose. I’m there. Living that hell all over again.
He lunges for me and I turn and try to run, but it’s too little too late. He grabs my hair and all but rips it out as he yanks me around to face him. “What do you have in your bag?” He reaches for it, and I punch him, giving help time to arrive, I hope, but it does no good.
He reaches into my bag that I stupidly didn’t zip and grabs the folder. “You little bitch.” He drops it on the ground and shoves me against the wall. “I should have known you were still fucking him. That will never get out of this building.”
“It doesn’t matter. I took pictures. I sent proof to the police. Did you really think you could frame Grayson and get away with it?”
“I’ll get away with it. You’ll be dead and I’ll tell them you were setting me up.”
“Dead? You’re going to kill me? Are you serious?”
“Yes, Mia. You’ll die.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone. “Mia will need to be dealt with tonight, but not until I’m done with her. Pick her up at the normal spot.” He ends the call. “We fuck first. Maybe you can talk me out of killing you.”
I try to knee him, but he catches my leg. “Not this time, sweetheart. This time I fuck you, you don’t fuck me.” He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a gun. “Just in case you think you might scream. Think again.” He yanks me off the wall and starts pulling me by the hair toward the door. That’s when the door bursts open and Grayson appears, holding a gun and followed by Blake.
“Grayson,” I breathe out as the two men stand side by side, Blake directly in front of Ri, but it’s Grayson that Ri is looking at, his gun now pointed at him.
“Let her go, Ri, or I will shoot you,” Grayson says, stepping closer. “And I’ll enjoy it.”
Ri holds the gun on him to my head. “We walk out together or she leaves dead. Decide.”
Grayson squeezes my hand and I snap back to the present to find him staring at me. And I swear the concern in his green eyes meeting mine is all it takes for me to push past a weak moment. I cover his hand with mine, silently telling him that I’m okay. And I am. I’m alive. I’m here with him. Ri doesn’t get to screw that up for either of us.
Fired up, I focus on Reese. “The FBI and DA need to take this hammer off of Grayson. Blake obviously feels they might come after him or we wouldn’t be sitting here with you.”
“Blake’s being cautious,” Reese assures me, motioning for Blake to join us. “As he should be. Frankly, I’m of the opinion the FBI and DA won’t be stupid enough to come after Grayson. Grayson could sue—would sue—and would win. I’m more concerned about a different type of attack. Something that hits Grayson financially, or personally.”
An attack that’s financial or personal. Those words hit hard. I turn to Grayson. “I’m the personal attack, I get that. What could they do to you financially?”
“I’ve taken precautions,” Grayson assures me. “Shifted my portfolio, layered up different types of insurance.”
Blake pulls up a seat. “Eric and I are working through any and every way Grayson could be targeted.”
Frustration takes root. “My God, can’t the FBI just take down this underground group?”
“They’re as slippery as the snakes they are,” Blake replies. “The attorney holding the payout Ri promised those snakes is another story. The right move is to arrest him and freeze the money. No money, no group.”
“Then what are we waiting on?” I ask. “Why aren’t we already making that happen?”
“For starters,” Blake says, “this doesn’t erase any residual damage to Grayson or his operation that might be discovered later. The FBI and the DA already know what’s happening, and they’re sitting back and observing for now. I need to pressure them to stop sucking their thumbs and make this arrest. That means setting up a meeting that needs to include your legal counsel.”