Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Then my mind calms itself of all these questions, all the arguments. Will Varon is a guy from my past. Years separate the two of us. I know Faith, and she trusts these men, so that means I can as well. This isn’t a joke or some sort of trick.
The man I thought I knew as a boy is a bad guy, and as much as I argued to Spade about him not being a terrible person, looking into Kincaid’s tired eyes proves me wrong.
I keep my eyes locked on the club president because looking at the I told you so look on Spade’s face would only make me feel worse.
“I went to lunch at his house. We sat in the dining room. A little girl, someone he introduced as his niece, joined us.”
“Her name?” Kincaid asks.
I shake my head, feeling even more foolish. “He didn’t mention her by name or even speak to her the rest of the meal. She walked up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. She called him uncle before sitting down and never said another word. What did Greta say about her?”
I don’t miss the look Kincaid gives Spade over my shoulder.
“What?”
“Greta took the little girl to the hospital after she was beaten pretty badly. Greta was found dead in Will’s house this morning.”
“And Will? Is he refusing to answer questions about the little girl?”
Colton clears his throat before speaking. “Will Varon hasn’t been apprehended. We need you to tell us everything you know about his family.”
The evening continues with a million questions, ones I can’t seem to answer. It turns out I didn’t know Will as much as I thought I did.
We never spent time at his house. The only reason I knew he had cousins is because some of them were younger than me and in school. The older ones, the ones Will tried to warn away from me always showed up at the park when we went there to hang out. I give them names I can remember, but dates are questionable. High school was so long ago.
I feel like I haven’t helped them at all by the time it’s over.
Chapter 24
Spade
I don’t recall a time I’ve ever felt more helpless than I do right now, watching as Sylvie tries to recall any and all details from her past that included Will Varon.
“And your sexual relationship with him?” Kincaid asks.
I clench the arm rests of the chair I’m sitting in.
Sylvie shakes her head.
“I know it’s personal, but it could help us,” Kincaid says. “Was he rough, or violent? Did he ask you if you were interested in group activities? Did he want you to act differently? Younger?”
“What?” she hisses. “No. I never had sex with Will Varon.”
“Sylvie,” I begin, a warning in my tone because I know better. “Lying won’t—”
“I wasn’t lying,” she says, her eyes locked on her clasped hands. “I was trying to make you—I’m not lying. We kissed a few times when we were in high school. He was calm and almost shy. So no, he never asked if he could share me. He never mentioned any kinks. I thought he was a nice guy.”
Guilt has swum in my gut since Angel showed up over two hours ago. I wore my cut proudly in Telluride. I’d find it hard to believe that any traffickers near us wouldn’t know who Cerberus is and what we do, but all it would take is one simple internet search to figure that out. I can’t help but blame myself for what happened to this little girl and Greta’s death after we left town.
My guilt triples when I feel grateful that Varon didn’t do something to Sylvie in retaliation because he thought maybe we were there to research him. It shows that he’s patient and calculating. He isn’t prone to rash decisions, and that makes him even more dangerous.
I’m trembling with rage, knowing I couldn’t not make the issue with Will Varon personal if I tried.
“Can you see her home safely?” Kincaid asks, making it clear that the conversation is over.
“I’m fine,” Sylvie says. “Sober enough to drive.”
“Sober enough isn’t going to cut it,” Kincaid says, squeezing her shoulder as she stands. “Spade will make sure you get home, and he’s going to stay with you.”
I snap my eyes up to my boss, but the irritation that was in them when he ordered me to accompany her to Telluride has transformed into gratefulness. I wouldn’t be able to leave this woman alone anyway. His command gives me exactly what I need.
“I don’t want—”
“Will Varon is unaccounted for,” Kincaid interrupts her. “You can stay here instead.”
“He wouldn’t—”
“You provided him with all your personal information when he started the work on selling your grandfather’s property. It would give me peace of mind if Spade stayed with you.”