Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice low with anger.
He shrugged. “It’s a free country. I’m having a beer.”
“Go have it elsewhere. Stop following me.”
He shook his head. “I’m not following you. I was here first.”
I felt the anger grip me at his lie. He knew my schedule.
“I saw you at the theater.”
He didn’t deny it. He grinned, looking pleased. “I saw you looking.”
I leaned close. “Get out, or I’ll have you escorted out.”
He tsked. “That’s not very polite. I was just enjoying watching you with your little groupies.” He shook his head. “Is that what you’ve sunk to now? The great Egan Vulpe? Babysitting children instead of using your talent?” Again, there was a slow shake of his head. “So much money and power you are letting slip through your fingers. So many detonations you should be creating.”
“What I do or do not do is none of your business. Get out.”
He finished his beer and stood. “I’ll be seeing you around.”
“I doubt it.”
He laughed, the sound of it grating on my nerves. “Oh, you can count on it, Mr. Vulpe. We will find what you cannot live without.”
Ice wrapped around my chest, but I kept my expression neutral. “You cannot take what I do not have,” I lied.
He shook his head. “We will find it. I look forward to working with you.”
“It will be a cold day in hell before that happens.”
He smiled. It was twisted and evil. “Temperatures are dropping as we speak.”
And he left.
CHAPTER TEN
Egan
The party was deemed a success by everyone. The guests, the staff, and, most importantly, by Iona and her parents. I breathed a sigh of relief when I shut the door of the limo and watched them be escorted into their house by their own security. My job was done.
Now I had to figure out why the hell Alex had shown up and how he knew about it. I drove to the Elite office, needing the powerful computers and server room there for the task.
At the office, I began digging. I followed trails, checked out firewalls and encryption. Called Damien and told him what had occurred. He wasn’t pleased and signed in to his system even though it was the middle of the night where he was. We found nothing. No trace of being hacked. I scanned everything, including myself, and found no tracking devices. No listening equipment in the office. I was at a loss.
“How did he know?”
“Everyone has a talent,” Damien surmised. “Maybe this Alex’s is following someone undetected.”
“I’ll have to be more careful.”
“I was going to call you in the morning.”
“You found something?”
“Not much. I think your visitors are Russian ex-mobsters that have been off the radar for a while. I got a hit on Alex. I’m tracing it, but it’s taking time.”
“Ex?”
“He was involved in a lot of illegal activities. Crime for hire. Did a lot of dirty jobs. Suddenly disappeared. Files closed.”
“You sound unconvinced.”
“It feels…off. I found a few things, but not much. I get a feeling something is hidden. Something related to Ivan.”
“Without a doubt. He’s the leader.”
“I will keep digging.”
I had always trusted my instincts and those of the people around me. If Damien was suspicious, then so was I.
“So, what do they want with me? What could they want blown up?”
“I don’t know. But be careful, Egan. I’ll keep going.” He paused. “They haven’t discovered your connection to Sofia yet,” he mused.
“No. And they won’t. I will protect her.”
“You can only do so much. You have to put her first.”
“I will.”
I hung up, now more anxious than ever. I paced the office, then went home. I couldn’t sleep, unable to relax. I scanned the apartment, Sofia’s place. The garage. The car. Nothing. I checked my electronics, Sofia’s. Everything was clean.
Finally, I gave up and made coffee, waiting for Sofia. I had to talk to her. I took my coffee and went for a shower, letting the hot water run over my shoulders and loosen the tight muscles. I soaped up using my own unique fragrance brand, then washed my hair. I toweled off, wiping the condensation from the mirror and studying my face. I looked drawn and worried. Tired and older than my years. I had promised Sofia honesty, and I would give it to her. If she felt worried and wanted to walk away, I had to allow it. Damien was correct. Her safety was paramount, and with this new information, I wouldn’t blame her. I would hate it, but I would accept it. Until I found out what these people wanted, it might be better if she distanced herself from me. I rubbed my chest at the ache I felt simply thinking about it.
In my room, I sat on the edge of the mattress, letting the cool air dry my skin. I shut my eyes, feeling exhausted. Weary. Even my bones ached with it. With a sigh, I flopped back on the bed, keeping my eyes shut. I would get up in a minute and get dressed. Be waiting for Sofia.