“You don’t have to be involved,” Annika says. “Really, I can handle this.”
“Can you?” Shane asks before I can. “Okay, what’s your first move?”
“Nothing. I wait.”
“Wrong,” Shane replies. “We’re going to question the staff. We’re going to look at security disks. We’re going to hunt these motherfuckers down and kill them.”
“Can’t I just sue them? Why do people have to die all the time?”
“Because they deserve it.”
They deserve much more than just death.
And I’ll be the one to hand it out.
“Nadia and Carmine are headed out on their honeymoon,” Annika begins, but Nadia shakes her head.
“We’re postponing, but only for a little while.”
“No. No, Nadia. You deserve this break. Go on your honeymoon. I have these three looking out for me—whether I like it or not.”
“Hey,” Ivie says with a scowl, and I feel my lips twitch.
“Do you really think I’ll just leave when this is going down?” Nadia demands. “Not a chance in hell. Besides, we’ll get it wrapped up quickly, and I’ll be lying on a tropical beach somewhere before I know it.”
“I have a flight to catch this afternoon,” Annika says, checking the time. “I’m headed back to Denver so I can get back to work.”
“No.”
She arches a brow at my one-word proclamation.
“Excuse me?”
“I didn’t stutter. You’re not taking a commercial flight.”
She props her hands on her hips. “Yes, I am. I’m not like you. I don’t always have to take a private jet.”
“Someone is threatening you. That means you won’t be on a commercial flight, Annika. When the time comes to go back to Denver, I’ll fly you.”
“The time is today,” she stresses. “To. Day.”
“God, you’re stubborn.” I push my hand through my hair and shake my head. “I’m not trying to control you or be an asshole here. I’m going to keep you safe, whether you like it or not.”
“You’re a caveman,” she retorts.
Carmine smirks.
Shane coughs into his hand.
“Me, caveman.” I thump my chest. “Me save you.”
Annika just rolls her eyes.
“Ivie and I will get started on the security disks,” Shane says and then smiles down at Ivie. “As soon as her head feels better.”
“I need another donut.” Before she can stand and retrieve it, Shane fetches it for her. “Thank you. I’ll be good in a few minutes.”
“I have a call in to the catering company to ask about the waiter who delivered the envelope,” Carmine adds. “We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“And what do I do in the meantime? Just sit around and wait?”
“You have your computer with you,” Ivie points out. “You can get caught up on charting, make calls to patients, that sort of thing.”
Annika blows out a breath. “Fine. I’ll be in my room, working.”
She stomps away, and I want to run after her. My room is next to hers, and I heard her crying all night.
It’s a personal torture, knowing that she hurts, but I know she wouldn’t welcome my comfort.
“If I’m going to hack into stuff, I need more coffee,” Ivie says.
“No one said you had to hack anything,” Shane says with a laugh. “We own the security footage.”
“Well, where’s the fun in that?”
I blink at her, then look at Nadia. “What am I missing?”
“Ivie’s killer with a computer,” Shane says proudly. “She can hack into anything.”
“Well, that’ll come in handy.” I grin and grab three donuts and a full cup of coffee, then head for the door. “I’ll be in my room, making calls and keeping an eye on Annika. Just let me know if you find anything. I’ll do the same.”
The others nod as I stride out of the office and head up the stairs to the bedrooms.
I know my grandmother’s old home like the back of my hand. My brothers and I practically grew up here. Since she died, it feels like we’ve spent even more time here.
That would make Gram happy.
I stop by Annika’s door and press my ear against the wood.
The water’s running.
She’s in the shower.
I walk into my space and shove a donut into my mouth while I boot up my computer.
Chapter 2
~Annika~
No matter how much I try or how long I stand under the hot water, it won’t wash away the filth I’ve seen or done. It won’t make me feel clean.
I turn off the taps and reach for a towel, wrap my hair, and then grab another for my body.
I’m actually relieved that I don’t have to go sit on a plane today. I don’t have to keep my shit together. I can hide away in this pretty room.
Once I’m dry, I pull a fluffy robe around me and get into bed, pulling the covers over my head.
And feel the tears come.
I thought that with Richard gone, I’d be able to forget about all of the horrible things he did and made me do and move on with my life.
But he just keeps hurting me, even from the grave.
“A?”
I sigh at Nadia’s knock, then fling the covers back and walk to the door. I unlock it and crack it open.
“Yeah?”
“Can I come in? I brought provisions.”
“I’m coming!” Ivie hurries down the hallway, out of breath. “I have the coffee.”
“Come on in.” I turn away and lie on the bed once more, but don’t cover my face with the blankets. “I’m not really in the mood for a party, though. And I feel awful about this, Nadia. You’re supposed to be off on your honeymoon, having wild sex and relaxing. I didn’t mean to fuck that up for you.”
“I already told you,” Nadia replies as she passes me a maple bar, “I’m still going, just a few days later than planned. This isn’t your fault.”
“Yes.” I take a bite, but it just feels like cardboard in my mouth. “It is my fault.”
“I personally think it’s a waste of time to argue about fault,” Ivie says and sits on the bench at the end of the bed, facing me. “I’m quite sure you didn’t hire someone to blackmail you at Nadia’s wedding.”
I take another bite. “No. That would be dumb.”
“Exactly.” Nadia grins at me, but her blue eyes are full of worry. “Honey, let’s not talk about the blackmail part because that’s being handled. What I want to know is, what’s in those photos? Tell me they’re photoshopped and it’s not you.”
It would be so easy to deny it. To take that line and insist that it isn’t me in the pictures.
But I don’t like to lie. And I’m not good at it.
“I didn’t find out until after we got married that Rich was into some really weird stuff. At least, weird to me. There are people in the lifestyle, consensually, who enjoy it. But, I’m not one of them.”