Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73302 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73302 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
He had been shot multiple times but had likely taken a while to die, as none of the shots were through the heart or head. Was that on purpose? Ivanov wouldn’t send an unqualified assassin.
“Look.” Rafe pointed to the rug near the body.
We both took a few steps closer. The man had used his blood to write “Iva” on the rug.
“Ivanov.” Rafe had to be right. LeBlanc wanted whoever found him to know. “You don’t think Ivanov was here, do you? That he killed the man himself?”
My pulse sped up. What if he was still here? No, the kill was days old. He wouldn’t be here, but was he watching the place? “We need to get out of here.”
“Why would Ivanov want him dead? He couldn’t know we’d figured out his plan.”
“We didn’t even have LeBlanc on our radar yet when he was killed. I have an idea, but that’s for later. We need to leave now.”
“Shouldn’t we look around, see if we can learn anything, take his computer, his phone, or—”
It wasn’t worth the risk. “We’re in danger. Ivanov could be watching. Maybe he wanted us here.”
Rafe’s eyes widened, and then he nodded. “Yeah. Right. I… that’s right.”
“Come on.” I took Rafe’s hand and led him through the house to the back door, which opened into an alley. Thankfully, we didn’t see anyone as we returned to the car.
“How secure is your house?” I asked.
“We’re good there, and Remington had guards patrolling the area.”
“Good. Take us home. At a reasonable speed. Like we’re returning home from a normal night out.”
“I can’t drive after a normal night out.”
I blew out a breath and slumped against the seat. “Rafe. Just drive like a sane person.”
“I’ll see what I can do, but only if you start talking. Why would Ivanov bring this guy in, then kill him when he’s succeeding with his plans?”
“I’ve got a few theories.”
Rafe motioned for me to get on with it. “I want them all.”
“What if this guy is the one who rigged the bomb on your car? What if Ivanov told him to scare you so you’d already be on edge when he started the blackmail? What if he went too far? You could have died, and Ivanov wants you alive.”
Rafe glanced over at me. “He wants to use me. He thinks I’ll betray my family.”
“Yeah, I think your instincts on that were absolutely right.” I reached out a hand and laid it on his leg.
“I didn’t want to be right. Why does everyone think I’m an idiot?”
“I don’t. I wouldn’t be working with you if I did.”
“You’re telling me you didn’t think I’d be the easiest Theriot to contact?”
Fuck. I was not going to admit that. “You’re the Theriot in charge of the casino where my informant said I could find a link to Ivanov, and it doesn’t matter what I thought before I met you. I know you now, and I know how capable you are.”
“What do we do now? We no longer have a contact at the casino, and we can’t interrogate that fucker since he’s rotting away in his house.”
“We need to find out if anyone new had been hired at the casino in the last few days.”
He laid a hand on top of mine as he slung us around a corner. “You think Ivanov sent in someone else?”
“Do you think he would?”
Rafe huffed. “I don’t know. You’re the fucking investigator.”
I wasn’t going to let him dismiss himself like that. “Remington trusted you with this for a reason. You read people well. The first time I stepped into your office, you knew something was off, that I wasn’t just an overconfident con man, and I’m damn good at undercover work.”
He nodded. “All right. Fine. I agree. If Ivanov got rid of LeBlanc because he fucked up, then he’ll send someone else. He’s not giving up the blackmail scheme, because if you assume I’m nothing but playboy fluff, then it’s a damn good plan.”
“Right, but we’re going to need to go at this a different way because there’s a huge chance Ivanov now knows we were onto his guy. We cannot tip him off that we know more.”
“Yeah, but how—”
“I think it’s finally time we bring your family in.”
28
RAFE
“No. I already told you why that is a terrible idea.”
“Rafe, listen to me.” Zach stroked my thigh. Even though I was fairly sure he was trying to comfort me, not seduce me, it was distracting as fuck.
“We’re not talking to my family. I won’t let them near you.”
Zach’s hand tightened on my leg. I glanced over at him. He was staring at me.
“They aren’t going to listen to me. They’ll see you as a threat, no matter what X said. They aren’t going to believe you mean the family no harm.”
“You don’t have to tell them I’m a fed.”