Series: Penny Dee
Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97669 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97669 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
“No plans on killing you yet, Miss Graves,” he says to me, then slides the gun back into its place. “But if you could kindly inform me of why you didn’t show, that would be great.”
“I don’t owe you an explanation of what I do on my personal time, Mr. Vescari. That is not in our business arrangement.” He seems to think about my words, then nods as if in agreement.
“However, I’m going to need you to be more specific as to what you saw the night Pietro Vescari’s body came in.”
“I told you—”
“I have no other leads,” he growls out, and I freeze for a moment, not out of fear, but because it’s the same as the night he first walked in. That clipped control of his is slipping. Whoever that man was, he’s important. Guilt floods me because I feel partly responsible for all of this.
I know better than to show any kindness. But I say at the very least, “I don’t either.” And it shames me to admit.
“Then you will help me. We’ll work together on this.”
My head whips in his direction. “I don’t know what you expect me to do. I have fewer resources than you.”
He doesn’t hesitate to agree with the fact, but says, “I have two beliefs. One is that whoever dropped the body off here wanted me to know it was here, implicating you in the meantime, and I need to find out why. Or two, whoever murdered him was careless, and the body should’ve never crossed your tables in the first place. I need to know who.”
“But by now the body could be…” Gone.
He doesn’t let me finish that sentence. “I’m aware of the implications, Miss Graves. But I need to bring my family closure.”
It’s the honesty in his tone that has me looking at him twice.
Don’t do it, Leonore. The devil is working on the minuscule amount of guilt I have. But it is also my job. One that I’d like to keep uninterrupted for as long as I can.
I cross my arms over my chest, sizing him up once again. “If I help you, you’ll leave me alone after we find out who did this. Business as usual. No personal visits or demands. And I’m not helping you during working hours.”
“Of course,” he says as if I’ve pointed out the obvious. Most likely because he’s getting his fucking way. I don’t compromise. Ever. But it also benefits me to know who involved themselves.
Silas isn’t the only one with enemies.
He holds his hand out to me. “So we’re agreeable.”
I reluctantly place my palm in his calloused hand that is surprisingly warm for a ruthless killer. His gaze does not dip from mine as he further inquires. “Cian…” he says and looks toward the door where he left, “seemed very friendly with you.”
“And?” I pull my hand out of his, wanting to wipe it immediately. I feel like I’ve just made a deal with the devil who just as quickly shifts his interest to my personal life, which I’ve made abundantly clear is off-limits.
“Would you like me to handle that situation as a sign of good faith?” His words take me aback. What does he even mean by “handle that situation?”
“I can handle Cian,” I reply.
“If you say so, but the offer stands.” I think he expects me to say thank you. But I don’t. I never asked him to come in here and interrupt me.
“Is that all, or do you need help with anything else?” I ask dryly.
His lips tug at the side at my words, and he nods.
“Three bodies are coming your way. I want their cause of death not to relate back to me.”
Most likely a message of sorts, but I know better than to ask questions.
“Done.”
“Good, good…” he says, still not moving. I can’t get away from him. He is blocking my path to the doorway behind him, which leads to my office and morgue.
“You didn’t need to come here to tell me that,” I tell him.
“No, I guess I did not…” he muses. And still doesn’t move.
“You can leave now so that I can work.”
His dark eyes are trained on me, and I wonder what type of person he is without the ruthless reputation and when he’s not running a crime syndicate. Immediately, I remove that thought. I shouldn’t want to know anything about him beyond our business together, and he needs to stop showing up here.
Finally, he moves so I can step past him, and I feel like I can breathe again. “Lock the door on your way out.” Then I hear the sounds of cars, and I know it’s bodies being delivered, most likely the bodies he is referring to. Brushing past him and his intoxicating smell, I push open the swinging door and walk through, not looking back. The fluorescent lights hum above me as I start to work. My gloves snap against my skin as I focus on the first body in front of me. Tori walks the people who delivered them out, and as I step up to the body, my jaw clenches, a cold chill running over me.