Cora’s eyes widen. “They got that close?”
I nod. “While I was showering. It was clever. They knew I’d use it right after, maximizing skin contact.”
“But you survived,” Cora says, her hand squeezing mine.
“Barely,” I admit. “The doctors said the water from my shower diluted the poison somewhat. Whoever did this didn’t account for that. It’s the only reason I’m still breathing.”
Cora’s brow furrows. “Did you see anyone suspicious? Any faces that didn’t belong?”
I shake my head. “Nothing. They were good, Cora. Professional.”
She nibbles on her bottom lip.
“Zane informed me that Stone got arrested,” I state. “Your father pulled some strings to make it happen fast.”
Cora straightens. “I didn’t know that. So Richard Stone tried to kill you and then me? He hated losing to me, but murder? That’s...” she trails off, shaking her head.
“I know,” I say, my voice low. “It doesn’t sit right with me.”
“What do you mean?”
I lean forward, wincing at the movement. “A business rival escalating to attempted murder? It feels off. I’ve been mulling it over, and I don’t think this is just about your companies competing. There’s more to this story that we haven’t uncovered yet. Like who is the silent witness? Did he have anything to do with your kidnapper?”
“Fuck,” Cora mutters, her face paling. “You think there might be someone else involved? Like two separate criminals? Or perhaps they’re the same one?”
“There are too many loose ends, too many things that don’t quite add up. The level of professionalism in the poisoning attempt? It feels bigger than business rivalry.”
Cora rubs her chin. “There might be something. I asked Dad about the robbery, and he admitted it. But he was insistent that it had absolutely no connection to what happened to me.”
I lean forward, my interest piqued. “Did he give you any details?”
“No,” Cora says, shaking her head. “That’s the thing. He shut down fast when I tried to ask more. It was weird, Ryder. I’ve never seen my father look scared before.”
I furrow my brow, the gears in my mind turning. A long-ago robbery, a terrified Peter Valeur, and the recent attempts on our lives… Could they be connected? Whatever is going on, whatever danger still lurks in the shadows, I’m going to get to the bottom of it. For Cora’s sake, and for our future together.
The heavy oak door swings open, and Peter Valeur’s imposing figure fills the doorway.
“Cora, I’ve been looking for you,” he says, his deep baritone cutting through the room.
I push myself to my feet, ignoring the protest of mymuscles. Peter’s gaze locks onto me, his brow furrowing as he takes in my presence. The air in the room seems to thicken with tension.
“Mr. West,” he nods, extending his hand.
We shake hands, the tension palpable, Cora’s anxiety radiating off her in waves.
I open my mouth to speak, but Peter raises a hand, silencing me. “Before you say anything, I owe you an apology.”
The words hang in the air, unexpected. I blink, momentarily at a loss.
Peter continues, his voice measured. “Seeing my daughter in an intimate situation with her bodyguard was a shock. It wasn’t the future I’d envisioned for her. I reacted poorly.”
“Sir, I?—”
“Please, let me finish,” he interrupts, his tone softening. “While it may not be what I wanted, I’ve realized I can’t dictate Cora’s heart. You saved her life, Mr. West. You came back despite my actions. That’s a debt I can’t easily repay.”
Beside me, Cora lets out a loud exhale. I take her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Meeting Peter’s gaze, I straighten my posture. “You owe me nothing, Mr. Valeur. I protect Cora because I love her, not out of obligation. You asked me to leave before, but I’m not giving up on Cora. I can’t. I won’t leave unless she asks me to.”
