“Did Steven tell you anything else?”
“He refused, so we cut out his tongue and fed it to the fish.”
“And the rest of him? Swimming with them, too?”
Lou met my eyes, no trace of doubt. “He’s dead, sir. You wanted him gone. I made sure of it.”
“Right. I don’t need the details.” I’d given the order, and Lou had delivered. When you’re born with money and influence, power comes as naturally as breathing. I never wasted energy on guilt, especially not for assholes who crossed me.
“Feel free to grab some food inside before you leave. Keep in touch.” I waved my hand to dismiss Lou. He bowed, nodded, and walked away.
There was one thing about men like Lou. He was loyal as long as his family lived comfortably, and I took care of his family.. Heck, I threw in free private schooling for his kids. The guy belonged to a motorcycle club, and he was crazy about his woman, just as I was crazy about mine. We shared common ground from that standpoint. My friend, Angelo Lucciano, recommended him. Said he was reliable, and he was right.
As for who violated Vera, my gut screamed Saira, but suspicion wasn’t enough. I needed proof. When judgment day came, I wouldn’t stand in front of a judge and jury with nothing but guesses. I’d bring evidence sharp enough to cut her down.
Judgment day would come, and when it does, I’ll aim for the jugular.
Vera
“Merry Christmas, babe,” I greeted Alistair with a kiss when I arrived at the Scott Residence. He and I kept our relationship quiet from the public eye and the media for now. It wasn’t hard because he spent most of his time traveling abroad for work.
We decided it was time to let the cat out of the bag that we were officially a couple, starting with our families and close friends. Alistair invited my family?—Mom, Julian, Sapphire, and their baby, Drake Octavius Richland, born only a few weeks ago?—to the Christmas party.
“Merry Christmas, Alistair,” my mother said, holding her hand out for him to shake. They got along well from the moment they met back in September. I revealed my relationship with Alistair to Sapphire after she gave birth to my nephew. She was thrilled, and surprisingly, so was Julian.
Alistair chuckled and cupped Mom’s hand with both of his hands. “Make yourself at home, Frances. It’s good to see you again.” He turned to me and kissed my cheek. “I’m glad you made it, sweetheart. It’s been too long,” he murmured into my ear.
I gazed at Alistair’s dilated eyes, clouded with lust, and whispered, “It’s only been one week this time, but I’ll make it up to you tonight.”
“Eight p.m. sharp at my place, or I’ll hunt you down,” he growled, gazing at my body. “I must greet my cousin, Cecily. Julian and Sapphire are already here, talking with my dad and some of his buddies. Damian’s here too. He can’t wait to see you.”
“Damian?” Mom asked, watching Alistair walk toward a bubbly blonde woman with a gift in her hands.
“He’s Alistair’s son,” I explained. I liked spending time with the kid. He and I watched a new action blockbuster at the movies last weekend.
“Alistair reminds me of the mythical Orion. He was a hunter too, and Artemis’s lover,” my mother pointed out. “His fate was rather unfortunate, though, so Artemis placed his body among the stars. As for the scorpion she killed, she placed that one behind Orion in the sky to warn everyone of treachery and deception, or betrayal of trust.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Mom, what are you saying?”
“Why, not much at all. It’s just a silly story. Julian knows more about these myths.” Mom patted my hand.
“Boo,” a boy’s voice cut in, breaking the thread of conversation with my mom. I spun around and found myself staring into bright green eyes, a freckled nose, and dimples deep enough to disarm me.
“Damian. You scared me.” I placed both hands against my cheeks and opened my eyes wide to imitate Edvard Munch’s painting,The Scream.
“You look like a zombie.” He chuckled with a genuine smile. It was the same smile his father wore when he was content. Elizabeth stood next to her grandson, glowing with happiness.
“It’s good to see you again, Vera. I hope you’re enjoying your new job at Orion,” she said.
“The company keeps me busy, and I love my team,” I responded, then gestured toward my mother, who smiled serenely. “Damian and Elizabeth, this is my mom, Frances.”
The two women began to chatter after being introduced, but I felt a chill coming from another direction. Turning to my right, I noticed two pairs of malicious eyes glaring at me from a distance. Erin and Oliver Scott were here.
“I hear you’re part of the legal team at Orion,” Erin said, taking a seat next to me at the lunch table. “Congratulations on sleeping your way to a job. You should get a stop sign embroidered on that dress between your legs.”
It was my rotten luck to have Queen Bitch by my side on Christmas Day, so I snapped. “Actually, it was Elizabeth who offered me the job. You’re disgusting to think of me sleeping with your mother-in-law,” I replied. “Merry Christmas, by the way. I hope you get a lump of coal shoved down your throat.”
Erin raised her glass of water, tilting it toward me. “Merry Christmas to you, too,slut face. Wanna know what Oliver said about you?”
