Christian picked up the cord he’d used to tie him up.
Ronald flew out of his chair. “I can help with whatever you want. Just don’t kill me. Turn me in.”
“We cannot turn you in,” Viktor informed him. “If you sing for us, you will sing for them. No one must know of our involvement, or it will put my people in danger.”
“What are you gonna do with me? Please, you can’t kill me. I’m not even the one who—”
“Jaysus wept.” Christian raised his arms in a fluster. “Will you put a cork in it? I’ve never heard so much weeping in all my days. If you think death is the worst thing that can happen, you haven’t met thunder and lightning,” he said, balling his hands into fists.
I tried not to laugh. Christian was dead serious, and I’d seen the damage he could do with those fists. But Ronald was harmless, and I could easily take him down with a toilet plunger.
“Tie him up,” Viktor commanded. “Take him to the climbing room. I do not want him in here with my things. Do not touch his mind until Wyatt has gained access to the accounts without any issue. I will give the command when there is no more work to be done. I will work with Wyatt on transferring the oligarchs’ money to the proper channels at a later time.”
Christian twirled the rope. “I think we should give him a few hours hanging upside down to ruminate over his life choices.”
“What about the address?” I held up my phone.
Viktor lifted the lantern and led me to the door while Ronald pleaded with Christian. “I will send Gem and Claude.”
“Make sure you ask Ronald if there’s a key or access code. I doubt they have security since Lenore wouldn’t trust them not to steal it out from beneath her nose. It’s worth asking.” We stopped at the stairwell. “What about Lenore?”
Viktor closed his eyes, and I could see the disappointment and anger bubbling beneath the surface. “I want you to go to her building. Ask the front desk if she is available, but do not go up. See if anything has changed—if there are more guards than usual or if they react a certain way when you request her by name. If she has made her home impenetrable, then I cannot circumvent this without exposing us. We cannot make a very public attack against her.”
“I dunno. I’d love to personally drag her down the elevator, kicking and screaming.”
“She cannot hide in there forever. Bring me what information you can on her situation, and I will send Blue out this evening to circle her apartment windows.”
“What do you plan to do with her?”
He shook his head. “I do not know.”
CHAPTER23
One thing was clear to me: Viktor had reservations about killing Lenore. She wasn’t a declared outlaw, and technically her crime likely wouldn’t be punishable by death. That was a big grey area. On top of that, Lenore wasn’t some Joe off the street. Her murder would not only open an investigation but also a can of worms.
As I walked up to Lenore’s building, she wasn’t even on my mind. All I could think about was Fletcher. Would she keep him close for protection? Would she set him free?
I entered the sleek lobby, my eyes skimming up to the lofty ceilings as I approached the glossy black reception counter. “Hi. I’m here to see Lenore Parrish.” I rested my arms on the counter and stared at the guard. He had on sunglasses, and while it was bright from all the reflective outdoor light, I wondered if he was shielding his eyes from Vampires. I couldn’t remember if Lenore had mentioned if this was a Breed-owned building. I only knew it was for millionaires.
“Sorry, she’s not accepting visitors.”
“It’s a delivery,” I insisted.
“You can leave it with me.”
I laughed and backed up. “How good is your singing voice? I’m a singing telegram.”
He looked me over and adjusted his glasses. “I’m sorry. I can’t allow it.”
“My boss is gonna be pissed. Say, do you have a bathroom down here I can use real fast before I go? It’s a long ride back.”
He gestured to his right. “Past the elevators.”
“Gracias.”
I did the signature walk everyone does when they aren’t sure if they can make it to the bathroom. When I entered the elevator hall, I walked to the other end and saw the bathrooms to the left along the wall. I also noticed a beautiful open space with a piano and leather seating.
When I heard the elevator door chime, I ran toward it and entered behind a woman flashing a long mink coat. She looked like Audrey Hepburn with her dark sunglasses and red lips. She swiped a card on the reader before pushing a button, and the doors closed.
