“Not that long ago. Especially since my connections withthe Los Angeles police brought me up to date. They are always so very reliable.”
Would my past never stop following me? Worse was Graham’s smug expression throwing it in my face.
“It’s still listed as a cold case, but my less savory connections outside the LAPD tell me it was a cover-up.”
And I would do it again if it meant saving Izzy from her violent pimp. I hadn’t intended on him losing his footing and falling down a flight of cement steps to his death.
“A cover-up orchestrated by Frank Barnett, your mobster father.”
True again. In desperation, I called my father, and he made it all disappear—until now.
“I’m not afraid of you and what you claim to know.” Maybe he is bluffing too, but I’m not about to fold.
“Then maybe you’ll care about another open case in Brooklyn involving the shooting of a Paul Santoro.”
My eyes widen at the mention of Nick’s father.
“Seems he was found in an alley not long after leaving a bar with Nick and your father. I’ve done some investigating, and I know Nick changed his name from Santoro to Sinclair. I also know that, because his father was such a lowlife, the cops overlooked his death and didn’t give it much attention when your father made a sizable donation to the precinct. That is until I had some of my associates do some investigating.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“That’s where people like you always underestimate me.”
“People like me?”
“You, Nick, and that other thug, Samson. You all think you’re smarter, tougher than me, but in the end, my money and power coupled with your dirty past always put you in acompromising position. One I’m willing to take full advantage of.”
“So, the meeting in my office was all bullshit.”
“I have one of the best surveillance companies in the world on my payroll. I guess you could say they supply information that helps me close many high-profile deals with reluctant clients.”
“Why are you doing this? What have you got to gain from hurting me?”
“Two different questions with the same answer.” He cocks his head. “Because I can.”
“The evidence in both cases is long gone.”
“I have enough money and influence to open both of those cases. Especially if I start whispering in the right ears. It’ll be enough to start some very damaging gossip for you and Nick. Enough speculation to cast a shadow over both Selective Services and Club Wicked.”
“But why?”
“Because I don’t like to lose, and I’m willing to use a little incentive if necessary to acquire the business holdings I want.”
“Sounds more like blackmail.”
“Just a matter of semantics. I’ve found if you dig deep enough, everyone has a secret, and between Nick’s shady past in Brooklyn and your murderous ways, I’ve hit the jackpot.”
My brain spins with a comeback or a solution, but with Graham’s money and power, he could hurt both of us without breaking a sweat. Everything Nick and I have worked for incinerated in a poof of bad decisions.
“I see you realize the veracity of my accusations.”
“All I have to do is tell Nick about this, and he’ll?—”
“He’ll what? Have me eliminated like the thug he is?” Graham spits out a cruel laugh. “You’ll say nothing of this toNick. Or that beautiful daughter of yours who lives with you at Country Club Hills could have an unfortunate accident.”
I lunge at him so fast and hard, his back hits the side of my car. “Don’t you ever mention my daughter.”
“Ahhh, I’ve finally found your Achilles’ heel.”
