“What happened?” I already know how this story is going to end, I’m hoping I’m wrong.
“There was a man, always offering us piles of money to handle a few accounts for him,” he ran his hand through his hair, unable to look at me. “Da called him and he said he’d do it for a favor. A simple transaction, just that one time.”
“It’s never just that one time,” I say sadly.
“Da told him, just scare her off, that’s all. Make her keep quiet,” he rambled, ignoring me. “The man came back and said the problem was taken care of. Taken care of…” He abruptly stood, pacing the room.
“What happened to the girl, Gideon?”
“He just wanted her to stop blackmailing him!” he snaps, “That’s all, and she wouldn’t. She… they injected her with a huge amount of heroin, made it look like an overdose.”
“The man kept asking for favors, didn’t he? He didn’t ask though, he told your father what your bank was going to do for him.”
“Aye.” his head bows.
“How long has this been going on?”
“Ten years now. We launder millions for this bastard every year, he has his hooks into Da, the business- we’d lose everything if we stopped now.”
“No,” I’m rubbing my throbbing head, “he’ll kill you. Horribly, likely to make an example of ya’. Who owns ya’ now?”
“He doesn’t- it’s not like that,” he blusters, “we’re partners.”
“Who,Gideon?”
“LuisMuñoz,” he says.
“Sweet baby Jesus you’re a doolally!” I groan. “You got into bed with the most vicious cartel in Columbia?”
“We had no choice!” he shouted, flinching, and touching the plaster on his broken nose. At least, I hope I broke it. “Don’t you see what matters here? I’m in the business! I’m one of you! We’ll get you out of this disgusting thing with MacTavish and I’ll marry you properly. You know your father would approve of our union.”
“You’re thinking that, are ya’? Do you realize theMuñoz Cartel has been moving in on my father’s interests for the last year? Did you know they attacked the MacTavish estates last night? They were going to wipe out everyone’s families, Gideon! Women. All the children. That’s who you’re working with.”
He’s staring at me, mouth slightly open as if he can’t comprehend why I’m not giddy with joy.
Running my hands over my face, I force myself to think. Yelling at him isn’t doing anything. Time to finesse the situation. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be yelling at you. I’m just… my head really hurts from those drugs. Could you get me some aspirin?” I give him a sweet, tremulous smile.
He leaps to his feet, smiling hopefully again. “Of course, darling.”
I hear the distinct click of a lock as he shuts the door. Of course.
Slowly standing up, I put my hand on the wall for balance, gritting my teeth against the cotton candy wrapped around my brain. Looking at the sunlight coming in through the French doors, I’m guessing it’s late afternoon. Whatever he gave me has a slow absorption rate, meaning I’m going to be off-balance and woozy for a while.
Papa. He must be out of his mind, and Dougal? They’ll be looking for me. There are security cameras all along that street. But if I can get out of here first, it reduces the risk of bloodshed. My purse and phone are gone, I don’t know if he kept them, if it dinna occur to him that every crime lord’s wife has a tracker, Dougal could already be on his way.
Gideon must at least be sane enough to know I wouldn’t take this well if he’s keeping me drugged like this. Walking slowly around the room, I try to get my bearings. I’m almost sure I’m at the Wallace family home, I’ve been here once or twice for parties. It’s just outside of Glasgow, and unfortunately, looking out the windows, it has very large grounds, with grass and low-trimmed bushes. Very few places to hide for someone trying to get out. I could disable the power to the house, make a run for the main gate…
Ignoring the now-cold tea, I nibble on one of the ginger cookies. If he’s planning to drug me again, slipping it into the tea is the easiest way, so I dump the cup into a nearby plant.
No wonder Muñoz has been making inroads here in Scotland, they’ve been laundering all their drug money through the Wallace banking system. Fingers tapping my hips, I try to remember where the study would be in this house. Rich Arseholes are always stupidly overconfident about their home security systems.
And thanks to Gideon, I’m already on the inside.
When I hear him fumbling at the door, I curl up on the bed, trying to look as pathetic as possible.
“Here’s your painkillers and some water,” he beams, putting them on the bedside table.
“Thank you, you’re so sweet,” I smile weakly. “I just got comfortable, I’m going to lie here for a moment. Tell me, what do you have planned next?”
