Peyton winks. “I knew I liked you.”
I ignore him. “Who’s the rat, Peyton? No bullshit this time.”
Peyton stands. “I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to that question, Miss Riley. I’ve given you everything I know. That’s something you’ll have to figure out on your own.”
I slam my fist against the desk, rattling everything on it. Peyton flinches but doesn’t seem surprised by my outburst.
“And why,Mr. Radd, are you suddenly revealing all of this to me? Why are you switching sides in this little game of yours?” I can’t help the derision that drips from my lips.
Peyton smiles so wide. A show to mask his own anger. “You see, I’m a betting man, Miss Riley. I like to place my bets where I know I’ll come out on top.”
“Yes, you’ve said that.”
Peyton narrows his gaze but continues, “And I’m betting on you and Owen Mills this time.”
“That seems like a terrible bet. If you haven’t noticed, Mr. Mills is currently sitting in jail for the murder of three people, and my trial is only two weeks away.”
Peyton chuckles. “You see, Miss Riley, I do very thorough research on all my targets and all my employees. I know your entire past. I know Mr. Mills' entire past. I know everything there is to know about the workings of the black snake crime syndicate.”
“And you still bet on us?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
There’s an odd glint in his eye as he smiles at me. “Because no one fights harder than a broken woman, Miss Riley. And you are most definitely broken.”
I stare after him, my mouth gaping, as he heads for the door. But before my brain can sew together a single thought, he stops and looks back at me. “And perhaps you won’t believe me, Miss Riley, but I’m also a bit of a romantic. I’d like to see love win just once, even with all cards stacked against it.”
With that, he’s gone.
Chapter 32
“It has to be Dec,” Ella says, pacing around my apartment as everyone listens to the news I received from Peyton.
“But how? Why? It can’t be him. We’ve been friends for a decade,” I tell her.
She stops and faces me. “I know, Nova, but it’s the only obvious choice. He has access to your accounts and the best hackers in the business, and he was recently appointed director, giving him even more clearance and control in the CIA and more sway with the board of directors. It just fits.”
“It fits except that he would never do that to me,” I snap, falling onto the large, leather chair next to the couch and burying my face in my hands.
Ella’s voice is quiet this time. “Do you think maybe your relationship with Dec might be clouding your judgment here?”
I know she didn’t say it to make me angry, but I can’t help the rage. My hands instinctively ball into fists, and I slam them against the armrests on the chair. “I don’t know!” My voice falls to a whisper an instant later. “I don’t know anything anymore.”
Ella places a supportive hand on my shoulder. “I’m meeting him for dinner tonight. Wewillfigure this out.”
I nod, miserable, when Noell suddenly shouts and Eagans face lights up.
“We found it!” she screams.
I’m out of the chair before anyone can blink. Eagan swivels his computer around to show everyone.
“What am I looking at?” I ask.
“The money transfers,” Noell says, pointing to the screen.
I squint, trying to make sense of the numbers and words I’m seeing.
