I licked my lips and decided on honesty, even though it always got me in hot water. “I don’t like the way she treated people. I don’t like the way she treatedyou. But none of that means she deserved to die.”
He looked down, his expression wavering, but all he said was, “Keep going.”
“We know she and Rochford were at this party my Boss gave. And we know she had the Castellani necklace the next day, because she wore it in that private snap. I’m thinking that—somehow—she or Rochford took it at the party. But when they took it back to Gino Bernardi, he would have known how much they’d fucked up. That necklace is famous among the Families. My guess is, he cut your sister loose, knowing that Ciro Castellani would never let something like that stand. And one thing I know about my Boss, he never bets on just one horse. I think he sent multiple people on multiple jobs. Mine was simply to find her, bring her in if I could, because he knew…” I trailed off.
“What did he know?” Miller demanded.
“He knew I’d never agree to killing her.”
It was exactly what had gotten me offside with Sonny Vegas. In fact, the first thing I’d said to Ciro Castellani when he was considering me as a potential was that I wouldn’t kill innocents.
So you won’t follow orders?he’d asked.
I’ll follow orders that are fair and reasonable, sir, but I have my own rules as well. I’m letting you know upfront. If you don’t like the way I work, I understand. Sonny Vegas couldn’t swallow it either, and I’ll move on from LA if that’s the way it has to be.
Miller took that in silently. I couldn’t tell whether any of this was convincing him or not. I wasn’t getting any reaction from him at all, so I kept talking, desperate.
“I think the Boss sent someone else to break into your sister’s house to get the necklace back. We thought at the time she’d been targeted by the burglary ring, but I think now it was just tit-for-tat. The Boss wanted his property back. And I think he must have sent someone else to…”
“To kill her,” Miller finished for me. “But not you, of course. You’re completely innocent.”
That wasn’t fair, and I heard myself protesting even though it would have been wiser to keep my mouth shut. “I never pretended to be a good guy, Miller. But I didn’t hurt your sister, and when I find out who did, Idointend to kill them.”
And kill whoever else needed killing in order to keep Miller safe. But I kept that to myself.
Miller was already moving on. “If Annie fucked up so bad that she’s dead, why is Roxy still allowed to swan around the Chateau?”
“Rochford’s with Gino Bernardi. She’s under his protection. The Boss would respect that—to a point.”
Miller finally moved. He wrapped his arms around himself and rubbed up and down in a way that made me ache to hold him. But his words were still cold. “I need you to leave. To get out of here for a while. I need some time to think.”
I didn’t move.
“I told you to get out.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
He gave a sad, twisted smile. “All this time, you’ve been saying you’ll do whatever I want you to do. Was that a lie?”
I shook my head in frustration. “Ofcourseit wasn’t, but you’re in danger still. I think whoever’s been stalking you—they still want the necklace, and they thinkyouhave it.”
That finally pulled a reaction from him. “Me?”
“The Boss wanted me to keep looking into things. That suggests to me he didn’t have the outcome he wanted yet—no necklace. And he’s the one who sent me to you in the first place. He didn’t know how strained things were between you and Anaïs. From his point of view, it would seem like a solid bet that the twin brother would know where the necklace was. Please, Miller. Believe me.”
His lips parted, his gaze slid away from mine, and he sighed. “I don’tknowwhat to believe right now. Like I said, I need to think.”
“Yes, think,” I urged. “Reallythink, Trouble. If my job was to kill your sister, why would I come afteryounext?”
Those beautiful eyes were going to haunt my dreams, so hurt and betrayed and wary. “I don’t know. Maybe you get off on watching people go through the pain you’ve caused.”
I physically recoiled from his words. “Is that really what you think of me?”
He squeezed his eyes shut. “I need some time alone. The security guards are here. I have that gun you gave me. I’ll be safe.” His eyes opened again, driving into me like twin stilettos. “So are you going to give me what I’m asking for, or not?”
* * *
My initial plan was to just hide out somewhere on the grounds until later and then sneak back in, even if just to watch over Miller while he slept, but…
