“No. This is Simon Sutcliffe. A known London-based criminal and contact of Gray’s.”
At my wife’s shudder, I tightened my embrace. The thought of someone targeting her like this … Why?
I must have said the word out loud because Banes continued, “We discovered a laptop in the floorboards of one of Gray’s bedrooms. It belonged to Gray’s deceased stepson Ashton. On that laptop were saved emails between you and Ashton, where Ashton confided that Gray was sexually abusing him.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck. Fury and concern and more fury coursed through me as I pressed a hard kiss to Allegra’s temple.
“Yes, Ashton confided that to me when we were kids.” Tears brightened Allegra’s eyes. “Are you saying that Andrew Gray discovered this recently and tried to kill me?”
“The circumstances of Gray discovering this is supposition without a confession from Gray. We do know his home was under renovation this year, and it could be he discovered the laptop during the reno. But we have solid evidence that he put a hit out on you, yes. There’s correspondence and transactions between him and Sutcliffe regarding the contract. His lastcorrespondence was regarding the car accident you were in. Sutcliffe was behind it, had realized you were still alive, and was asking Gray for more money to try again. It seemed they were being cautious about making sure your death looked like an accident.”
Was this even real bloody life? My heart thudded in fear. “Is my wife safe now?”
Banes nodded. “Allegra is safe. However, we would like you to make an official statement in the case we’re gathering against Gray.”
“Not if it’s dangerous.” No fucking way would I let her be put in danger again.
Allegra placed a placating hand on my chest, and my worry heightened. Christ, she was going to do this. My stomach dropped. I didn’t know if I could handle her swinging her arse out there like that. This trafficking ring was serious shit with serious people who had probably murdered many innocents to keep it going and hidden.
My wife looked at the officers. “Do you think Gray is going away for a long time, no matter what?”
Banes and Dobbs shared a look. “We have a good case against him.”
“Then you don’t need me.”
Banes frowned. “This man tried to have you killed.”
“Yes, he did. But he’s going to prison for a long time for causing a hell of a lot more terror and pain than what I felt when I went over that hillside. I’m not being a coward or taking the easy way out.” Allegra slipped her fingers through mine. “But my family has been through so much in the last ten years, and if I put my name on that witness list, we’ll be splashed across the world news again. I’m sure you realize who my father is and that the media has a special interest in my family. If my name gets out there, then Ashton’s story will be splashed across the newson a much bigger scale than it might otherwise. He didn’t ask for that. Without his permission to do that, I don’t think I can.”
Allegra swiped at the tears gliding down her cheeks and I kissed her temple again, letting her know I supported her, no matter what. “He will get justice without my statement. Gray will never see the outside of a cell without my statement. And my family can finally try to move on from all the shit that’s been thrown at them for the last few years. It’s not the noble choice, but it’s the one I’m willing to make for them.”
The male officer scowled in irritation, but Banes sighed heavily in acceptance. She plucked a card from her jacket pocket and held it out to Allegra. “If you change your mind, call me.”
“Thank you. And thank you for letting us know about the crash.”
“Will he be arrested?” I growled, thinking of the scum who pushed my wife off a fucking cliff and had planned to come for her again.
Banes responded emotionlessly, “Sutcliffe was killed in a police raid four days ago.”
Good.
“And you’re sure she’s safe?”
“We’re positive no one else was involved.”
I nodded, satisfied as much as I could be by that news.
As soon as the officers got in their car and drove off, I pulled Allegra into my arms and held her so tight, I was probably crushing her.
“This fucking world,” I muttered against her ear.
She ran a soothing hand down my back. “But we’re here and we’re alive. That world isn’t our world.”
I nodded and brushed my lips over hers. “Are you okay?”
“Surprisingly, yes. I don’t think I’ll ever stop feeling guilty about Ashton, but I feel more at peace knowing that the man who hurt him can’t hurt anybody else. I mean”—she shookher head in amazement—“I can’t believe Gray tried to have me killed. Wait until I tell Sloane she’s not a special unicorn anymore. We’ve both had hits put out on us.”
“It’s not funny.”
