“There’s a lot about this guy that Raina clearly didn’t know,” I say after a while. “The drugs, the gambling, whatever the hell he’s doing over at Bancroft, this stuff didn’t just show up overnight.”
“It’s not the byproduct of their relationship ending either,” Alex replies. “Going over the transaction records alone, I see they go back years, since he was in his early twenties.”
“Which means he played quite the part with Raina,” Max says, “the pretty boy lawyer, the charming fella who was suddenly too good for her, that piece of shit.”
“On the plus side, all of this makes it even likelier that he is the blackmailer,” Alex says. “As soon as Luke confirms it, we’ll have the bastard in chains—literally. The Feds will have a field day with him.”
“And Bancroft will destroy him in civil court, too,” I reply.
It sounds like a picture-perfect scenario, but we still have a long way to go before we get there. We paid one ransom; requests for another will arrive soon. I don’t mind paying. Like Bancroft said, we’ll find a way to get it back fromwhoever is doing this, but there is something else bothering me.
“Have either of you wondered what this guy’s endgame is?” I ask.
Alex looks at me curiously, eyebrows lifted. “What do you mean?”
“It can’t be just $450,000. The photos are worth way more than that; I’m sure we can all agree on that. And if it’s Jeremy, is it really just about the money?”
Max runs his fingers through his hair. “I’m guessing there’s a darker motive at play, perhaps it’s revenge, or just a pathological need to make certain people miserable. It could be that this was always about something else, and the money is just an added benefit.”
“Either way, time is of the essence,” Alex says. “The money probably bought us a few more days, maybe a week. The person behind this will blow through that cash. You don’t go into blackmailing people if you’re otherwise fiscally responsible.”
“The clock is ticking, brothers. If we don’t get ahead of this, it’ll blow back on Raina sooner or later,” I say.
Max clears his throat. “Speaking of Raina, do we tell her?”
“No,” Alex says and shakes his head, “not yet, anyway. We’re moving into Black Swan territory now. She needs a clear head and room for her vision to play out. We can handle this ourselves.”
I agree. Raina has been through enough. She’s had to fight for every morsel of success, for every bit of good news, for herwhole life. Jeremy hurt her enough. The mere hint that he might be the one orchestrating this blackmail attempt could shatter her emotionally. She’s worked hard. She deserves peace.
And love.
I plan on giving her all of that and more.
By any means necessary.
22
RAINA
The last of my bags rest at the bottom of the main stairs.
It feels like I’ve lived here for much longer than a few weeks. I’m taking home an extra bag filled with clothes and lingerie and shoes Alex, Vincent, and Max gave me as gifts, each a token of their affection, of their attraction and appreciation. It’s not just the experience gained that brings a smile to my face, it’s the relationship we’ve somehow built in this place.
“Looks like you’re ready for a new adventure,” Deanna says.
I whirl around to find her in the lobby, seated on one of her hard-shell suitcases, legs crossed and stuffed into a pair of high-heeled leather boots. The mink she’s wrapped in looks real, and I feel sorry for the creature that died for Deanna’s plush comfort.
“And you’re still here,” I mutter.
She points a thumb over her shoulder and smiles. “My car ison its way. I’ve got a rich lover who’s eager to keep me busy until the next Haus season.”
“Well, at least you’ll be busy.”
“Yes, I will. Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep a Brunei prince hooked while you entertain other men here?” Deanna laughs.
“No idea whatsoever,” I respond with a sigh. “That’s not really my cup of tea.”
“Oh, right, because you’re so much better than me.”
