“Where’s that bitch, Evelyn?” he spat.
I fought to keep the hatred from my face. “I came alone. She’s still at the party.”
“She’s at a party while the brats she’s playing mommy to are in danger?” he mocked.
“She doesn’t know. I had her phone when you sent the message. We were separated.” The lie came easily.
“I didn’t want you alone. But my business with that bitch can wait. Now, show me where it is.”
“Where’s what?”
“The jewelry. The money. Whatever valuables you’ve got. All I found was this junk.” He gestured with the backpack slung over his shoulder, bulging with our tablets and Evelyn’s simple jewelry.
“That’s all there is.”
“A millionaire without a safe? Don’t insult me.”
“This isn’t the last century. I don’t keep cash. I can transfer money to you.”
“You think I’m an idiot? I don’t have a bank account. Nothing they can trace.” He rubbed his nose with his free hand, his eyes wide and glassy.Drugs.Of course. That made him even more volatile and unpredictable.
My gaze kept flicking to his other hand, the one still aiming the gun toward my daughters’ room. I had to disarm him, but first, I had to lure him away.
“I have some cash stashed in my closet,” I lied.
A greedy, twitchy smile spread across his face. “Then let’s go get it.”
Keeping my hands raised, I walked slowly past him into my bedroom. The room was a disaster, just like the living room. He’d torn it apart. I led him to the walk-in closet, which had also been ransacked. He followed close behind, the gun now trained squarely on my back.
Therewasa safe there, hidden behind a false panel in the shoe shelves. We never used it. The neighborhood was safe, and Evelyn had no interest in extravagant jewels.
“I looked everywhere in here,” he sneered. “There’s no safe. You’d better not be bluffing.”
“I’m not.”
I went to the right-side shelves, lifted one, and pressed on the wooden backing. It slid forward, and I dragged it aside, revealing the small, metal door.
“Ingenious,” Peter murmured, impressed despite himself. “Now open it.”
It was empty. But I needed to buy time. I pretended to struggle with the combination.
“It’s taking a moment to remember the code,” I said.
“Hurry up.”
“My memory for numbers isn’t great. And honestly, you came all the way from L.A. for this? There’s not much in here. You picked a bad target.”
“I needed a place to hide and a stake to get out of the country. And you know this isn’tjustabout robbery.”
“Right. Because after tormenting Evelyn, you still think she owes you some twisted form of revenge.”
“Shut your mouth!” he yelled, the gun in his hand trembling violently.
I was pushing him, gambling on his instability. Either he’d snap and shoot me, or he’d snap and give me an opening. Either way, I was keeping him away from the girls and stalling for the police.
“That ungrateful whore… She was mywife,” he ranted, sweat beading on his forehead. “I was sure she’d come crawling back. Then some millionaire bastard shows up… Enough talk! Open the damn safe!”
He wiped his face with his sleeve. It wasn't hot, but the drugs and rage were boiling him from the inside.
