“Like what was in the file.”
“Yes.”
“So, they shut him up and took the file.” Fuckers. They all needed a good ass-whooping.
“Correct.”
“What about me? O’Donoghue’s guys followed me for weeks. Then a guy followed me in a BMW.”
Victor nodded and scowled. “Yes. Although the video showed you only read the first page of the documents, they couldn’t be certain of what you knew and who you might share information with. My man intercepted the driver of the BMW, the hard way.”
He paused to take a sip of coffee. “In order for Forsyth to assume control of Chastain, they needed you to stop your investigation. Mr. Smith contacted me before he’d been hospitalized, did you know that? We’ve been watching this situation for weeks, waiting to get all the evidence we needed.”
Lucky nearly choked on a mouthful of coffee. “He what?”
“The moment your findings were overridden, he called me to consult on what I might know. As it turns out, I knew a lot.”
Same old Victor, doling out info on an as-needed basis, using knowledge as power. Lucky hated the not knowing what he needed to back then, like Victor planning to take Lucky with him to avoid arrest, and he hated it now. They’d been lovers, but Victor never viewed Lucky as an equal, more like someone to be coddled and cared for.
Lucky took care of himself. “Don’t you think you should’ve told me?”
“No. I needed you to continue being as you normally are. Trust me, we wouldn’t have let anything happen to you or yours.” Victor let out a sigh. “I’m truly sorry I couldn’t have stopped the attack on Walter Smith.”
“What about O’Donoghue?”
“O’Donoghue?” Victor clucked his tongue. “Ah, Lucky, you’ve let personal feelings close your eyes. Jameson O’Donoghue has nothing to do with this case, except for maybe letting his personal feelings close his eyes as well.”
“Then who?”
“The president of Forsyth Pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with one of O’Donoghue’sminions, as you call them. The former is in custody, but I’m afraid Owen Landry, Phillip Eustace, and Gregory Rogers are at large. Owen Landry attempted to hire someone to kill you, which brings us to where we are now.”
The little shit. “Where are we now?”
“You and your partner will take a few days off, under 24-hour protection, as will Mr. Smith. Once the suspects are apprehended, you’ll return to work.”
“What? You expect me to…”
Victor’s face hardened to a well-remembered glare. “I expect you to follow orders.” His tone softened. “Nestor and I hold you in high esteem. If you ever need us, you call. Until now I’ve dealt with Walter, but as he will soon retire, I’ll deal directly with you.”
Lucky’s throat closed. Deal directly with Victor? And by extension, Nestor? Dangerous men, both. Seeing them as good guys might take a few more years of therapy. “Why?”
Victor’s eyebrows shot upward. “Why? Because you’re a good man, whether you wish to admit it or not. I value good men. I’ll be sure to leave contact information. If you ever change your mind about joining us, the offer holds.”
Well, this certainly hadn’t gone the way Lucky expected, but like hell would he lounge around the house while the assholes who’d tried to kill him walked free. “Thanks. I think.”
“Nestor sends his regards.”
Lucky nodded to Victor’s left hand. “That’s not the ring you used to wear.”
Victor grinned, more openly than Lucky had ever seen before. “Yes. It took us both years to see what was in front of us all the time.” He held up his hand, running a thumb over the wedding band in question. “Now go. Your partner is probably beside himself with worry.”
When Lucky opened the door to leave, a question he’d always longed to ask started making demands. “That night, when you caught me trying to steal your car.”
“Yes.”
“Would you have actually killed me if I didn’t agree to work for you?”
“What do you think?”
