“Marley,” she addressed the young woman who smiled at her tight-lipped and reached out her hand. The temperature in the room dropped a few degrees with the look Alyssa gave her. She retracted her hand and waited while her husband drew out her chair and took his.
“This is Luke,” Alyssa introduced.
He gave me a once over, smiling that same arrogant smile. “Hi, Doc,” Gregory offered.
I wanted to rip his heart from his fucking chest, watch it stop beating in my hands, but instead, I offered him a courteous nod. “Gregory.”
“This is nice, isn’t it?” he said to Marley. “Seeing old friends again, meeting new ones.” He considered me. “Graduatedsumma cum laudeif I’m correct. Some of your theories have been used worldwide. You’ve received accolades under your belt. Impressive!” He motioned for a waiter.
“Thank you for that rather unnecessary introduction.” I let out a breath. I hated the small talk but knew this was all part of the game, and I would have to play along with the woman sitting next to me.
The waiter approached the table humbly. “Mr. and Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Morgan,” he greeted. “Sir,” he said to me.
They were obviously well known and no doubt respected for the staff to know them by name.
“Kurt, this is Dr. Greene, a new friend of ours,” he said joyfully. Anyone listening in would swear this was a casual conversation, a gathering of friends, but we were far from that. The waiter smiled and nodded at me. He was a young man with neatly cropped hair and glasses and appeared sheepish.
“We’ll have your best champagne, Kurt. Only the best for Alyssa Morgan, the wife of my dear friend. Did you know my good friend, Malcolm, died, Kurt?”
I could see the young man’s face drop. He was obviously unaware and also appeared incredibly uncomfortable to be put in a situation like this.
Alyssa flinched beside me, and I placed a hand on her knee for support.
“I didn’t,” the waiter answered. “My condolences, Mrs. Morgan.”
“Indeed, it truly is a sad occasion,” Gregory said sorrowfully.
“I’ll be right back with the menu, Mr. Evans,” Kurt said awkwardly and walked away briskly.
“You’re a real asshole, Gregory Evans.”
“Is that the way to treat an old friend? I would think not. I am just here to have a friendly dinner with you and your newfriend.” He looked at me again like I was his prey.
“I am here for one reason and one reason alone. To find out where my daughter is.” I could hear the tremor in her voice, but it wasn’t fear. Oh no, this was anger.
“I like a woman who can get straight to the point. I always liked that about you, you know.”
“Just tell her what she needs to know, Evans.” I hissed under my breath.
“Gracie’s in good hands, believe me,” he said candidly. “It was wonderful to see her after all this time. You know how much I adore my goddaughter.”
“What do you want, Gregory?” Alyssa asked.
“Bubbly first, beautiful,” he taunted. “I answered you, so you have to play along now.”
“I could knock you out cold in a second. You are one arrogant asshole,” I spat through gritted teeth.
“Protective, are we? Have you moved along so quickly, Lissy, or is he just your next victim?”
Her hand on my fists steadied me. I hated what this man was doing to her. I hated that he kidnapped her daughter, yet she was the one at his mercy, practically begging for any scrap of information he could throw at her.
“Where is she?” I felt the tremble in her hands.
“All in good time.” He smirked.
“How do I know you’re not lying to me?”
He pulled out his cell phone, turning the screen toward us. There was Gracie, looking back at us.
