Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
I search his top drawers, disappointed by outdated documents and a small bottle of unopened whisky. His laptop, phone, and computer screens have all been removed. The police took them when they wanted to investigate further into his murder. With such an easily closed case, they’d returned them, but no one cared to put them back. I mean, he was gone after all.
I pop my hands onto my hips. “Shit,” I mumble, feeling half-crazed that I’m looking into this in the first place. I mean, he’s dead. But I have to know.
A light tap on the glass door interrupts my rummaging through his drawers. I lift my head to find Mr. Luca looking somewhat confused as he opens the door.
Shit.
“Rya?”
“Good morning,” I say with a gentle smile as I continue casually looking through the drawers. If I stop, then I’ll definitely look suspicious.
“Good morning. What are you doing in here?” he asks, and I notice the hint of suspicion in his tone.
“I had given Brian a file and was hoping it might be here somewhere. But looks like I’m out of luck.” I wave my hand in fake exasperation.
“Don’t you back everything up on your computer?”
I nod. “Yeah, I do. I just know he had written notes down on it, so I was hoping to find it. But I can navigate without it, of course.”
There’s a long silence.
So, I go below the belt with theatrics. “It’s just still so strange that he’s gone.”
A flash of something cuts across Mr. Luca’s blue eyes as if he understands. I’m not particularly affected by Brian’s death. I’ve become desensitized to death over the years. But for the longest time, I was his star pupil. And if I could use that to get out of this situation, then I definitely would.
“It’s cut us all very deeply.” He looks back at the door and throws a casual finger in its direction. “I could’ve sworn that door was locked.”
I pretend to be confused. “No, I was able to walk in. Maybe the cleaners left it open?” Actually, I picked the lock.
A “harrumph” is his reply.
“Why are you here so early?” I ask, suddenly realizing that most of the firm’s employees don’t clock in for another hour. Mr. Luca has been around a lot more since Brian’s death, and I wonder if that’s because he’s worried one of his biggest investments has a lot of questions revolving around it. Or perhaps his father wants him on the ground doing his dirty work.
“I’ve just been assisting, you know, with damage control and all.”
“Ah.” I nod in understanding. “Well, now that I can’t find it, I’ll go off memory.” I walk around the desk and head for the door.
“Is this regarding the Torrisi case?” he asks.
I turn to face him. “No, a different case. Why’s that?”
“You’re close to closing it, is all. And it seems to be leaning in your favor.”
I offer an assured smile. “It always does.”
“I just want to make sure you’re not having too hard of an issue with them. I know Andreas can be very intimidating. Your meeting the other day looked intense.” It takes me a moment to understand what he is referring to. Then it dawns on me. My meeting with Andreas Torrisi, who asked about Crue.
“They can all be intimidating. But that’s why I’m the best,” I remind him. And it goes without saying as to why the board offered me Brian’s job. But before he can ask me any more questions, I’m out the door, saying, “Have a good day, Mr. Luca.”
Fuck.
And I’m no closer to validating Angel’s claims.
CHAPTER 20
Crue
A week without seeing her, tasting her again, is slowly starting to kill me. But I have to put pieces in place, and I need to keep my distance so she thinks she has the upper hand.
She doesn’t.
But she’s a smart enough woman that she’ll figure that out incredibly soon. I never told her how long our agreement would last.
I watch the news, which I never do. But there’s a reason I tune in today. Rya’s on the channel, being interviewed as she comments on the Torrisi case. It looks like the case will be coming to a close in a few weeks and she’s been working on it for the last six months. Even though despite all evidence and the Torrisi’s son recently making a spectacle of himself, she has it under wraps.
She’s beautiful, powerful, and unwavering on the screen. She’s wearing a knee-length black dress that accentuates all her curves, and her hair is wrapped into a tight bun. I want to tug on that bun and let her caramel hair fall free. To kiss those fuckable lips. I wonder what others might think if they knew how fiery this little vixen is off-screen. My cock twitches. Not that I would ever share what she’s like outside of the courtroom. That’s for my eyes alone.