Branded Page 18

  “I don’t have it.” So Mary wanted the sixteen million. How she knew about it was beyond her. “I-I mean, it’s not here. It’s in an account in Singapore. But I could get it.” She had no clue how to access it.

  “I know you can. That’s where I’m taking you next.” She took a step back, waving her gun at an unconscious Riley. “Now be a good girl and pull him inside.”

  Riley groaned when Nicole grabbed his hands and began to tug. He’d lost a lot of blood, but at least he wasn’t dead. Not yet.

  Mary pulled out her cell while Nicole tried to budge Riley’s weight. “The pretty little ditz is going to cooperate.” She paused. “Yeah, he was here. Just like you thought. There was an unfortunate incident, so we can’t stay here long. Someone might see the blood on the floor and call the police.” Mary glanced down the hall. “Of course I used my silencer, douche. The fucking gun still makes noise. Call me when you’re ready. I’m giving you five minutes.”

  * * *

  Nicole sat on her couch, unable to stop her tremors. Mary hovered over her, restless and agitated. She kept her pistol pointed at her, waiting for someone to call. Riley remained motionless where she’d dragged him near the front door, and she feared he’d died. All because he tried to protect her.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  Mary grinned, her dark eyes glinting. “Because I can. Because I like power. Because everyone thinks they can walk all over mousy Mary, and she’s going to take it.”

  “I’ve never done anything to hurt you.” Nicole tried to be kind to everyone she came across, though she had inwardly thought of Mary as mousy.

  “Doesn’t matter. Your dad did. To Mr. Donati. He ran out on a deal that they were supposed to share.” She displayed a sickly sweet smile. “Sometimes the children have to pay for the parent’s sins.”

  “I don’t even know Mr. Donati.” Though she was pretty sure she’d heard his name associated with her father before.

  “He knows you.”

  “Why did you set me up? Why couldn’t you have just asked for the money?”

  “It was all a ploy to put you at our mercy. See, that’s one of the reasons I like working for Mr. Donati. He doesn’t want just the money. He likes the game of it, likes using his mind. Did you know he’s the one who sent the headhunters after you with a job?”

  “No.” She shook her head, not quite believing it. It had been strange though that First Freedom never used her art talents.

  “Yep. It was our first chess move, and you didn’t even know we were playing. He was already planning a job there, already had me in place. It worked out perfectly. The police…no one suspected anyone but you.” She frowned and glanced at her watch. “After that whole accident thing with your aunt didn’t pan out, we knew we had to come up with something spectacular. If she’d have had access to the money, she would have touched it for medical bills instead of mortgaging her house. So, we figured he must have given the money to you.” She pinned her with a crazed smile. “I came up with my brilliant plan that Mr. Donati loved. Lots of twists and turns, ending with you ultimately paying for your dad’s mistakes.”

  She had a feeling Mary didn’t mean only paying with money.

  “My plan gave us another ten million in addition to what your dad took, and you’d either end up in jail serving his time, or we’d figure out another way to make you pay.”

  The chances of her surviving to see the sun rise one more time were almost nil. She’d never get to explain things to Xander. He’d believe she went down because of her crimes. Even if the police showed, there was no guarantee she’d come out alive.

  With the way Mary was spilling information, it was doubtful they’d let her live after this. “Mr. Barton? Was he in on it, too?” She might as well learn what she could.

  “Not exactly. He was easy to bribe, and we paid him well to represent you, but not let you know we’d hired him. It was his job to keep you under control. Nothing illegal about that.” She chuckled. “Although, he did earn his keep by figuring out someone else was in your video.” She smiled. “Of course, we took care of that, too.”

  “The police still have a copy of it.”

  Mary grinned. “Do they?”

  Xander had one, too, but she wasn’t going to mention that. Wasn’t going to tell this psycho that Xander had seen the mysterious figure, too.

  Mary glanced at her watch again and cursed. “We can’t stay any longer. Dumb fucks for not having this set up in time,” she muttered under her breath as she stood. “They really shouldn’t push me, you know?” she said, waving Nicole to her feet with her gun. “I’m the one in control of the goods right now, and if I was in charge of the organization, I would have found that offshore account information before the police ever did.”

  “How did you find out about it?” For that fact, how had Xander?

  She narrowed her gaze. “Enough talk. Time to go.”

  Nicole frantically searched for a reason to delay their leaving. If she could keep her there a little longer, the police would be there any minute.

  “Now,” Mary demanded.

  Nicole walked forward, watching the motionless Riley. If she had to wonder how deadly these people were, there was her answer.

  As they neared the front door, Mary grabbed her hair, yanking until she whimpered. “Don’t try anything because I promise you’ll regret it. If you don’t pay for your father’s crimes, we can always go back to your aunt.”

  She tried to breathe past her terror. There was no way this would end well.

  Nicole nodded her agreement, and Mary opened the door, pushing her into the hallway. She prayed for an answer to her dilemma. There was nothing.

  She descended the first flight of steps, Mary’s gun at her back, listening for sirens. There wasn’t another soul in sight as they came upon a landing before starting down the next set of stairs.

  As they turned the corner halfway down to the first floor, Xander appeared, racing up the stairs.

  The second he spotted her, he stopped. She froze, causing Mary to bump into her.

  He glanced between the two women as though trying to understand the situation. “Duck,” he yelled as he pulled a gun from the back of his waistband. Before Nicole could follow his orders, a shot rang out from behind her, and she watched in horror as it hit Xander in the side of his torso.

  She crumpled to the stairs in shock as Xander returned fire. The bullet whizzed past her and lodged in Mary’s leg. She fell, knocking Nicole as she went down. Her gun landed on the stair below them.

  She met Mary’s gaze, and they both realized whoever got the gun first would win this round.

  Nicole slammed an elbow into the growing red spot on Mary’s leg.

  “Bitch,” Mary yelled as Nicole wrenched from her grasp, sliding down a couple of stairs, snatching the gun on her way.

  She reacted without thinking and pointed it at Mary. Terror rumbled through her as she tried to keep the weapon steady. “Don’t move.” She got to her feet, and backed down several more stairs in order to put a safer distance between them.

  She gave Xander a quick glance, finding him also on the floor, crimson blood staining his gray shirt. She needed to help him.

  Before she could do anything, the sound of sirens ripped through the night. Within seconds, the scene was flooded with officers, two checking Xander and Mary, another disarming her weapon and asking her name.

  “There’s another man in my apartment. Mary shot him. Apartment twenty-two. He might already be dead.”

  The policeman nodded to another coming up the stairs. “Gunshot victim in apartment twenty-two.” The second cop rushed up the next flight of stairs, calling for medical assistance as he went.

  Nicole tried to explain to the officer what had happened, but he cut her off and read her rights before leading her down the stairs. She caught a glimpse of Xander between the two EMTs who worked on him. His face was pale, but his eyes were open.

  She held his gaze as she passed, tr
ying to convey what she felt, but she wasn’t sure he was coherent enough to realize what was taking place around him.

  Then the officer forced her out the door and into the drizzling night. Xander’s Corvette was parked outside, and Apollo continuously barked at the commotion.

  Janie’s bewildered boyfriend arrived just as the officer led her to his car. He widened his eyes when he spotted her in handcuffs.

  “Paul,” Nicole called to him. “Please take Apollo inside. Janie will watch him. Have her get Stormy, too.” She hated asking him for a favor, knowing his true nature, but there was no one else.

  He nodded, still looking a little shocked. But she saw him lead Apollo toward the building as the officer put her in the back of his car. At least the dogs would be okay.

  She prayed Xander would.

  * * *

  Once again, Nicole sat in the small interrogation room far more afraid than she had been the first go round. This time, direct evidence connected her to a crime, even if it wasn’t the ten million from First Freedom. Worse, it was most likely blood money. Money her father had stolen from Xander’s dad. Money that could have cost her aunt her life. Money that would certainly cost her Xander’s love if not her freedom.

  A chill hovered in the air, and she wished she had a jacket to keep her warm.

  After nearly an hour, the door opened, and Detective Holden walked in, his jacket and ball cap still wet from the rain.

  “How is Xander?”

  “Mr. Secrist is in surgery at the moment, having a bullet removed.” He took a seat across from her.

  Tears burned behind her eyes. “Will they let you know when he’s out of surgery and if he’s okay?” He had to be fine. There was no alternative.

  “I’m certain someone from the hospital will call the precinct. We would like to question Mr. Secrist at the first possible moment.” He assessed her with intense brown eyes. “For now, I’d like you to tell me what your relationship is with him.”

  She inhaled, trying to stay calm. How did she say in words how much she loved him? “We dated.”

  “Lovers?” The detective arched a brow.

  “Yes,” she whispered. And now Xander was in the hospital.

  He made a note on his paper before turning his gaze to her. “What about Riley Holmes?”

  She gasped, horrified that she’d been so concerned with Xander and herself that she’d forgotten to ask about him. “Oh God. Is he okay?”

  “We’re not sure if he’ll pull through, but he’s alive for now. He should be dead with all the blood he lost.”

  “He didn’t deserve to get hurt like that. Xander, either. They were both trying to help me.”

  Detective Holden narrowed his gaze. “Would you care to expand on that?”

  Nicole spent the next fifteen minutes recounting everything she knew about what had transpired, interspersed with the officer’s intense questioning. They ended with the blood money attached to her name.

  “Apparently there’s an offshore account in Singapore with sixteen million dollars that has my name on it. I just found out about it today. I guess my aunt was aware of its existence, but she never said a word.” With the exception of Stormy, she’d basically lost everyone she loved that night.

  “I’m aware of the account.”

  “You are? Then why are you questioning me about it?”

  “I need your side of the story. Is part of it First Freedom’s ten million?”

  “I don’t think so. I think it’s money my father took before he died. Possibly some of it belongs to Xander’s family. I’m really not sure.”

  He nodded.

  “I think Mary or the man she works for has First Freedom’s money. At least that’s what she said to me.” Nicole released a pent up breath and met his gaze square on. “Detective Holden. I know how this looks.”

  “How’s that?”

  “Like I’m guilty. Like I had something to do with the theft, with Xander and Riley getting shot. But I have proof. On that video. There’s someone there with me. I think it’s the real thief.”

  “I’m aware of the second person. We’re currently investigating that aspect.” He dropped his pen and leaned forward on the desk. “Ms. Camden, to be honest, I was certain you were involved. But…Mary broke and gave her confession in exchange for leniency. She’s willing to testify against Georgio Donati, and quite frankly, he’s a much bigger fish. If what she says is true, you are another victim in this case.”

  She stared at him a moment, replaying his words, wondering if she’d heard incorrectly. “You believe me?”

  “It appears you’re telling the truth. We still have more investigating to do. We’ll definitely be chasing down the information Mary gave us. I’ll need to talk to your aunt and Xander. We’re waiting on more details from Singapore, which it appears we may get. If the account is in your name, and we have your cooperation, it should speed things up.”

  “Oh my God.” She couldn’t believe it. “So, I’m free to go?”

  “You can leave.” He stood. “The building, but not the city, if you don’t mind.”

  She tried to laugh at his attempt at humor, but failed. She stood, her legs still weak and shaky.

  “Do you have a phone so I can call a cab?” She hoped she could find a cabbie willing to wait for her to retrieve her wallet from her apartment since she hadn’t brought it with her.

  “I can have an officer drop you home. Your neighbor is here as well. Janie. She came downtown to make a statement. If you’d like, you can ride home together.”

  “Janie’s here?” She couldn’t wait to hug her friend.

  Detective Holden led Nicole to the waiting room out front where Janie sat alone in a row of chairs. The moment she spied Nicole, she hurried toward her, throwing her arms around her.

  Nicole responded with a fierce hug.

  “Thank God you’re okay.”

  “Officer Helberg is waiting out front when you’re ready,” Detective Holden interjected.

  Janie released her and turned to the handsome officer, holding out a hand to shake. “Thank you so much, detective. Things would have turned out very differently if you and your men hadn’t shown up.”

  The officer took her hand in his, an interested smile spreading over her lips. “My pleasure, Janie.”

  Nicole lifted a brow, surprised at the obvious attraction sparking between the two. She waited until they finished their short exchange, and then she and Janie headed for the exit.

  “Did I miss something?” Nicole asked as they headed for the police cruiser waiting for them.

  “No,” Janie replied a little too quickly.

  “You two seemed awfully friendly.”

  She shook her head. “He’s just doing his job. Besides, you already know I have one man too many.”

  Talk of her loser boyfriend reminded Nicole of the dogs. “Did Paul get Stormy and Apollo?”

  “They’re safe at my house.”

  “Thank God.” If only she could say the same for Xander.

  * * *

  Nicole leashed up Stormy and Apollo, preparing them for their last walk of the night. It had been over a week since the shooting, and Xander had not come to claim his dog. He’d been released from the hospital, so it wasn’t that. Maybe he didn’t love Apollo like she’d thought. Maybe he’d never loved her, either.

  The first four days after their horrific event, Nicole had tried repeatedly to see Xander in the hospital, only to be chased away by some intimidating men telling her in no uncertain terms he wasn’t up for visitors. The men included the unfriendly guy she’d seen at Xander’s office and Christian who had been willing to give her a job, but now met her with a cold stare. When she tried again on the fifth day, she ran into Detective Holden who’d informed her that Xander knew she’d visited, and he’d get his dog from her as soon as possible.

  She’d walked away feeling like the worst person ever. If her father hadn’t destroyed his dad, they would have never met. Xander wouldn’t hav
e a hole in him from trying to protect her.

  There was a small part of her that was angry for the way he’d implanted himself in her life, but the love she felt for him far outweighed her anger.

  She’d thought no one would be able to convince her he didn’t love her, but she was starting to falter. He’d told her he loved her when he’d thought she was asleep, and she was sure she’d felt it in her heart. But it seemed they’d both been caught in a web that had been woven by their fathers, and who knew what the final damage would be?

  She’d prayed they’d find each other now that they’d disentangled themselves.

  But he’d been out of the hospital several days, and she hadn’t heard from him. Maybe it had all been about revenge, and he didn’t want her or Apollo.

  She let the dogs lead her down the stairs of her apartment, memories of that night fresh enough to nauseate her as she passed the spot where Xander had been shot. The dogs tried to pause and sniff, but she forced them on their way. She’d had a heck of a time in her apartment when Riley had been. The cleaning company had done a good job removing visual traces, but there were some things no amount of cleaner could erase.

  At least Riley had pulled through. She still visited him in the hospital daily, but he’d be going home soon. She had yet to face her aunt. She’d insisted she needed time, and that was the least the woman could do.

  A cool breeze hit her face when she opened the door to the outside. She headed down the sidewalk toward the park trying to keep her waning hope alive.

  Not many people out tonight. Only a white sedan and a little black Focus in the parking lot. She wasn’t afraid, though. The park was well lit, and no one would bother her with Stormy and Apollo in hand.

  She started down the first stretch of sidewalk, stopping to let Apollo take care of business. She used the plastic doggie bag to clean it and tossed it in the nearby trash can.

  “Cute puppy,” a deep voice said from behind, nearly stopping her heart.

  She couldn’t turn, afraid it would only be someone who sounded like Xander. Apollo tugged on his leash, furiously wagging his tail.