Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 154882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
I sipped my drink, enjoying their bickering. Sunny was her employee, but if I didn’t know that, I’d have thought they were siblings. Suddenly it made sense why he refused to believe his staff betrayed him unless he had proof he couldn’t deny.
They were family.
“Sienna said you two didn’t eat while you were out,” she told me. “Want me to bring you up something or keep it warm downstairs?”
“Bring it up,” Sunny answered for me. “We’ll be soaking for a while.”
“You don’t have to. I can go down and make myself—”
“Don’t be silly. I’ve got smoked salmon crepes with your name on it.”
Sunny held out his arms after she left. “We got rid of her. Hop back on.”
“I’m going to stay right here, thank you. You’re very good at luring me in with your sweet talk, bubbles, and half-nakedness, but we need to be halfway to old, weathered couple before we take it any further.”
He released a deep, mournful sigh. “I was afraid you’d say that.”
“Don’t look so sad,” I teased. “I’ve always liked this part. The before you find out he’s into feet and showtunes is always better than the after.”
Sunny tossed his head back laughing. “You’re quick, Blaine. A guy has to be on alert to keep up with you. Quick—don’t think about it, just ask me the most scandalous question that pops into your mind.”
“I can’t,” I cried.
“Whoops. Now I know the expression you make when you’re embarrassed.” A grin tugged the corner of his mouth. “I’ll use that later.”
“Okay, okay, nicely done. My turn: have you been to all the places marked on the map?”
“Yes, I have, and one day, you’ve got to go to Chiang Mai even if I’m not the guy flying in the seat next to you.”
“I’ve always wanted to go. What was it like?”
We talked until my fingers and toes were prunes. Until we finished two plates of crepes and three mojitos. Until Liam came looking for us.
I dropped my smile, holding my breath as Liam took me in, bikini-clad and in a hot tub with his brother.
Why would he care? He’s meeting up with Doctor Hendrix tonight.
“Did you drop Elizabeth off?” Sunny asked.
“Yes. She and Mom were off to the spa by the time I left.”
“She’ll be back soon, man.”
His jaw ticced—the single sign of his stress. I knew how to read these things. Every parent did.
“I told you I’d share the results of my chat with Calvin, Mackenzie,” Liam said, “but since you’re both here, we can have this short conversation at one time. He’s dead.”
“Dead?” Sunny and I said at once.
“Nick called him half a dozen times without an answer. He finally went by his apartment and found Calvin hanging from a beam. He’s been dead for hours. Nick estimates he died last night.”
I stood. Soak over. “You got a look at him last night, right? The guy parking cars was definitely Calvin and not an impostor in his uniform?”
“It was him. A certain explosion impaired my observation, but before then I was clear enough to note there were only familiar faces among my staff.”
“That settles it. Calvin was definitely in on this with someone. If the bomber snuck up on a random valet and killed him, he wouldn’t have gone through the risk of dragging the body all the way to his apartment and staging him. I bet someone paid or threatened him to put that bomb under your car, and later that night when Calvin opened the door for him, expecting to collect... he killed the only person who could tell us anything.”
Liam gave me a long, level look. “I came to the same conclusion shortly after receiving the call. It was a little while after that I decided we won’t be needing you, Miss Blaine.”
Miss Blaine.
“Sole, pay her whatever you deem fair and send her off. We’ll take care of this situation on our own.” He made for the door.
“Wait a minute—!”
“Liam, hold up!”
Sole vaulted out of the tub, snatching his towel off the lawn chair. He blocked Liam’s path to the door and they dropped into a low, if heated argument. I stayed out of it for as long as it took to dry off and wrap my wrinkly body in a towel.
“—family issue. We’ll handle it as a family.”
“That’s what it is?” I broke in. “You don’t want my help because I’m not family? Last night you said you planned to force me. Now that I’m offering, you’re kicking me out?”
“I’m not kicking you out. You don’t live here.”
I reeled like he slapped me.
“And last night, I was possessed to do something I shouldn’t. I came to my senses then, and I’m coming to my senses now.” Liam finally faced me. “Whoever we’re dealing with isn’t an opportunist, taking a shot at the king while the palace guards are distracted. This is a patient, methodical, ruthless killer, and you agree, Blaine, because you came to the same result.