The Billionaire's Revenge (The Blank Check #6) - Jeannette Winter Page 0,53

as it might be to tell them what you know, I suggest you say nothing. Whoever is doing this wants your reaction. Don’t give it to him,” Connor said.

“Why?” he asked.

“People like this are playing a game. The only way to beat him at it, is not to play,” Sal added.

“That’s one way to handle it. Let me find out it’s Marvin, and I’ll show you another,” he said and walked out.

It didn’t matter how many files were on his desk, or which customer was waiting for a quote. The only thing on his mind was protecting Gianna. If that meant being with her 24/7, then he’d do it. How to do that without telling her why? That was something he needed to think about. She was bright and if he started hanging around all day, she’d question why.

And I better have a damn good answer.

12

Gianna was glad that Mary-Lou felt better today. But she was so worried about her. Proving your innocence wasn’t as easy as Gianna had first thought. Sal had come by before Mary-Lou left and said they were still researching, but it looked promising. That was more than what Gianna could’ve done.

“You’re not even watching this movie, are you?” Jordan asked.

She lifted her head from his shoulder and said, “I’m sorry. I have a lot on my mind. Maybe we could try watching something else?”

“Or we could just shut off the television and you can tell me what’s bothering you,” Jordan suggested.

“Or, we can go into the bedroom and…talk,” she smiled.

Jordan said, “As much as I’d love to take you up on that, I still think it’d help if you tell me what’s bothering you.”

Gianna didn’t want a type of relationship that she couldn’t lean on her partner. She’d been fortunate to grow up in a home that had shown her what being a partner was all about.

“You’re right. But I can’t tell you everything, but I’ll tell you what I know. Mary-Lou had shown up yesterday morning and she was distraught over something that had happened. It’s a legal matter and I can’t get into the details, but it’s…bad. I reached out to…Sal Marciano. He’d…well he’d come to my rescue last week when Marvin showed up at my company.”

“Wait. You saw Marvin?” he asked.

“Yes. But only for a moment. Sal showed up and…removed him. He explained to me that he was keeping an eye on Marvin at your request. Even though I don’t like it, I appreciate it. If Sal wasn’t there, I’d have had no choice but to call the police.” She was getting sidetracked and backed up. “But I actually wasn’t trying to tell you about Marvin, I was trying to talk to you about Mary-Lou. I just can’t figure out who would want to hurt her. I know she has a tough exterior, but she really has a soft heart, and right now she’s scared. I don’t blame her either. I’m scared for her and I don’t know what to do,” she admitted.

Jordan pulled her close and said, “You are doing everything you can. If anyone can figure this out, Sal and Connor can.”

She pulled back. “Connor? I don’t remember mentioning his name. Did Sal talk to you about this?” Gianna wasn’t happy and got up off the couch. “I told him not to. This was between him and Mary-Lou,” she snapped. “Maybe I shouldn’t have called him after all.”

Jordan got up and grabbed her hand. “Gianna, look at me.” When she did he added, “Sal told me because this isn’t just about Mary-Lou.”

“Of course not. It’s also about the piece of crap that set her up,” she said angrily. “I swear if I find out who did it, they are going to be sorry they were ever born.”

“So far, that would be me,” he said.

She almost hurled. You? There was no way she’d heard correctly. “Jordan, you couldn’t…I mean you wouldn’t…” Her head was spinning. “Tell me you didn’t.”

“I didn’t Gianna. But someone is working fucking hard to make it look like I did. Sal and Connor are trying to find out why and who.”

“Why didn’t he tell us that when he met with me and Mary-Lou earlier this morning?” Gianna asked.

“The fewer people who know right now, the better,” Jordan said.

“Not for Mary-Lou. She was arrested and had to spend the night in jail. How is hiding this from the police helping?” she said, totally overwhelmed with it all.

“We can call them. Connor can give them the proof he has