Indebted - Piper Stone Page 0,84

scent of saltwater, irritated by the interruption.

“A letter arrived for you by courier. I think you need to come to my office.” Jefferson’s voice was clipped, although I heard a slight glitch. He was unnerved.

“Who is it from?”

“Luis Toro.”

I shifted my gaze back to Alessandra’s window, unable to see her silhouette any longer. So my former employee had also turned this into a game. So be it. “I’ll be right there.”

I grabbed my keys, wasting no time. As I drove into the city, I thought about the first letter sent from Luis that had accompanied the proposed contract.

“Gabriel,

While I know you could never possibly understand what has occurred, my intentions were never to hurt either you or Masters Enterprises, but there were reasons. To that end, I am offering a settlement that I believe you will find acceptable. My daughter. She knows nothing of my misgivings or about the things that I’ve done. She is a victim of greed and men hungry for power. I’ve done all I can to protect her, now, I will ask that you consider doing the same. You’re the only man who is capable of doing so. As with everything in life, there is always a price. There will always be secrets. There will always be the need for revenge. I was lucky enough to get to know you. You are a good man. You will do the right thing. Please know that I am your friend.”

Friend. Perhaps he’d believed himself to be. I’d never gotten close to any of my employees, although I’d spent more time around Luis than some of the others. The very reason he’d been able to steal from me in the first place. I should have read between the lines. Luis still had something else up his sleeve, even in death.

I strode into Jefferson’s office without knocking, closing the door with a soft click.

He appeared haggard, his attire less than the usual polished look, surprising on several levels. When he lifted his head, I was able to see dark circles surrounding his eyes. He merely pushed a small envelope across my desk before rising to his feet.

I was curious as to his silence. “You seem troubled.”

“You’re damn right I’m troubled, Gabriel. When a dead man has a courier deliver a letter, that is cause for concern. And the person responsible for hiring the courier is anonymous. I already tried. I told you not to enter into this contract. I mentioned specifically that I thought the arrangement was not only odd, but likely illegal. I also mentioned that it could jeopardize everything from your family fortune to the grandiose deal with Braxton you were so dead set on.”

“You’ve read the contents of this new letter?”

“No! Of course I didn’t, but I don’t need to in order to know something is off about this.” Jefferson slapped his hands on his hips as he paced the room.

I walked closer, fingering the envelope before picking it up. “Luis wasn’t a game player.”

“You don’t think so? He certainly played one by offering his daughter like a fine wine or a wad of cash.” He fisted his forehead, cursing under his breath.

“There was another reason. Protection.”

Jefferson shot me a look, laughing halfheartedly. “You really believe that? Do you honestly think Bobby Rivers will risk everything to come after her now after everything he’s been through? Why?”

“I think Bobby was hired by someone to take out various players in this game, including Alessandra. That he didn’t go through with it might be the reason he was almost killed.” I carefully slid open the envelope, taking a deep breath before tugging the single page into the light.

Jefferson remained where he was, watching me intently.

As I unfolded the paper, my skin began to crawl.

“Gabriel,

By now you know things aren’t as they seem. There is someone close to you attempting to destroy everything you’ve worked for as he already has done to me. Look within yourself to find the answer. Be careful. Bobby Rivers will never let this go. Honor the terms of the contract and you will be rewarded.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. The audacity of the man to warn me after his death was quite provocative. Luring me in with some kind of a reward? Cunning as fuck. However, even his death wasn’t able to hold back the vibe of raw fear that I felt through the lines. I shifted my gaze at my longtime mentor and confidant, wondering if Luis was correct. Who stood to gain