a no-longer employed security detail, but Fetu hasn’t given me any reason to distrust him, so I don’t. “I donated the remaining nine hundred thousand to numerous charity organizations.”
“Please tell me you were given a receipt for each donation?” When I shake my head, Leo curses under his breath. “You do realize you could be prosecuted for bribery?”
“I didn’t take any of the money for myself. Furthermore, I would have given it back to Henry, but he refused to take it.”
Leo’s words fan my cheeks with coffee-scented air when he shouts, “So you not only accepted over two million dollars from a mafia kingpin, you visited him as well?”
I forcefully swallow, my mouth suddenly dry. “My visit wasn’t witnessed.”
“Of course it was, Melody. Henry has more law enforcement personnel on him than any other man in the country.” As he rakes his fingers through his dark locks, his eyes lift to the ceiling. He thought we were going to have a simple conversation about me coming into a small windfall. He had no inkling how murky the waters I’ve been swimming in are.
After several deep breaths, Leo’s head drops back into place. “Okay, first things first, was the money for anything illegal?”
I shake my head.
“Do you believe it has anything to do with your case?” His tone is lower this time around, more compassionate.
“No. Henry isn’t aware of what happened.” I stop talking before I add, Madden would be dead if he did.
I’ve mused over that outcome multiple times the past two weeks, and more times than not, I’ve been in favor of it. The only reason I haven’t taken the easy way out is because Grayson was right when he stopped Brandon from killing Madden. Mrs. McGee has been through enough. She doesn’t deserve more pain.
“Then why did he give you so much money, Melody?”
Needing to be honest, I say, “He’s my uncle.”
Leo’s head slants to the side as his brow cocks. “Henry Gottle is your uncle?”
It still sounds shocking to my ears. “Uh-huh. He found out I was selling the ranch, didn’t want it sold, so he gave me the funds to maintain its upkeep.”
“And that’s it? That’s all that happened.” When I hesitate, Leo grunts my name in a growly groan.
“There was an altercation at the ranch. BJ…” I stop before correcting, “Brandon fired at one of his goons.”
My eyes snap to Leo when he mumbles in anger, “So Julian’s assumptions were right. You were holed up at your ranch with Brandon the past week.”
“It wasn’t like that.” Not by my choice, but I keep that snippet of information to myself. My ego is already knocked. It doesn’t need another sting. “He’s my friend.”
My brows furrow in confusion when Leo asks, “When was the last time you heard from him?”
“Earlier this morning. Why?” Brandon’s contact was nothing more than a transfer of assets for his BMW since he took the Hellcat as offered, but I’m so curious to see where Leo is going with this, I can’t help but play along.
Leo scrubs his hair-free chin before asking, “Sorry, let me rephrase my question. When was the last time you contacted Brandon?”
It takes me a little longer to answer this time around. Guilt does that to you. “I haven’t returned any of his messages.”
“But he’s your friend… right?”
Forgetting he’s my boss, I hand some of his snappy attitude back to him. “Don’t judge me. You don’t know what it’s like for me.”
“I think I can take a guess. Do you clam up at the thought of being touched? Choose years of abstinence over forcing a connection?” The wetness in my eyes leaps into his when he mutters, “Did you agree not to sleep with someone until you’re married because the fear of being touched isn’t just coming from your fiancée’s side of the fence? You’re just as scared as her.” My guards crumble when he asks, “Why do you think he was so patient with you, Melody? Why did you think he never pushed you? A victim knows a victim, right?” When I nod, agreeing with him, he says, “Then why did you never notice Julian’s pain as you did mine?”
I’ve barely absorbed his first hit when he smacks me with another. “I need to place you on paid leave until we can work out if there will be any backlash to the office for the funds you disbursed. I appreciate the hard work you’ve given our office the past year, but I suggest you use the time