Relentless (Option Zero #2) - Christy Reece Page 0,111
relief. At least he knew she was listening. He’d feared she was in too much shock to be aware of what was going on.
“Yes. He got hired for the movie Becca was working on, and they started dating. He figured she would eventually reveal where Aubrey was. When nothing was working, they arranged for Becca to be fired. Evidently, Riggs knew that Aubrey would be the first person Becca would call.”
Aubrey’s body jerked at that news. She was still blaming herself for Becca’s death, and he was going to make sure she knew she wasn’t responsible.
“His plan was to kill both Aubrey and Becca. That’s what he’d been contracted to do.”
Aubrey raised her head. “Why would the organization want to kill Becca?”
“To punish your uncle. He hadn’t been delivering on his promises. They had likely already decided to kill him, too, but killing his daughter beforehand was his punishment.”
“And so they killed Syd Green, too?”
Liam shrugged and then winced. Yeah, pain meds were wearing off. He needed to get this done. “Yes. Promethean didn’t do it, though. Said it was too common for him. Said someone else was contracted to take out Green.”
“Did this Promethean guy or…Riggs, tell you who hired him to kill Ferante and Aubrey?”
“Yes. Rudolph Ulrich.”
“Damn.” Ash’s expletive held both shock and not a little concern. Something Liam thoroughly understood. This was much bigger than a meager senator like Nora Turner or even a famous movie director. The group was not only international; the reason for their existence was even murkier than before.
“Who’s Rudolph Ulrich?” Aubrey asked.
“He’s the owner of about forty different businesses, all under the umbrella name of Warco.” Liam said.
“I’ve heard of Warco,” Aubrey said. “They’re huge.”
“Yes,” Liam said. “And incredibly influential.”
“Doesn’t Ulrich live in Switzerland?” Ash asked.
“Yeah. Zurich, I think. We’ve been looking at this group as being only in the US. Even though Ferante lived in Europe, he was a US citizen. Ulrich isn’t.”
“Just how big is this organization?” Aubrey asked.
“That’s the question we’ll be asking Ulrich,” Ash said as he headed to the door. “I’ll get the plane ready for a trip to Switzerland.” Before walking out, he sent both of them a searing look. “Get some rest, both of you.”
The instant the door shut, Liam scooted over to make space on the bed. “Come over here.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“The only thing that will hurt me is if you don’t come over here and let me take that sadness off your face.”
She joined him then, lying gingerly next to him. Liam wrapped both arms around her and let his body relax. She was here with him, and she was safe. Right now, nothing else mattered but that.
“Promise you’ll never leave me like that again,” she whispered.
“I promise,” he whispered back.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Zurich, Switzerland
Rudolph tried to ignore his shaking hands as he zipped up his last suitcase. They wouldn’t touch him, he assured himself. He was one of the most influential men in the world. Just because things hadn’t worked out the way they’d requested meant nothing. He had done wondrous things for them. Their agendas were vast and multifaceted. He had accomplished the impossible.
Just in case, he had a plan. A wise man always had a contingency plan, and his wisdom was hard fought, earned through adversity. People looked at him and thought he had it easy. They were wrong. Wealth didn’t mean one didn’t have problems. It meant only that the problems were bigger.
“Your plane is ready, sir. Would you like me to load your luggage in the car?”
“Yes, Geoffrey. Thank you.”
Rudolph Ulrich took one last look at his home. He had several, but this one was his favorite. He would likely never see it again. Just because he didn’t think they’d come after him didn’t mean they would allow him to continue his current lifestyle. Things would have to change. He told himself that was fine. He had his own island. Had loyal servants who would see to his every need.
Millions of people would envy him. He need never lift a finger again. He was through kowtowing to people who only used him for what they could get out of him.
He was free!
Rudolph stepped out of his bedroom suite and into the hallway. He felt the slightest rush of wind and had barely a second to wonder about its source before massively large hands lifted him from the floor and flung him over the railing of the landing.