Runaway Wolfes of Manhattan Three - Helen Hardt Page 0,74
you.”
“I know.” I sighed. “I was still worried.”
“I’m all in one piece.” He kissed the top of my head. “I’ll never leave you, Riley. I promise.”
“So what’s the plan for this evening?” Rock asked.
“We’re ordering food in,” Lacey said to him and Matt. “Here in our suite. Everyone’s joining us, including Zinnia.”
“She goes by Zee,” I reminded her.
Zee had hesitantly agreed to join us for dinner, though she claimed she wouldn’t eat. At least she’d be here, though. Reid was on his way, as were Roy and Charlie.
“What’d you find out?” Rock asked.
“She’s the woman we’re looking for. In fact, she remembered Roy. There’s a lot she hasn’t told us yet, like why she waited over five years to confront Dad, how much money he offered her, and why she signed a confidentiality agreement.”
“Your father’s dead, so the confidentiality agreement with him is null and void,” Lacey said. “But there’s still the issue of Father Jim.”
“How in the fuck is it possible to have a nondisclosure agreement with someone who tried to kill you?” Rock said. “That’s fucked up.”
“She was probably desperate,” I said. “She might have signed her life away for money at that point.”
I didn’t know exactly why she’d signed, but we’d ask her tonight, where she was safe. Not in a crowded bar.
I just hoped she’d show.
I had a nagging feeling she wouldn’t.
Roy, Charlie, and Reid soon arrived, and a few minutes later, the food. The caterers set it up in the meeting room in Rock’s suite, and we began with cocktails.
“So where is this woman?” Reid asked.
“She’s late,” Roy said, “but she was late this afternoon as well. Give her a little latitude. She’s been through a lot.”
“So have we all,” Reid retorted. “What the fuck?”
“Stop being an asshole, Reid,” I said. “She’s doing her best.”
“Maybe we can throw the authorities toward her instead of us. Talk about motive.”
Rock rose and pulled Reid up from his chair. “I can’t believe you just said that. You want to throw one of his victims under the bus?”
“We’re all his victims, Rock, in case you forgot.” Reid deftly disengaged himself from Rock’s hold.
“Fuck you, Reid.” This from Roy. “You got the shit kicked out of you. So what? You lived to tell the tale. This woman was hunted, for God’s sake, in some kind of twisted game Dad and Father Jim played.”
“Is that any worse than what he did to our sister?”
I stood then. “It’s way worse, Reid. I’m alive.”
“So is she.”
“But others aren’t. How many women did Dad kill?”
“Wouldn’t there be news stories about missing women?” Charlie asked.
Lacey shook her head. “Derek Wolfe probably owned the news. He got stories buried and made sure anyone who cried about it was well compensated to shut up.”
“Motherfucker,” Matt said under his breath.
“You got something to add, Matt?” Rock said.
“No. Sorry.”
“You’re one of us now,” Rock said. “Feel free to speak.”
“I just don’t get it,” Matt continued. “How the hell does someone get so sick?”
“Beats the shit out of me.” Rock shook his head. “How late is she now?”
I checked my phone. “A half hour.”
Roy sighed. “We should never have let her out of our sight.”
“She should be easy enough to find.” I smiled. “Anyone want to go to a show tonight?”
“I already thought of that,” Roy said. “The show’s dark tonight.”
“Crap.” I plunked back down in my chair. “Roark probably has her address. We could go see her.”
“We could, but let’s not.” Rock took his seat as well. “She needs some time. We’ve got tails on her. We’ll know if she tries to run. Let’s give her space, let her think about what she wants to do. If she’s the kind of person I’d like to think she is, she’ll do the right thing.”
“As much as I hate to say it,” Reid said, “I actually agree with Rock. By the way, bro, don’t threaten me again.”
“Then don’t be such an ass.”
That got a chuckle out of Reid. “I’m sorry. I feel terrible about what this woman has been through at our father’s dirty hands. But damn it, I’ve worked too hard at this company to end up going down for that bastard’s murder.”
“None of us want that,” Roy reminded him.
“I know. I get that, but I’m the one who worked by his side, learned this business and brought in innovations that even he didn’t come up with. And now…” He shook his head. “I guess I’m still not over him choosing Rock over me.” He held up his hand. “Don’t