Page 129 of Moonlit Colorado

Grace and I knew that wasn’t quite accurate. She’d returned the borrowed red clutch to Piper, so of course Tobin hadn’t found it. “But where exactly did Nina get that data in the first place?”

Ainsley laughed. “Oh, you’ll love this. Kip gave it to her. Turns out he had more backbone than I expected. He was pissed off about the blackmail, so he stole our client list and some financials. He gave that info to Nina for safe-keeping.”

“Why her?”

“Because the fool thought he was in love with her. He passed the documents to Nina and then told me and Bristol. He thought his act of rebellion would mean an insurance policy against us. But he basically signed Nina’s death warrant.”

Grace’s fingers tapped again. She pulled back another finger. Going from four to three.

Oh,shit. She was counting down to something. What was Grace planning to do?

“We knew we had to find Nina before she shared that data with anyone,” Ainsley went on, oblivious. “Vincent was tasked with locating her. He put pressure on anyone who knew Nina. You and Grace were never supposed to get involved.”

Grace finally lifted her head, eyes narrowed with fury. “So Kip used Nina just as much as the rest of you. How can any of you live with yourselves?”

“Money is security,” Ainsley said. “So I manage just fine.”

The fingers on Grace’s knee shifted to just two.

Dammit. Okay. So we were doing this. I had to be ready, and I had to make sure that Vincent and Ainsley didn’t notice what Grace was up to.

I took a step forward, making Vincent’s knife hand flinch in my direction.

“But you didn’t expect Nina to go to a reporter,” I said quickly. “Neither did Kip.”

Ainsley’s focus moved from Grace back to me. “When Nina disappeared, I expected she might be planning something along those lines. Didn’t know for sure until you told me today. Want to share the reporter’s name?”

“If you let Grace leave right now, I’ll consider it.”

Ainsley smirked. “You haven’t even proved you have the stolen information.”

“You’re the one who’s trying to add new terms to our deal. You haven’t answered all of my questions yet. Why did Bristol send those fake photos of me and Nina to Grace?”

If Grace was surprised, she didn’t react. She just tapped her fingers again. Still at two. But I was starting to sweat, wondering when she’d get to one and what would happen after.

Don’t be reckless, baby.

“Like I said, Bristol can be petty. We knew that you were looking for Vincent and Lexi, that you were getting way too close to the truth about our business. Bristol thought it would throw you off balance or something. But mostly, she’s just kind of a bitch.”

I uncrossed my arms, forcing myself to appear relaxed, though every part of my body tensed in readiness for whatever Grace was about to do. “And then you must’ve found where Nina was hiding, and you ordered Vincent to kill her.”

Grace’s fingers shifted, another finger disappearing.

One.

Fuck.

Ainsley inclined her head. “I knew you had an investigator working for you, and I figured you might be close to finding Nina. It’s a good thing we found her first. Vincent got to her just last night. When Tobin called me early this morning, letting me know you were on your way to Silver Ridge, I knew I needed to speak to you personally. So that we could get on the same page.”

Grace’s beautiful face had turned to stone. I could sense exactly what she was thinking. Ainsley had spoken so callously about ordering the death of an innocent woman.

“Then what is it that you want from me?” I asked. “Grace and I know about your business. We know you’re responsible for Nina’s murder. What did you come here tonight hoping to do?”

Ainsley spread her hands. “To call a truce between us. I won’t harm you or Grace. Or rather, I won’t have Vincent harm either one of you. You and Kip will deliver Knightly Global when it becomes time. Meanwhile, you let us run our escorts out of Knightly Global properties, including this resort. You don’t interfere. You don’t try to mess with me. And we can all be one big, happy family.”

Grace’s fingers tightened into a fist on her knee.

Zero.

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