Page 35 of Vengeful Lies

“No, he doesn’t,” the other snapped like they were bickering preschoolers. “And even if he does, so what? What's he going to do about it? Not like he’s in any position to do anything about it, and even if he was, it was only his kid’s nanny, not like it was his girlfriend or anything.”

Those words might be true, but they hurt.

Stuck into him like a thousand tiny darts.

The only reason Gabriella was nothing more than Essie’s nanny was because he’d been too stuck in the past to do anything about what was right in front of him.

If there was one thing he knew for certain it was that Gretel would have wanted him to move on and would have loved Gabriella. The fact that Gabby could love Essie like she was her own child would have forever earned her a place in Gretel’s heart. His wife had been open, outgoing, and full of love for everybody, and she loved both him and their daughter wholeheartedly.

Before her death, when she knew she wasn't going to survive, Gretel had told him she wanted him to grab hold of happiness if a second chance at love presented itself. She’d wanted him to be happy, to still experience all the things that they wouldn't get to share together, and Gabriella might have given him that chance.

But he hadn't taken it.

Because despite her words and assurances that it was what she wanted, moving on felt like cheating on his wife.

“You kissed her?” one of the men asked, strolling over somewhat cautiously like they still believed he might be a threat even though they had him chained up. “She more than the nanny?”

Deciding to get a little of his power back, the man who he’d identified as the kisser in the video also strolled over. “She’s hot, man, it wasn't like we didn't get a perfect view of her body with her in that swimsuit. And she tasted sweet, like honey or something. Maybe we should have taken her for a ride before we handed her back.”

Knowing they were only trying to get a rise out of him, Cade kept his face impassive. Better for them to believe that Gabriella was nothing more than the nanny, it would keep her safer. Just because they’d made this deal didn't mean that the men he and his family were hunting wouldn't make another attempt to go after her or Essie, or any of the others.

“If your boss wants answers,” Cade said, directing the conversation back where he wanted it. This was an intel-gathering op, and he couldn’t afford to let these men mess with his head by talking crudely about Gabriella. “Then maybe he should come down here himself and get some.”

“Don’t think he likes to get his hands dirty,” one of the other men said.

“Doesn’t need to, he’s got us,” the kisser said.

“Your boss is a coward, that’s what he is. Raping an innocent woman, and then when he found out she had his child trying to take her out so she couldn’t turn on him. Then instead of being a man about it and coming after me and my brothers, he targets innocent women and then a helpless child. Working for a man like him tells me everything I need to know about your character.”

One shrugged. “The money’s good.”

“Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” kisser said as he cracked his knuckles. Everything about him screamed that he wanted Cade to pick the hard way, and lucky for him this time they were on the same page.

“Boss needs to know if you have a name,” another said, stepping closer and somewhat cautiously bending down to unlock the chains that kept him attached to the floor.

Even though a part of him wanted to pounce on these me, teach them a lesson for touching Essie and Gabriella, kill as many of them as he could before they took him down, he couldn’t do that.

Well, not yet.

If he held out long enough, he hoped the boss would eventually show up in person. There were still three of his mom’s rapists they needed to identify, and if he could get the name of this one, then hopefully, that would be the domino that sent the others tumbling.

When he gave no response, two of them grabbed his arms and hauled him to his feet.

“You choosing the hard way?” kisser asked, excitement dancing in his dark eyes.

Keeping silent gave them the answer they needed.

And their return answer was to start raining down blows on him.

Every one he wore like a badge of honor. Standing in the place of Essie and Gabriella made the pain of each strike more than worth it.

September 5th

1:33 P.M.

“I don’t understand,” Gabriella said to the middle-aged woman sitting across the table from her.

None of this made any sense.

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