Page 55 of Vendetta

She follows me around the office, while I locate all three microphones and submerge them in the amber liquid. They're waterproof and I've done this before, so when I take them out and let them dry they’ll be as good as new. Everyone, my uncle included, knows why I do it, so it won't seem suspicious.

It's one thing recording other people talking business or having sex in this place, but it’s different to do it to yourself.

“We can talk now,” I say, pouring another glass of whiskey and shoving it at her. When she doesn't take it, I wrap her fingers around it and let it go.

“What's going on?” she asks, bringing it to her lips with a trembling hand and taking a small sip. She makes a face of disgust but bravely brings it to her lips again.

“I have a friend coming over,” I tell her.

The glass stops midway to her mouth, her face taking on a comical expression of pure horror. “That's not in my contract,” she squeaks.

“What? No, it's not like that! I didn't mean that,” I tell her pointedly.

She visibly relaxes and leans on the desk, placing the glass down next to her and crossing her legs. She looks at me expectantly. “Okay, go on,” she prompts with her hand.

I hold up a finger. “Give me a second,” I say, walking to the huge painting on the back wall. I take it off, revealing a safe.After I input the right combination, it clicks and opens slowly to reveal several stacks of hundred dollar bills. I take a few, probably fifty grand, then walk to her and place them on the table next to the glass.

She eyes them hungrily. I feel like crap for using her own self against her, but it's all I've got.

“I can wire you more. All you have to do is say you were with me all day.” I have an off-shore account nobody knows about. It's in Joey Andre's name.

She looks at me warily, probably realizing whatever is going on isn’t flower picking. Sure enough, she asks, “What exactly is going on here?”

I open my mouth to answer, but my phone rings, interrupting me. Colin's number flashes on the screen.

“Yeah,” I say when I answer.

“Hey man, I'm outside.”

“Back office,” I inform him shortly, and hang up.

A few minutes later, there's a knock on the door and I open it for him, and then lock again.

He looks around the office, his gaze landing on Soraya, and then he frowns at the glass in her hand. “Hey, what's up?” he says softly.To her.

She groans and takes the remaining whiskey and downs it, his eyes following the movement. “This is your friend?” she asks, pointing at him with the empty glass.

“Is there a problem?” I ask, really confused.

She sighs a heavy sigh. “He's a client.”

“Yeah, a client,” Colin mimics her words in this high-pitched voice.

I palm my face. Just what I needed. “For fuck's sake, can we not do the whole secret lovers thing? Lives are at stake here,” I say, slamming my fist on the table.

They break off their angry stare down contest to look at me.

“Sorry, man,” Colin says, glancing at Soraya again. “Sorry, Amber.”

“Thank you,” I say, exasperated. Soraya just nods sadly.

“So, what's this all about?” Colin asks me, leaning on the desk next to her. She moves away slightly, but doesn't say anything.

I'm wondering why I'm about to trust the biggest gossip I know with this sensitive information. Probably because Colin, he has that something other people in our circles don't. He still has a sense of justice, of fairness. He has a heart.

“Colin, what I'm about to tell you, it can't leave this room.” My gaze strays toward Amber, making a subtle threat. Yes, he has a heart, and that's exactly what I'm counting on. I watch his Adam's apple bob, and then he nods with determination. “It's about Leighton Moore,” I say after a beat, easing them into the story. If I want their cooperation, I'll need to tell them everything. “I know where she is.”

Colin sits on the floor, stunned speechless.

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