Page 76 of The Brutal Arrangement

“Yes, the nurses were charged with theft, overdosing, and abusing patients.”

I gasped. “What!”

He nodded. “Damon has taken care of it.”

I blinked, stunned. I knew what that likely meant. My husband would’ve killed them. But I wasn’t appalled. If someone could be so heartless as to hurt dementia patients like that… they’d deserve it.

The man left me as quietly as he’d appeared. Sitting there with this phone, I was unsure of how to perceive Damon’s actions. This almost felt like a gift. But why would he bother?

An incoming text appeared and I flinched.

Damon: Did John show you how to log in to the program?

I stared at the line.

Lucy: I don’t know if his name was John, but one of the guys in suits came and showed me how to use this phone for that purpose.

Damon: It’s YOUR phone.

Damon: The other one wasn’t reliable or able to receive upgrades.

“Am I supposed to thank you?” I whispered, perplexed. He didn’t have to try to lure me or give me anything. What was the point?

Lucy: OK

Footsteps sounded, and I glanced up to see Sloane and Maxim entering the solarium, hand in hand. Jealousy burned hotter in my chest. The sight of this couple so in love reminded me that I’dneverexperience that.

“Have you eaten lunch yet?” Sloane asked, smiling pleasantly.

“No.” I shook my head, tense and curious why someone else would be approaching me.

“Good. Then you can eat with us,” Maxim said.

“I’d rather…”

He dragged a chair out for Sloane, who sat happily.

Never mind.

“And I’d rather you eat lunch with us so Sloane can stop nagging me about your being all alone.”

I shrugged. “I’m getting used to it.”

“Nonsense.” Sloane shook her head. “Go on.” She indicated at Maxim. “Ask her all your questions so I can hopefully get to girl talk with her afterward.”

Girl talk? With me?I doubted we’d have anything in common. Besides, I was far too defensive to make the mistake of thinking I could befriend someone again.

Maxim rolled his eyes.

“What questions?” I sat up, intrigued.

“About the Kozlovs. Katerina.” He raised his brows. “It seems that Damon’s got his head too far up his ass to consider having a simple conversation with you for the basic answers that are long overdue.”

“I don’t know anything,” I said. “I was just a maid.” Why couldn’t these people understand that?

“Sure. You were just a maid.” He nodded as members of the house staff from the kitchen brought out dishes for us. “But you were still there. In Anton Kozlov’s residence. You spoke with Katerina.”

Once our dishes were placed on this bistro table and the staff members walked away, he said, “Three years ago, I found the butler trying to stab Saul. He was placed there to kill him. So spare me the ‘just a maid’ spiel.”

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