Page 83 of These White Lies
“Someone noticed,” I say grimly. “And told Carrow.”
Her expression shifts, the excitement draining.
“The most important question is—why do they thinkyouhave the real necklace?”
The color leaves her face. “Carrow assumed Natalya was in on it at first,” Elizabeth says, a slight tremor in her voice. “That’s why he had her tortured and killed. To find out how Keith had it.”
My jaw locks, anger sharp in my chest at the fear in her eyes.
“So, I’m not the first woman he screwed over in this mess.” Elizabeth tries for lightness, and fails. I see her hand shake when she tucks a piece of hair behind her ear
Surging to my feet, I pull her out of her chair and wrap my arms around her. “It’s not going to happen to you,” I promise,ducking my head until my lips are at her ear. “There’s a big difference between the two of you.”
Elizabeth buries her face in my shirt, her voice muffled. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I growl. “She didn’t have me. I’ll take care of Carrow.”
She stiffens and moves like she’s going to pull back but then just stops and nods against me.
It’s petty, and I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but pride roars through me at her acceptance. At her trust in me.
I walk Elizabeth back to her room, and make sure she’s settled before going in search of Vincent. I find him in the kitchen, pouring hot water over a Barry’s tea bag. For a split second, I consider giving him a hard time about the popular Irish brand and the affair he is doing a terrible job of hiding with Siobhan Riordan, Declan Bloom’s mother. But my body is vibrating with tension, and I let it go.
“When’s Callum back?” I ask without prelude.
The only sign of surprise is a quirked eyebrow. There’s only one reason I would call for Callum when Rhodes and Finn are available.
“Who do you need to interrogate?”
“Jonathan Carrow.”
Vincent sets his mug down with a clink. “Callum’s still on that soccer player out in L.A., but Rhodes is just as proficient.”
“You’re right.” I lean a hip against the counter. “But it gets under Rhodes’s skin more than it used to. Nothing fazes Callum.”
His eyes narrow. “When?”
“I’ll need at least twenty-four hours for surveillance, assuming he’s in town.” My jaw works. That fucker better hope he’s in town. If I have to go looking for him… My anger ticks up at the prospect of a delay.
Vincent studies me for a long beat. “You sure you’re the best person for this? You can’t go in there all guns blazing because your cock and heart are involved.”
The glare I give him promises pain, but I don’t bother denying it. “Maybe you should worry about your own love life. Declan will rip your heart out if you fuck over his mother.”
He picks up his mug and blows on it unbothered. “You’ve clearly never met Siobhan. She’s ten times scarier than her son.”
Knowing the woman’s past and connections to the Irish mob, I don’t argue.
But apparently Vincent isn’t done with his lecture. “I’m serious, Brady. He’ll have security. This won’t be easy.”
“I’m not going inguns blazing. I just fucking told you I was going to do surveillance.” My voice sharpens. “And yes. I’m the best person to do this. I’m theonlyone who can do what needs to be done. I won’t stop until Carrow tells meexactlyhow to make the Lapidarists leave Elizabeth the hell alone.
“He’s in New York,”Finn tells me an hour later.
Frustrated annoyance curls tight in my chest.
“Not all bad news though,” Finn says. “He’s got a shareholder meeting here in Atlanta tomorrow afternoon. He’ll have to be back for it. Looks like his board is trying to oust him over losses.”
Good. Twenty-four hours should be enough to set up everything I’ll need. “I want full surveillance of his estate—number of guards, shift changes, camera locations?—”
