Page 182 of Triggered By Love
“Look, I didn’t have time to take it out. If it’s missing, it’s that crooked cop.”
“Then we’ll find it when he takes a deal with the DA,” Jason said. “You’re the blackmailer, aren’t you? You have any idea how dangerous it is to blackmail such wealthy, powerful, and ruthless individuals?”
“No, no. It’s not me.” Saul gulped, his eyes bulging. He shook his head vehemently. “That’s what I told Ivanna. To not get involved.”
“Then we have to help her,” Jason said. “You have to help me catch the murderer so he can’t hurt Ivanna.”
“What makes you think the blackmailer is the murderer?” Saul asked.
“Because he’s ruthless and cruel. He enjoys twisting people’s lives in the wind, and he’ll kill anyone who threatens his power.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” Saul said. “The murderer doesn’t want the dirty deeds exposed.”
“Ah, but we’ve been looking at it wrong,” Jason said. “Neither does the blackmailer. He’ll lose all his power and influence if all his marks are suddenly exposed.”
“Who would do that?” Saul asked and then he, too, went pale. “Avery?”
“Not Avery,” Jason said. “If anything were to happen to Avery or to any member of her family or to any of her friends, including Mrs. Bonet, an automated email will be sent to the press, the DA, and the FBI of everyone who is being blackmailed, including their dirty deeds for all the world to see.”
“It’s not me,” Saul said. “I would never hurt Avery.”
“But you know she’s the target. How?”
“I’ve been spying on the Leaches.”
“You mean feeding information to Larry Leach.”
“It’s a double-edged sword,” Saul said. “The Leaches are responsible for my brother’s death. I’m sure the blackmailer knows, whoever he or she is.”
“Tatiana Renzi?”
Saul’s lower lip shuddered, and he covered his mouth. “I can’t say. I want to live.”
Chapter Fifty-Nine
The last thingAvery needed before heading to the airport was Matt Swanson stopping by with a fresh Hawaiian lei.
“I’m glad I caught you,” he said. “I’ve been meaning to tell you how much I enjoyed working with you, but you keep getting into danger.”
“Yes, well, I appreciated you working with me, too,” she said, not about to say she enjoyed his mauling of her. “Guess the fake dates are done now that football season is starting?”
“Yep. Mind if I put the lei on you?”
“You’re asking permission?” she shocked herself with her sharp remark. But then, he deserved it for not respecting her boundaries.
“We’re not dating anymore,” he said. “I figured I should ask before touching.”
“You should get consent even if you’re dating,” Avery said. “I wasn’t comfortable with the way you attacked me.”
“Sorry.” He lifted the lei. “May I?”
His “sorree” which sounded like a three-year-old forced by his mother to apologize was the most she’d get from him, so she decided to be gracious.
“Yes, you may.” She quickly added, “I mean, you may put that lei on me, and that’s all.”
“Not even a bon voyage kiss?” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“Not even.” She flashed the giant five-carat ring. “I’m engaged to the love of my life.”
