Page 89 of Chaotic Curse

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I hear the door open.Silence for a heartbeat.

Then Vinnie’s voice, cold and hard enough to cut glass.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

27

HAWK

“What the hellare you doing here?”

I widen my eyes.“Nice to see you too, Vinnie.”

Vinnie opens the door.“Sorry.I’m in investigation mode, and I’ve been finding a lot of shit I don’t like.Just didn’t expect to see you.”

I shrug and step inside.“I didn’t think I’d be here today, but I hit a dead end with my first suspect.”

“Who?”he asks.

“Jordan Fletcher from Daniela’s cooking school class.”

He cocks his head.“A cooking student?”

“I know how it sounds, but he’s been hitting on Dani.”I shrug.“Maybe I got carried away.There’s another who’s much more likely.”

“Hernando Reyes,” Vinnie says.

“Right.”

“I’ve got some information.”His tone is measured, but there’s no hostility—just that guarded weight Vinnie always carries.Who can blame him, after what he’s seen?

I follow him through the house to his massive family room.

And I see her.

Daniela.

She’s curled into one of Raven’s armchairs, hair twisted up in a messy bun and wearing the same jeans and tank she wore yesterday.She glances up when I walk in, eyes meeting mine for just long enough to make my chest tighten before she looks back down at a photo she’s holding.

Vinnie gestures toward the sofa.“Sit.We were just talking about Hernando Reyes.”

I drop into the seat, leaning forward on my elbows.“Tell me.”

“Reyes has a house in West Lake Hills.Gated community.Big place.”Vinnie pulls the photo from a folder and slides it across the coffee table.

I take a look.Nice house.Then Daniela hands me the photo she’s been holding.

The guy’s got the kind of smug, polished look that makes my skin itch.“That’s him?”I ask.

Daniela nods.“Yes.Without question.”

Vinnie sits back.“I’ve got a guy who can test the flowers and note Dani got from the hospital for DNA.He’s quick.I can have the results tonight.”

“Good,” I say.“Do it.”

Daniela shifts.“Vinnie also mentioned someone named Gordon Brown.”

I set the photo down.“Ever heard of him?”

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