Page 81 of Bed of Thorns

I was no fool. I completely understood her apprehension. I’d been cautious in everything I’d done up to this point, including the notes I’d taken from various aspects of business I’d been brought into. I’d kept them private, securing them in my desk at home. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. To date, there’d yet to be a meeting of the Prism Group. I’d spent time meeting with new clients, flying to various destinations only to insist on taking the red-eye back.

However, I’d refused to take anything at one hundred percent face value, double checking the internet regarding the financial institution, Carl, and Markus. While everything Carl had told me was accurate, the fact there were limited details on Markus as well as zero on the few other members of the Prism Group that I’d been introduced to didn’t sit well with me.

Even though I’d been told the reason.

That’s why I’d insisted on coming back early. Something didn’t feel right.

What the hell was I thinking? Almost nothing felt right at this point. All I knew was that I enjoyed what I did, and the money was substantial, so much so it would be impossible to walk away easily.

Maybe I should hate myself for that, but maybe the best revenge was living the way I wanted to. Providing anything Mercedes wanted was a dream come true.

Yet there was a darkness that remained, lurking around the edges of my sanity, threatening to drag me into a spiral I’d have no control over.

At least I was aware of the possibilities, but for now, I was determined to enjoy our good fortune.

Leaving her alone any longer than necessary wasn’t something I’d allowed, and Carl knew it. There was a foreboding feeling about the entire situation. While the benefits were incredible, the money on the table something only a few people were allowed to experience in their lives, the same deep concern that Mercedes had remained in my gut.

They needed me to remember in order to supply them with the information my father had collected on them. That was the entire reason I’d been selected for inclusion. Their obvious desperation meant my father had challenged them in a way they hadn’t anticipated. Another reason I’d hidden the box off the premises. It could be a bargaining chip in the future.

She pushed against me, laughing slightly. “You’re incorrigible. Don’t you need to get to work?”

“I’m going. Are you at the gallery today?”

“Later.” She turned around to face me. “Have you thought about looking inside the box since the move?”

“I’m not positive it’s that important right now.”

“Are you so certain of that?” There was something entirely different about the way she was looking at me, almost accusatory.

The nightmares had ceased at this point. I knew there’d be a day in the future when I’d be expected to hunt down the information for the Prism Group, but in truth, I had a feeling that everything we’d achieved would be placed in jeopardy. They’d have what they’d spent years attempting to find, my father keeping the upper hand. My gut told me that what I’d discovered was only a small portion of what they were looking for.

There was nothing to prevent them from terminating me after they got what they wanted.

And this had nothing to do with my job.

I couldn’t share my fears or anything I knew with her. If I broke that one cardinal rule, there was no doubt in my mind I’d place her life in danger. “Baby. Life is good right now. I haven’t had a nightmare in weeks. Why do you want to push the boundaries at this point?”

“Because we both need to learn the truth. Because I love you. Because I don’t trust those people.”

“And we will.” How in God’s name could I tell her that, given that one of the members of the group had been inside our other house? That would only terrify her even more. I would play my hand until it became necessary to use the only way I had of keeping us both alive.

At least that’s what continued to play out in the back of my mind. I had spent time going over several conversations I’d had with Adam, or Markus. He’d never been demanding in wanting information, always allowing me to weave my way down a bumpy path, but in looking back at the way he’d maneuvered the conversations, I’d give him credit for being a master manipulator. Hell, I couldn’t remember what or if I’d spouted off anything substantial. That terrified me.

“You know how important you are to me, Mercedes. I would die for you.”

“I don’t want you to even think that way. Never. When are we going to do everything in our power to discover the truth about what went on, the single thing that hangs over our heads and will until we face what happened? When?” She stood shaking, backing away from me as if even being close would cause her additional pain. “When? When you’ve fallen so deep down the rabbit hole that you never want to leave and toss away the money and glitzy trips?”

“What are you worried about?”

“I’ve already told you. That you’ll lose your soul. Whether from revenge or from greed. Is there really a difference?” Mercedes’ face was pinched and after glaring at me for a full ten seconds, she walked away, every footstep like a knife shoved into my heart. As I turned around, watching her walk away, a small voice inside of me said she was right.

The sad part was I’d already fallen into the hole.

* * *

Mercedes

Five weeks had gone by. Five.

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