Page 37 of Lethal Vows

“No, he’s just the man who killed your boss.”

Touché.

A bubble of anger rises inside me. It’s not that I’m mad at Angel. It’s how calm we are with this conversation. Most likely, it’s because we’ve both seen our fair share of shit and dead bodies. It isn’t anything new, and I wasn’t attached to Andrew. But, damn. He never deserved that.

“He had no right to walk in and kill Andrew. No matter what he was feeling.”

“But in his head, you’re his.”

His control, which extends even to my best friend, is infuriating. And it’s not anyone else’s fault but my own for thinking he wouldn’t actually kill my date.

“I am not his,” I remind her. “I am a person, and I belong to myself.”

At this, she smiles a wide smile. “I know that. Why do you think I’m enjoying you giving him a run for his money so much? It’s nice to see someone finally put him in his place. He’s a little too demanding for my liking.” She laughs. “And you’re the same, so it’s a match made in heaven… or hell.” She laughs again.

I can’t help but smile as I take another drink of my wine. “You know, this whole situation is fucked-up.”

“Don’t I know it. But I’m not the one who slept with him.” She raises an inquisitive eyebrow.

Before taking another sip of red wine—my personal form of dessert—I easily admit, “I can neither confirm nor deny.”

She slips in another forkful of her chocolate cake, her words coming out muffled. “It looks like Crue isn’t the only one playing with fire.”

CHAPTER19

Rya

It’s been less than two weeks since Brian’s murder. And since I haven’t accepted the new role, his stuff remains in his office. He didn’t really have a family, and not even his ex-wife wanted to collect his things. A testament to how swimmingly their divorce went.

So I came in early, looking for what, I am entirely unsure. But anything that might confirm Angel’s claim. I find it hard to believe that Brian was that type of man. We weren’t close, but he had given me every opportunity in this firm. And to think he was doing something like that? But what reason would he have? For a personal collection or some kind of blackmail if ever needed, perhaps? I’d been around too long now to know that either was equally possible.

I search his top drawers, disappointed by outdated documents and a small bottle of unopened whisky. His laptop, phone, and computer screens have all been removed. The police took them when they wanted to investigate further into his murder. With such an easily closed case, they’d returned them, but no one cared to put them back. I mean, he was gone after all.

I pop my hands onto my hips. “Shit,” I mumble, feeling half-crazed that I’m looking into this in the first place. I mean, he’s dead. But I have to know.

A light tap on the glass door interrupts my rummaging through his drawers. I lift my head to find Mr. Luca looking somewhat confused as he opens the door.

Shit.

“Rya?”

“Good morning,” I say with a gentle smile as I continue casually looking through the drawers. If I stop, then I’ll definitely look suspicious.

“Good morning. What are you doing in here?” he asks, and I notice the hint of suspicion in his tone.

“I had given Brian a file and was hoping it might be here somewhere. But looks like I’m out of luck.” I wave my hand in fake exasperation.

“Don’t you back everything up on your computer?”

I nod. “Yeah, I do. I just know he had written notes down on it, so I was hoping to find it. But I can navigate without it, of course.”

There’s a long silence.

So, I go below the belt with theatrics. “It’s just still so strange that he’s gone.”

A flash of something cuts across Mr. Luca’s blue eyes as if he understands. I’m not particularly affected by Brian’s death. I’ve become desensitized to death over the years. But for the longest time, I was his star pupil. And if I could use that to get out of this situation, then I definitely would.

“It’s cut us all very deeply.” He looks back at the door and throws a casual finger in its direction. “I could’ve sworn that door was locked.”

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