Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 74005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“And…?” I clear my throat again.
“The men hunted the women.”
I cock my head. “Uh…what?”
He rubs at his forehead. “I wish I were kidding, Dani. It turns out that Wolfe wanted to purchase you from your father. For his island. Your time with him wasn’t solely business. It was an audition for you.”
My stomach twists.
“Your father refused,” Vinnie says. “Said you were worth more as a long-term asset. Wolfe didn’t take that well. He had to be escorted out.”
“He’s dead now,” I remind him, even though my pulse hasn’t slowed. “So what’s the point?”
“Some of Wolfe’s guests are still alive. A lot of them used fake names. One in particular—Gordon Brown—shows up in your father’s circles.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I never met anyone by that name.”
“Doesn’t mean you didn’t meet him,” Vinnie says. “He might have been introduced as someone else.”
I still don’t see the motive, but I trust Vinnie’s gut.
The doorbell rings, and I jerk involuntarily.
Vinnie pushes up from his chair. I stay frozen, the photo of Reyes still in my hand.
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 hell are 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?”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“Then it’s not worth your energy,” I tell her. “If you don’t recognize the name, he’s not a threat right now. Probably someone from when you were working for your father.”
Vinnie raises an eyebrow at me. “Sometimes the people you don’t remember are the ones you should be worried about. They might have drugged her.”
“Maybe,” I say. “But Reyes is the priority.”
“I agree,” Vinnie says. “For now, at least.”
Raven enters from the kitchen with a can of Orange Crush. “Gordon Brown could be a pseudonym. People like this—especially people in the Derek Wolfe circle—don’t tend to use their real names.”
Daniela looks between us. “You think he could be behind the gifts?”
Vinnie tilts his head. “It’s possible. But my gut says Reyes is the guy.”
I lean back. “Then Reyes is the one I’m looking at.”
Vinnie taps the photo of the house. “His place is locked down tight. You’re not getting in without planning.”
A faint smile pulls at my mouth. “We’ll see.”
Raven gives me a knowing look. “You’re going tonight, aren’t you?”
I don’t reply.
Daniela rises and comes to me, sits on my knee. “Please, Hawk. Don’t. I can’t have you in danger.”
“Didn’t you know?” I ask. “I’ve got nine lives.”
“That’s not funny.” She punches my arm.
Stalking Jordan at church didn’t put me in any kind of harm’s way. Stalking Hernando Reyes? That’s a different story.
Vinnie looks at me sternly. “If you are going tonight, don’t get caught. Those gated communities have private security, cameras.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Raven crosses her arms. “At least stay for dinner before you run off and do something stupid.”
I flash her a smile. “Appreciate it, but I’m not hungry.”
Daniela studies me. “Not hungry or not wanting company?”
“I always want your company.” I kiss her hand. “But this is something I have to do.”