Page 50 of Reckless Seduction
“My sister says that someone paid Elias to kidnap and sell Katherine at an auction,” I begin. “Except, somewhere between kidnapping and selling her, Elias became obsessed with her. Now, this was before he took over the flesh trade from the Polish. He ended up buying her. So when he took Ava after her mother died, he used to parade her around his associates. Ava is very good at going unnoticed. Over the years, she heard enough to level him. Learned enough to set his world on fire. We just had to put it all into action.”
Bailey sets her coffee mug down on the wooden table and stands facing the whiteboard as she takes in everything I just slammed her with.
“You think that my father is in league with men like Elias?” I don’t miss the sneer in her voice at her accusation.
Sighing, I lean forward, knees on my elbows, and look her directly in the eyes.
“You’ve seen the proof, Bailey,” I whisper. “You’re the one who is refusing to accept the truth of it.”
“If you’re right,” I can see how much pain saying those words causes her, “then he will be at the auction that takes place a few days after the gala.”
Slowly, I nod.
“Then why do you need me to spy?”
“Because a man with his secrets would never keep them somewhere other people have easy access to. He would keep them safe and close to home and somewhere that not even a raid would find. Your father worked right alongside Elias, up till his death, which means he could know who is supporting him.”
“And what if he doesn’t know?” she asks. “What if he is innocent?”
“Baby girl.” I bring my hand up to cup her cheek. Her blue eyes dim, sadness filling them. “He isn’t.”
Her eyes close, and she nuzzles her cheek into my hand, relishing in its warmth like a kitten.
“There is a removable wall in his safe,” she whispers so low that I barely hear her confession. “It is so solidly built that no one knows it’s false. He keeps a laptop there, I believe.”
Brow furrowed, I stare down at her. “How do you know about it?”
She smiles coyly at me. “Your sister isn’t the only one who often goes unnoticed. I don’t believe that my father is capable of the things you say he is,” she admits. “But I am aware that he isn’t a saint. I know he’s blackmailed his opponents and has under-the-table dealings, but he would never do the things you’re accusing him of.”
“Bailey,” I sigh.
She holds up her hand to silence me. “No. I’ll help you get the laptop, but only to show you that you’re wrong about him.”
Letting out a deep breath, I nod my head, unwilling to push her any further. Bailey will come to the realization herself aboutthe kind of man her father is. If we keep shoving everything at her, it will likely blind her to the truth even more.
“Only problem with the laptop would be that it is most likely encrypted,” I point out, running a hand down my face and groaning. “Bridgett would need to create a decryption key, and with the gala less than a week away…”
“We don’t need a decryption key.” Bailey turns her full attention to me. “I have one.”
“You have one?” I ask, dumbfounded. That is surprising.
She shrugs nonchalantly. “Yeah. It’s in my purse. Looks like a tube of lipstick, except it’s empty. Inside is a small USB drive. I’ve had it for a few years now. Lina had this hacker kid she used from time to time make me one in case I ever ran into a jam.”
Now that is surprising.
“And what are you using this little device for,A stóre?” I tease her.
“My porn collection,” she deadpans. I nearly choke at her response. Her blue eyes twinkle and then the minx winks at me before laughing. Jesus, her laugh is like listening to an angel. Pure and innocent. I want to hear her laugh more.
I want to be the reason she laughs.
The reason she is happy.
I want to be there when she cries.
Hold her when she is sad.
If only we can keep her.
