Page 73 of Illusive
“Not really. He said the ransom was what was keeping me alive and that the condo was soundproofed, so he wanted me to scream while he raped me. He got off on hurting me, no question.”
Elizabeth’s long nails dug into her skin, but Ireland didn’t protest.
“Did he ever speak to anyone besides the female voice you heard?” the detective asked. “A delivery person? A doorman or receptionist? A neighbor?”
Ireland shook her head. “No. Only the woman. Is she and the other two still at large?”
Vega’s brows lifted. “You’re not watching the news?”
“No. I lived it. I’m not ready to relive it. You know what I mean?”
Jang gave her a tight half-smile. “The other two men who took you from the Bellingham are dead.”
“Oh.” Ireland found herself sagging with relief.
“Tell us about Ronan McCaffrey Boudreaux,” Vega said. “Detective Graves tells us you’ve listed him as an approved visitor.”
Ireland looked at him. “He co-owns Vidal Records. And we’re…involved.”
Jang’s head tilted. “You’re dating? We understand there’s some bad blood between Boudreaux and your family. Would you say that’s accurate?”
“There’s some history between Ronan’s family and my dad, yes. You’ll have to ask my father about that. He won’t tell me anything.”
“But you’re dating Boudreaux. He hasn’t told you?”
“He feels that he’s been wronged,” Ireland explained. “He wants my father to confess to whatever it is that happened long ago.”
“And you’re okay with not knowing what that is?” Vega asked.
“Ronan takes care of my daughter,” Elizabeth interjected. “How the man treats her is what she should judge him by. Her father can sort out his own affairs.”
Jang kept her focus on Ireland. “Do you think it’s possible that Boudreaux could arrange this kidnapping in retaliation?”
“I wouldn’t be seeing him if I didn’t feel safe around him,” Ireland responded curtly. “And he’s already made huge concessions for me that he wouldn’t have if punishing my father was his sole focus.”
“I don’t think he has anything to do with this,” Alina interjected. “Ronan doesn’t like her father or brothers, but he definitely likes Ireland and is actively trying to get in her good graces.”
Vega returned his gaze to Ireland. “Do you know how we can reach him?”
“At work, maybe. Vidal Records.” Ireland’s fingers twisted restlessly in her lap.
If they looked into Ronan’s background, would they be able to see his expunged juvenile record? Would they dig deep enough to find out about his father, Lucas Boudreaux?
“You’d be wasting time talking to him, though,” she insisted. “Ronan’s not responsible for this, and we need to find the person who is, before they hurt someone else in my family.”
“Would you have been in front of the hotel at that time if Boudreaux hadn’t asked you to be?”
Ireland stared at Detective Jang, her thoughts sluggishly trying to decipher the purpose of the question. “He didn’t ask me to be in front of the hotel. He asked me to meet him at the airport.”
“Is there another way you could’ve left the hotel?”
Frowning, Ireland felt the first twinges of a headache. “I could’ve asked someone from my brother’s security team to drive me.”
“How likely is it that you would’ve chosen that route instead?” Vega pressed.
“It wasn’t even likely that I’d go at all. I’d broken up with Ronan the night before.Ididn’t even decide to meet him until after we’d already parted ways that evening.”
Jang wrote quickly. “Why did you break up with him?”
