Page 18 of Sleeping with the Dark (The Righteous 3)
“Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for coming. As I stated at the beginning of this trial, my client is innocent,” He paused for effect, the only sound that of the gentle breeze as those assembled hung on his every word. “The verdict today should set everyone’s mind at ease that Mr. Oliden was wrongfully accused. Mr. Oliden would like to say a few words.” Trev stepped aside, and as his client began to speak, he slipped away toward his car. He had no interest in a celebratory dinner with this piece of human garbage that had drugged and raped numerous teens. Their only mistake had been working for him and trusting him.
He looked over his shoulder at the man in question, and a small smile lifted the corner of his mouth into a smirk. Unfortunately for Mr. Oliden, his life was going to be cut short by a tragic accident, but not until he received his final payment. Rule number ten, don’t kill off the client before you get your money. He really should move that one up in the order of rules.
“Mr. Anderson?” Trev turned at the sound of Sally’s voice.
“Sally, what’s wrong?” he asked. In all the time Sally had worked for him, she only ever came to the courthouse if he called her. She patted at her normally neat hair that was coming undone from the bun on her head. As he made the final step to the sidewalk, he could easily see that her eyes were puffy, like she’d been crying. She dabbed at her nose, and he grabbed her shoulders before pulling her into a hug.
“I’m so sorry,” she mumbled between the sniffling. “I didn’t do it, but I…” Sally took a small step back and removed her glasses to wipe at her eyes.
“What didn’t you do?”
“I had this man come to my home a week ago and offer me money for information on you. I told him to go to hell, but when I tried to close the door, he pushed his way into my apartment. I wanted to talk to you all week, but you never came back to the house and—.” Sally paused and looked around. He instinctively did as well, his eyes scanning over every pair of eyes that were standing, walking, or driving by. Even those drinking a hot beverage in the coffee shop across the road were not spared his scrutiny.
“Come on, let’s get in my car.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her to the Bentley. Once inside, he started the engine and got the air conditioning going before turning to look at her. “Okay, what did this person do, Sally?”
She covered her mouth and shook her head. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a memory stick and held it out to him.
“I’m so sorry. I almost handed this over.” He picked it up out of her hand, and Sally broke down again. The dark that had settled in his soul poked its head up.
There was one thing you didn’t do, and that was to threaten those he loved. Sally was a good person who’d already lived through more than her fair share. He thought of her as family, and someone had made her cry, for that they would pay.
“He didn’t hurt me, but he promised to do terrible things to me if I didn’t do what he said. I didn’t believe him at first, but then I found a dead cat on my doorstep yesterday morning.” She covered her mouth. “The poor thing had its throat slit, and there was blood everywhere. Luckily, I found it before the kids next door would’ve been heading for school.” Her voice hitched as she paused. “Then this morning, a man followed me from home to work. He followed me to your house. If I’d been smart, I would’ve had him follow me right to a police station, but I was scared and just wanted to get to you. He didn’t say anything and didn’t approach me, but…” She looked down at her hands as she played with the tissue in her hands. “I decided to meet you here. It’s off my normal schedule, so I didn’t see him when I snuck out of the house.”
Arek held up the silver stick. “What’s on this, Sally?”
Her lower lip trembled. “He wanted personal information. Financial records, who you are close to, what you used to do for a living.” Sally turned and looked him in the eye. “I found a file on our shared drive. I’m sorry I shouldn’t have looked. I’ve never snooped before.”
She didn’t have to say which one. He knew exactly which folder she was referring to—that file could ruin both Arek and himself. He thought he’d hidden it well among the hundreds of layers in that drive, but apparently, he should leave that sort of thing to Delilah from now on. He reached out his hand and laid his on hers. “It’s okay, Sally. The fact you came to me and didn’t hand this over tells me all I need to know about your loyalties. I’m a little surprised, though. I thought you might decide to take this to the authorities.”
He thought she was going to give her head a concussion with how quickly she shook it back and forth. “Trevor, you are the only reason I have a home, that I could finish my treatments, that…” Tears flowed over her weathered cheeks. “You are the closest thing I have to a son.”
Reaching out, he laid his hand on her much cooler one, the bones still too prominent under her skin, if you asked him. “Do you know who threatened you?”
“No,” she shook her head again. “But, he had a tattoo on his hand. It was fancy letters with a skull, but I couldn’t make out the letters.”
“The Streetlores,” Trev mumbled. Alejandro was playing games. He didn’t think the man would be this impatient. It hadn’t been that long since he agreed to his offer. He rubbed at his chin as he thought. Whatever the reason, this was a game that was going to get Alejandro killed sooner than Trev planned. “I’m going to drive you home, and you’re going to pack and come stay with me.”
“I can’t do that, Trevor. You’ve already done so much for me. That is too generous, and you have so many already staying with you.”
“Nonsense, you are part of my family, Sally, and I know how much everyone loves you. They will be happy to have you around.” Releasing her hand, he started the Bentley. “I can count on one hand the number of people I would trust with the information on that stick, and you happen to be one of them. There is no more negotiating. You will pack what you need, and you will stay with me until the threat has been neutralized.”
Sally placed her hand on his arm. “What do you plan on doing?”
He gave her what he hoped was a comforting smile. “Don’t you worry about that.”
Pulling away from the curb, he instantly began forming his plan. His foot pressed down on the gas, the sound of the car revving expressing exactly how he felt.
No one came after his own, no one.
Cody stuffed the last of his items in the large duffels he’d brought with him. He looked around the room one last time, making sure he hadn’t forgotten anything—not that he had much, to begin with. When he lived with Tyson, he was constantly on the move—he never put down roots. He figured he’d see about crashing on Ray’s couch for now and then formulate a plan to get back on his feet.
“Where are you going?” Arek asked.
Cody started and jumped to glare at Arek. Both of these fucking brothers needed a damn bell. They were way too quiet, annoyingly so. Did they have a,learn to be a fucking ninja day, in S.E.A.L. camp? He envisioned them having to tiptoe across bubble wrap without making a sound.
“I’m moving out,” he said, stating the obvious.
Arek’s eyebrow cocked upwards as he leaned casually against the door frame. He wanted to wipe the look right off his face. It was too similar to the look Trev would give him. He zipped the duffel and then crossed his arms over his chest.
