Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
D imitrios
People were either creatures of habit or completely adventurous.
With Willow she was a little of both. Her upbringing had provided her with a constant lifestyle, including basic lines of discipline she’d no doubt followed without question. As with most young people, as they entered adulthood, they became less cautious and more curious about the world around them.
My little dove was no different with one exception.
She was willing to die for her beliefs.
That had been easy to see.
What I hoped at this moment was that she was still a creature of habit to the point of needing to find answers. There was a beginning and an end in doing so, but the end wouldn’t surface for a long time if it ever did.
“You sure about this, boss?” Nico asked.
I’d left the restaurant like a bat out of hell, ignoring all speed limits. With Michael killed by an unknown driver, my instincts told me the Stalker was ceremoniously tracking down everyone who had any knowledge of my brother’s death.
Nico almost never used my first name even if I considered him a friend. That’s how I known something was very wrong when he’d come out on that deck. I was the one driving, still remaining cautious as I contemplated what Gregory had alluded to.
“I hope I am. If not, then no one is getting a day off until she’s found.”
“I still don’t know how she managed to escape the guards.”
As I made a turn onto a darkened street, I glanced in his direction. “Very good question and one I need an answer to.”
“I’ll find out.”
“Yeah, you will. Soon. If she’s not here, several heads will roll. Understood?”
Nico exhaled. “Understood.”
I pulled into the driveway. There was no other vehicle and no sign of life. Or was there? I headed back to the street, staring up at the bank of windows, all in varying sizes. Unless the waning sun was playing tricks on me, a light was on inside. It could have been left on by the forensics cleaners that had likely been sent to erase all evidence of violence.
Or…
The door was unlocked just as I’d hoped. There was a short set of stairs leading up to the kitchen. Once on the landing, I took a few seconds both listening to and observing the room. I hadn’t paid any attention when I’d visited before other than the basics of ensuring no one was hiding or carrying a weapon. Now I drank in every detail, including a glass with an amber liquid placed on the counter. There were no others, just the one.
I unbuttoned my jacket, also unfastening the snap from the shoulder holster. It was possible someone else had been inside after the murder. After grabbing a paper towel, I took the glass into my hand, taking a whiff. Watered-down whiskey. Kentucky whiskey if I knew my blended bourbons.
There was also a bottle on the counter. I could tell by the beads of water that until recently, it had been kept cold.
Someone was still here.
Taking any additional risks wasn’t something I was interested in doing. With my weapon now in both hands, I moved silently through the house, checking every room. The cleaners had been inside, although I’d say they were piss-poor at this job. There were still traces of blood, speckles of it on the hallway wall leading to the sunroom.
I shifted to the bedrooms, still angry as well as concerned about Willow. While she’d left of her own accord, that didn’t mean she hadn’t been followed and captured by someone else. Would a man kidnap his own sister?
Yeah, some men would in certain families. Hell, they’d also sell their mothers to human traffickers for a few dollars or a chance to gain more power.
A light was on at the end of one hallway, yet no sound was emitted. I remained cautious, approaching by crowding the wall. Not one sound was made as I entered the doorway of the bedroom, but Willow knew I’d arrived.
Honestly, I had a feeling she’d been expecting me. In her hand was a black velvet box, gold foil wrapping paper torn off and placed on the bed where she sat. She was facing the wall and away from me.
“Shane was here,” she said quietly. “He was here… My parents. Bastard. The fucking bastard.”
I remained quiet. When her clothes had been acquired only a day before, my men hadn’t seen anything out of the ordinary, no sign of anyone entering the villa. However, they wouldn’t know for certain if Shane had made an appearance. Only my little dove would figure that out.
“You’re certain?” I finally asked.
“No doubt in my mind. He wanted to give me this gift. I knew something was off. I thought I remembered seeing a glass in the sink. It’s not something my father or mother drink. I mean that they drank.”
I walked closer, but I knew it was important I kept my distance.
“He likes this whiskey from the United States. It’s crazy because he likes it cold right out of the refrigerator.”
If that was true, he’d been in the house for longer than a few minutes. “How did you get here? I have your phone and you have no money. Let me guess, your friend.”
“Yes, cutting off my abilities to get away from you easily doesn’t mean I can’t make my way, even in a foreign country where I don’t know the language.”
“How?”
She heard my deep exhale and snorted in her cute little way. “I walked most of the way to Athena’s place, the girl I was staying with and one from the club.”
“Most of the way?”
“I had a ride from a nice young man.”
I instantly bristled. “What did he look like?” Actual jealousy reared its ugly head. “Tell me.”
“What does it matter? Are you going to beat him to death for being nice to me?”
“Do you have any idea how stupid that was?”
“Ask me if I care, Dimitrios. I wanted to find out anything I could and I did. Maybe because you didn’t think about returning to the house, you’re just pissed at me.”
My God. The woman continued to push me. Hard. I had the desire to yank her over my lap again, teaching her another lesson. That would have to wait. “Do not do that again.”
She saluted me this time. “Why, yes, sir. I’ll be a good girl. Sir .”
I allowed her a moment for the arrogant outburst, reminding myself she’d been through more than most could deal with. What I couldn’t stand was the tension between us. I’d never had the patience for it, purposely forcing people to talk. But this time, no, this night, I felt different than before.
So I waited until she seemed calmer.
“Is this where you slept?”
“Yes.” She was fiddling with something in her hand. “I didn’t come into this room when I came back. You know. That day I mean.” Her uncertainty had returned.
For all the words she’d spoken to me, I sensed this was harder on her than even before. “What did he leave for you?”
She turned slightly, still not looking in my direction. In her hand was a necklace. I walked closer, taking it from her. It was a stunning jeweled piece with diamonds and rubies.
“Rubies are my birthstone for late July. I didn’t even think he remembered.”
“It’s beautiful.” It also cost a fortune. I sat down on the edge of the bed, trying to curtail the emotions running through me. I was furious with her but also relieved.
“Yes. Very special.” She shifted all the way around to face me. “What was he doing here? To surprise me? Maybe that’s what it was. He was supposed to come the night before. It was a big dinner my mother had planned but he was a no show. Was he here when they were…”
She couldn’t finish the sentence.
“I don’t have that answer either, Willow. But it does provide a sense that what you’d told me about how nervous he seemed on the phone was real.”
“My brother isn’t a liar.”
How in the fuck was I supposed to respond? Was I really going to shatter her last clinging hope her brother hadn’t orchestrated his own parents’ murder? “We should go.”
“Will you… Will you put the necklace around my neck?” She was hopeful in her question.
The last damn thing I wanted to do at this point was place the fucking expensive piece of what I believed was bribery around her neck. But I relented if for no other reason than to keep her calm.
“Of course.” I placed the weapon on the bed, feeling more than just uncomfortable.
When she lifted her hair, just seeing the long line of her neck was enough to tighten my balls. She seemed even more vulnerable at this point, not fragile, but her strength and resilience were waning.
It was funny how just being around her for this short a time period made me want to be a better man. Sadly, that wasn’t possible. I was set in my ways, far too old to change my stripes.
“Is there anything else inside this villa you want? If you do, the time is now. The owner will sweep it clean, taking it to a storage unit now that all the evidence has been collected.”
“What then?”
“I’m certain Gregory will arrive at some point to make certain all the items you don’t take with you return with their bodies.”
“The funeral. I won’t be there. Will I?”
It was yet another question I wasn’t prepared to answer, at least not definitively. “We’ll see.”
“Fine. That means no,” she snarked. “Can I at least take a few seconds to look around?”
I debated whether that was a good idea. “Yes, you can. Do not try and run again. I’m not risking your safety or mine because of some whim.”
“Whim?” she countered. “We learned he was in the country. Isn’t that valuable information?”
“Yes, it is.”
“I told you I have skills.” She jerked up and headed for the door, quietly glancing at my weapon.
“What other skills should I learn about?”
She stopped in the doorway, drumming her fingers on the wall. After barely tilting her head over her shoulder, I could still tell she was smiling slyly. “I told you I don’t like guns, which you always feel the need to carry.”
“Yes, you did.”
“I might not like them, but I certainly know how to use one.”
As she walked out, I shook my head and chuckled under my breath, slowly rising to my feet. She was a tough one, but how much of it was an act? What other surprises were in store for me? I returned my weapon to the holster, walking into the hallway. She’d already disappeared.
While Willow checked the various rooms for anything of importance to her, I dialed Atticus’ number.
“Let me guess, Shane was at the villa,” he said by way of answering.
“Yes, it appears he was unless he had someone stage his presence. Have you found anything out regarding Winslow and Dottie Winters?”
“Nothing that indicates a red flag. What are you looking for in particular?”
“Recent additions to bank accounts. Hidden assets. Sudden losses. Anything that seems out of the ordinary.”
Atticus could track down anything on anyone. “I’ll see what else can be found, but Winslow works for engineering firm, Dottie as a local school administrator. They have a joint bank account and a house with two mortgages.”
“That could indicate money troubles. Dig deep.”
“Will do.”
I pocketed my phone, checking the various rooms myself, finding nothing else I would consider damning evidence. There was no other sign of Shane, no card or note. I did find passports for both Willow and her parents. I pocketed Willow’s. You never knew when it would come in handy.
I found myself still meandering through the house, ending up in the room her parents had taken to sleep in. While forensics had likely dusted for fingerprints, checking for other evidence as well, nothing looked worse for wear. It was as if the couple had dressed that morning with no thought in mind something was wrong.
As soon as I walked into the closet and turned on the light, my eyes immediately scanned for hiding places. Closets were often used to hide items not meant for public viewing. I’d find no weapons of course, but if Winslow was involved in something more than his squeaky-clean business, he could have documentation.
I searched through the items, finding nothing of importance.
What I did find was an empty laptop case. Had the police taken the computer? It was worth checking. If they hadn’t, either Shane had walked out with it or another perpetrator had.
After backing out, I headed for the main living area only to notice Willow standing in the very place where her parents had been murdered.
She must have heard my approach, her body finally flinching when I walked closer. I sensed she was finally coming to terms with what had occurred. It was something I’d yet to do, the anger fresh enough I couldn’t shut down my emotions even for a short duration.
Her tension and sadness drove a stake through me, which was exactly what I deserved.
When I placed my hands on her shoulders, she exhaled in a soft sound reminding me of a purr.
“I’m serious, Dimitrios. You’re right in that I don’t know my brother. This necklace must have cost thousands and thousands of dollars given the size of the rubies and the clarity of the diamonds. According to my father, Shane was living a hand-to-mouth existence. He had no money. Most public servants don’t. But Shane insisted, saying he was doing well without explaining anything to either my mother or father. I didn’t talk to him. That came secondhand.”
“Aiding me is risky at best. The Stalker is eliminating possible witnesses.”
She jerked around to face me, an even more determined look on her face. “Then it’s settled, Dimitrios. I have a huge stake in this. If Shane had anything to do with the murders, I won’t allow him to get away with it. If he’s innocent, you will not railroad him. The only way to ensure his interest is as important as that of your brother’s is to work with you. I mean side by side. If you say no, I will find a way to make that happen myself. Trust me, I’ll be able to do it. So what’s it going be, Dimitrios? Will you come down off your high horse of thinking only men can do your job and allow a woman to highlight her abilities?”
If she was a man, her challenge would be unacceptable. Given she was a stunning beauty, her words were merely foreplay.
“I have no problem allowing you to work with me to solve this mystery. However,” I said, emphasizing the fact I would always be the man in charge, “it’s under one condition that cannot and will not be altered. You either take it or leave it.”
“Fine. But you will treat me as an equal.”
The girl was serious.
“Alright. You have two choices. One is to accept the deal and the second is you will remain a well-pampered prisoner until I determine your penance is served.”
“But I’m not to blame.”
I cocked my head. “Two choices. It’s entirely up to you.”
She cursed under her breath and I was almost positive she might slap me.
But she didn’t, instead a smile forming, her upper lip curling. She threw out her arm, expecting a handshake.
Which I gave to her.
“I’ll accept the deal. And what is it other than I will obey your every command?”
It was my turn to smile. She truly had no idea she’d just locked herself in a lion’s den. “Yes, there’s that, but more important, you’re going to become my wife.”