Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
Soren glanced at the gun in Noah’s shoulder holster. “Was that your phone in my back in the hall? Jeez, you’re such an asshole.”
“I don’t draw a weapon unless I intend to use it.”
Soren scooted across the rug, backing up until he could lean against the bed. Noah remained standing, blocking access to the door. The room was still dark, lit only by the light coming through the window. Nighttime sounds and cool air streamed through the opening.
“So you’re not going to shoot me?”
“Not right now. Though I’m sure you wouldn’t extend me the same courtesy if our roles were reversed.”
“You’re the one who nearly choked me to death. Do you know how much my throat hurts right now?”
“If you don’t want it to hurt even more, tell me about Jason Gerrig. Eagle tattoo.”
“That’s not the name I used to know him by. But yeah, I’ll tell you everything I can.”
“If you lie to me? If you try to get your Valoris bodyguards here?”
“I get it. Pain and all that.”
“Just start talking. You’re wasting time that Danica doesn’t have.”
These words seemed to sober him. “Gerrig was a bodyguard for me. One of several Valoris used to send in New York. I didn’t know him well, but he seemed really intense. And he had that neck tattoo.”
Soren paused to rub his throat.
“Valoris stopped sending Gerrig at least a year ago. They have a lot of turnover, so I thought nothing of it. But then I heard about the kidnapping attempt at the museum, and how Danica had seen some guy with an eagle tattoo on his neck. It made me think of that same Valoris bodyguard from New York.”
“And you didn’t say anything?”
“I did! To Blake.”
“You told Blake about the tie to Valoris Security? When?”
“It was days ago. He said it was a coincidence, and the police were already looking into it. That I shouldn’t talk about it with Danica because she was already upset. And then, she took off with you.”
“But the police had no idea until Bennett Security figured it out today. Blake was lying.”
“I…” Soren’s eyes bulged. “Oh. Shit.” He started talking fast. “Blake visited me in New York plenty of times, and he would’ve met all the Valoris bodyguards. Jason included.”
Noah studied Soren’s response, looking for any sign Danica’s brother was lying. But he didn’t spot any tells.
“Is Blake working for William on this?”
At this suggestion, Soren laughed. “Are you kidding? No. William would never go after Danica like that. In some effed-up way, Blake must be doing this for me.”
“You? Why would Blake kidnap Danica to help you?”
Soren’s eyes raised. “Because he’s my real father. Not William.”