Chapter 13
Astor
“What did you do with her?”I demand, stepping into my office where Cillian has already set up shop.
“I locked her in the bedroom next to the master—yours, I assume. She’s still gagged and tied.”
I blink, my stride faltering.
Cillian scowls. “Don’t give me that look. I don’t know what the hell to do with a kidnapped woman.”
“You don’t know what to do with any woman, Cillian.” I round to the back of the desk.
“Exactly. So, you handle her. Or have Leo handle her.”
“Leo manages my properties, not my women, and he has plenty to do right now with the list of groceries and amenities you’ve demanded.”
“Might as well live it up while I’m here. He’s put on weight since last I saw him.”
“Muscle, yeah. I noticed that too. You should have seen him when he first started working for me. The dude looked like the Rock.”
“What happened?”
“Hurt his back on his third-ever mission for me.”
“And you didn’t just let him go?”
“I was looking for someone to manage my properties, so I hired him to do that. It’s not an easy job. He works in solitary and is on-call 24/7 to prepare any of my properties before my arrival, and to get whatever I need while I’m there.”
“What’s it like to have an ego the size of Texas?”
“It’s almost as exhausting as this conversation. What have you dug up on our prisoner?”
A grin tugs at the corner of Cillian’s lips. “Well ...”
“Well, what?”
“She’s interesting.”
“I doubt that.”
“She’s a genius.”
I snort.
“Seriously. She got her master’s degree in mathematics from University of California Berkeley and has made a name for herself in the math world.”
“Sounds riveting.”
“She’s been nominated for a handful of national awards from the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America. After graduating college, she moved back to Vegas—her hometown—and accepted a position with Sloane and Associates. She works there as a financial analyst.” Cillian arches his brow. “In a nutshell, she’s not just a pretty face.”
“Hadn’t noticed.”
“Bullshit. The woman’s a smoke show, Astor.”
I grunt. “What else?”
“She’s not married, and neither is Carlos. Which means she’s not his wife. And FYI, Carlos’s been married three times. His latest divorce was finalized last year. Oh, and he doesn’t have any kids.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“Well, if he does, he didn’t claim any of them.”
“She’s his mistress, then.”
“Likely so. Also, she has some money.”
“How much?”
“Seventy-five thousand in a savings account, and almost two hundred fifty thousand in stocks.”
I can’t hide my surprise.
“I’m guessing playing the market is a hobby of hers, considering she’s a math whiz. But it’s weird. Aside from random exuberant shopping sprees, she lives lean and invests most of her money.”
“Surprising from someone who’s only twenty-seven.”
“I thought so too. Your twenties are when you’re supposed to make all sorts of bad decisions, especially financially.”
Frowning, I lean into the screen and scan the multiple hacking programs Cillian has open. “So, hang on, something’s not adding up. How much does she currently make as a financial analyst?”
“Bingo. That’s where things get weird. She only makes fifty-three thousand there, which she spends mainly on bills and groceries and stuff—her rent is astronomical. And the extra money doesn’t come from her family; they’re both dead and came from humble roots.” He points to the screen. “But look here. She gets random large deposits from the same bank account. Fifty thou here, thirty thou there. She got one for seventy-five grand a while back, almost two years ago.”
“Who from?”
“An offshore account connected to a fake business named Blum and Levy, Inc.”
“A shell account?”
“Yep. She’s definitely into something that’s not entirely legal.”
“That has Carlos written all over it.” I straighten and begin pacing.
“Yeah, I thought so too. It could be bribe money. He’s paying her to keep her mouth shut about their affair.”
“This still doesn’t explain why she’s so important to him. Why he’d let me go to spare her life.”
“Maybe he loves her.”
I snort. “Yeah, right.”
Cillian looks over his shoulder and studies me. “People kill for love, Astor. It’s a real thing, even though you haven’t experienced it.”
“Have you?” I ask incredulously.
He looks away, and I get the sense that there’s a story there. Though Cillian has been working for me for years, I’ve never asked about his personal life—and this reminds me what a shit friend I am. God, I hate myself.
“Anyway,” he says, steering away from the topic of love, “I agree with you that she’s probably his mistress, but I think he spared her life because he loves her. How could he not? She’s a hell of a catch. Smart and insanely gorgeous.”
“Oh, there’s a catch, trust me.”
“Want me to find it?” He grins, wiggling his eyebrows.
“No.” I respond far too quickly.
Cillian whistles.
“Stop. Don’t. It’s not like that.” I cut him off before he can speak. “Now, what have you dug up on Carlos?”
“He’s gone dark.”
My jaw twitches. I expected this.
“One of the mercenaries we had stationed at Caesars found one of Carlos’s guards, tied him up, and interrogated him. Got nothing.”
“He must pay his team well. Where is the guard now?”
“Still tied up. They’re just waiting for your orders to release him.”
“Tell them to get a valid contact number for Carlos, and once it’s confirmed that it’s good, they can let him go.”
“Will do. What are you thinking?”
I turn my back. “I’m going to give Carlos forty-eight hours to deliver Valerie’s body in exchange for Sabine’s.”
Cillian follows me to the window, where a few yards away, under the watchful glow of a security light, a small pink cross spears up from the dirt.
“Is that . . .”
“Yes. I’ll bury Valerie next to her.” I clear my throat, turn away from the window, and crack my knuckles. “Anyway. Tell Carlos if he doesn’t respond, we’ll kill Sabine.”
Cillian nods.
“What else do you have?” I ask.
“She has no criminal record, has never been married, and has no kids. Anything other than that, you’re going to have to give me a bit more time digging.”
“Do it. I want to know everything about her.”
“Hey, I have an idea.” Cillian leans back in the chair. “Why don’t you just go ask her yourself?”
With a sniff, I stuff my hands into my pockets. “Good idea.”
Cillian grins like he’s won a battle. I suppose he has.
“I’m going to jump on a call with the guys holding Carlos’s man. Once we’ve got a good contact number for him, I’ll let you know. Also, what room do you want me to stay in?”
“Wherever you want. There are two bedrooms on the opposite end of the house, past the kitchen. One has its own outside entrance.”
“I’ll take that one. Is anyone else here aside from Leo?”
“No, and he won’t stay the nights.”
“What about Pri?”
I glance at my watch. “She should be landing in three hours.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That we have a guest.”