Isidoro #2
He’s usually not the quiet type. Pair that up with the fact that he’s been avoiding eye contact, and I can tell something is off with him.
“That is also something I haven’t heard of.” Which is strange, because as a businessman myself, I tend to keep up with all sorts of developments in the corporate world.
“It would be weird if you did.” Ria chuckles, her unnaturally pink eyes shimmering with amusement. I don’t think they are lenses, so she must have undergone some kind of procedure. “The whole thing was being kept top-secret.”
I turn to Julian. “How did your father die, exactly?”
Julian considers this, his gaze pinned on a blooming orchid.
“I don’t know. I came home late that night.
I wasn’t even supposed to be in New York, but I had a last-minute change of plans.
Nothing looked unusual. I thought he was resting at first, but when I went over to his office, I found him dead.
” He twiddles his hands in his lap. “I didn’t really get to check for injuries or how he’d died exactly.
Between discovering my him and getting the medics and security, his body was… taken.”
“So, he is missing then? Just like my dad?” Ria jumps in. “Do you know if they met that day?”
“Not according to his schedule. He was at the office, then went out with some clients for dinner.”
“That was a dead end,” I cut in, sucking out the hopefulness from Ria’s eyes.
Julian smirks. “I knew that already.”
Yet he didn’t say anything. Then again, he also hid from me that his father had died, and frankly, I can hardly blame him. Well played, Julian. Things are different now though. I can’t touch him, so he has no reason to lie to me any further.
“I’ve been trying to figure out where my dad went for a month. The police and investigators have been useless. It’s why I reached out… I need your help,” Ria says, crossing her arms over her green vest. “I’m afraid that whatever happened might be out of human jurisdiction.”
There it is. It’s the only thing that makes sense. A human would’ve stood no chance against Andras. But it can’t be a vampire either, or a lesser supernatural. So, who did it?
“You said you were the only one who could solve this,” I cut in, glancing at my awkward husband. He winces a little. “What do you know that we don’t?”
“I found something… When I was checking if he was really dead before I went to get security,” he mutters, his voice trembling a little.
“You found something?” I parrot back, raising an eyebrow. I tap my foot on the ground expectantly.
He nods stiffly. “I didn’t get a chance to investigate before you kinda… ruined my plans. So I hid it, sort of.”
My heart kicks up a fuss. Finally, a clue, a hint, something that I can use. “Where?”
“In my bedroom at our downtown penthouse.”
“I had your apartment searched three times. There was nothing.”
He places his hands on the table and laces his fingers, a small smile flirting with his lips. “Because you don’t know what to look for.”
I’m so close to moving forward with this important investigation, even more so now that I know somebody murdered Andras. A weight has gone off my shoulders, but only to be replaced by another one.
“Julian, stop playing games,” I grind out, the need to act simmering inside me. “Tell me where you hid the evidence.”
He cracks a smile. “Nah. I’d rather show you.” He hops up and stretches, his dark red eyes gleaming with elation. “Let’s go tomorrow.”
I hate that I have little choice other than to play this game of his. But his punishment can wait. We made a deal. I’ll let him be part of this, and once we uncover what truly happened, I’ll make sure he gets what’s coming for him.
“You can go home now,” I tell Ria. “If we find anything about your father, we’ll give you a call.”
Her perfectly shaped eyebrows pinch together. “No, I’m sticking with you. I’ll be part of this investigation.”
“That’s not a good idea. We don’t know what we might come across,” I argue, an ache sliding into my peripherals. Why is everyone so keen on being rebellious today? I’ve had enough.
She blows air out of her nose. “I can take care of myself.” She takes out the gun I knew she was hiding under her shirt.
“Perhaps.” I move behind her, snatching it away before she can even comprehend I’ve left my chair. “Had this involved just humans.”
She stands and tries to take the gun from me, jumping as I hold it high. When she can’t reach it, she puffs her cheeks. “Fine. No fieldwork for me. But I can help in other ways. You can’t shut me out when my father is likely involved.”
I can. And that’s exactly what I intend to do.
I open my mouth to say that, but Julian speaks first. “Let Ria help. She’s an ex-detective. She’s good at this sort of thing.”
Narrowing my eyes, I shift my attention to Julian as I let the woman have her gun back. Strange. Why is he taking her side? There’s something going on here, and I’m being kept in the dark.
“You heard your husband,” she singsongs and walks over to him.
“Get whatever evidence is there tomorrow and I’ll…
” She squeezes his arm, aiming those pretty pink eyes at him as her lips curve up at the corners.
“Julian, I need access to your father’s schedule and any CCTV from the day he was killed. ”
My attention narrows to her hand, to the careless way it stays curled around his arm. Everything else in the room thins out, unimportant. “My P.I. and I already went through all of that,” I say, my words unhurried and cold. “There was nothing.”
“Yes, but you didn’t even know my father existed.” She picks her water from the table and drinks the rest, still clutching Julian’s arm. Why is he letting her? “Maybe I’ll see something you missed.” She doesn’t even bother to hide her smirk. “Like whatever Julian is hiding in his bedroom.”
She knows exactly what she’s doing—needling me while she keeps that hand right where I can see it. I’d admire the nerve if it didn’t concern something that’s mine. Julian is a taken man as of tonight, which makes me wonder whether he’s forgotten that, or letting her hang off him on purpose.
I snap my fingers, trying not to give in to the urge to strangle them both. “Samuel, Miss Vance will be assisting us with the investigation. Please prepare everything we have so far and catch her up to speed.”
“Understood.” He bows his head. “Miss Vance, please follow me to the lounge.”
She waves him off. “There’s no need. I saw where it is when we walked past.”
Samuel glances at me, confused for a moment, then dips his head again and disappears.
“Right, right. We better get some rest then,” Julian says, but doesn’t move.
If it was me holding onto his arm like this, he’d have clawed my eyes out already.
I don’t waste any efforts forcing the annoyance down.
I only reach out, close my hand around Julian’s free arm, and draw him out of her grip and into me.
My movement is slow, unbothered, like collecting something that was always going to end up in my hands.
Ria lets go without a fight. He stumbles against my chest, held there by my grip. Confusion swimming in his beautiful eyes, he peeks at me.
“Go get one of the cars ready. You know where the garage is. We are going now,” I say.
He frowns, but one scathing look from me silences any rebuke he might’ve had coming. “Nah. I’m tired. I’m going to sleep. Goodnight.”
This infuriating brat…
But he’s gone before I can challenge him, leaving me and Ria alone. I halt at the door. She seems unbothered, her eyes not leaving Julian who’s stalking down the patio tunnel. Something dark and possessive rises inside me, clutching my chest.
“Don’t mistake this for an alliance. We are simply using each other because we have a common goal and because Julian insisted,” I warn her, punctuating each word.
“Oh. I’m aware.” Her gaze darts to me, lingers for a moment as if she’s contemplating something, and then returns to observing my aggravating trickster husband.
I brace. I don’t know for what, but my body stiffens. “And I’d appreciate it if you kept your hands off my husband.”
She hums, giving me a once-over. There is still no hint of fear in her, even though I could end her life right here and now if I wanted to. “Interesting, considering he tricked you into it. But, ah, I think I know the struggle.”
I let my hand drop from the doorframe, but block the exit so she can’t leave. “And what might you be referring to?”
She’s got that thoughtful look on her again, but this time it’s accompanied by a conceited smile that fuels the budding chaos inside me.
“Oh… Julian didn’t tell you? He and I were supposed to get married.
To strengthen the relationship between our two families and our fathers’ businesses.
It was going to be announced at the merger…
but I guess neither is really happening anymore. For more than one reason.”
For a moment, I have nothing. The revelation drops through me and settles low and cold, rearranging everything I thought I understood about tonight.
I keep my hand easy on the doorframe. I keep my face still.
I let none of it surface. Julian didn’t say anything about this…
Is that why he’s been acting so strange?
The looks, the touching, the strange hedging, not daring meet my eyes?
A million and one scenarios invade my mind.
Are they planning something? But he’s mine now, she can’t have him. I won’t allow it.
“Perhaps I’ve said too much.” She brushes past me, then turns around.
“I don’t usually go after married men, don’t worry.
” I clench my hands, my claws extending and digging into my flesh.
Her eyes snap to the single drop of blood I let come out, twinkling with something I can’t decipher.
“But let’s not get sidetracked. Our focus is the investigation.
Let me know what you find at the apartment.
I’ll call you if something pops up on my end. ”