The Killing Game(27)

“I thought there were reserves,” Andi said.

“You want to talk to the accountant, be my guest,” he snapped. “I didn’t call this meeting because I thought either of you had anything to contribute. I called it because you need to wake the f*ck up!”

“We’re not selling to the Carreras,” Emma stated positively.

“Then let’s hear your ideas on making money,” Carter demanded. “The lottery? Gold buried in the backyard? A genie in a bottle?”

“Don’t be such a dick.”

“Emma and I didn’t know we were in financial trouble,” Andi cut in quickly, worried that Emma might hurl the crystal ashtray in the center of the table at her brother. “But whatever. The Carreras stay out of it.”

“Oh, you get to decide?” His blue eyes were cold.

“Brian Carrera threatened me at my club. Threatened all of us.”

Emma blinked at Andi as if trying to focus, and Carter demanded, “Threatened us? When? What did he say?”

“Yesterday. He said to be sure to tell you both that the Carreras make better friends than enemies, and that accidents happen.”

“Oh my God.” Emma blinked.

“Carrera belongs to your club?” Carter asked.

“He was on the treadmill next to me.”

“Holy shit,” Emma said on another hiccup.

Carter turned on her in a flash of anger. “Pull it together, Emma. I mean it. This is serious, if Andi’s telling the truth.”

“If I’m telling the truth?” Andi could feel her blood pressure spiking, had an image of red liquid shooting up a thermometer. Not good for the baby.

“I just meant—” he began, but Emma ran right over him.

“They’re killers. Maybe they haven’t been caught, but they killed Ted Bellows. We all know it.”

“That was an accident,” Carter snapped.

“Another accident?” Emma asked.

Carter turned his angry gaze on Andi. “So, they killed Ted Bellows and Greg?”

“All I know is that Brian Carrera threatened me, us, and I believe we need to protect ourselves,” Andi said. “What kind of security do we have at the lodge? What about ourselves? My cabin was broken into and somebody put a note on one of the beds that’s still there. It said, Little birds need to fly. And I think the Carreras put it there.”

“What?” Carter asked.

“What!” Emma practically shrieked at the same moment.

“Must be a play on our last name. Whatever. I’ve decided to be proactive. Yesterday I hired Luke Denton to help investigate the Carreras, pick up where his partner left off, at least legally, and bring them down. He also offered me personal protection.”

“Who?” Emma asked, looking dazed.

“That detective?” Carter asked. “The guy who falsified evidence . . . uh, Boucher’s . . . partner?”

“Bolchoy. And yes, Luke worked homicide with him at the Portland PD.”

“Luke?” Carter repeated.

“Yes, Luke,” Andi said evenly.

“What kind of personal protection?” he questioned, and Andi resented the insinuation in his tone.

“Any kind I need,” she answered.

“God, I need a drink,” Emma expelled.

“You’re already drunk. And it’s barely ten,” he railed at her. “Where’s Ben? Call him and have him pick you up.”

“Fuck you!” Emma shot to her feet, dropping her purse, which spilled its contents all over the floor. She bent down to pick up the items and half fell out of her chair. In a fury she slammed items back into her purse, spitting mad. “You . . . can go to hell, you f*cking, smirking bastard! Hell! Along with the f*cking Carrera brothers!”

She flounced out of the room, her exit slightly ruined when she caught the strap of her purse on the door handle. She practically ripped it in two as she yanked it free.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Carter growled, “You should have told me about all this before.”

“I’ve told you now.”

He slammed a fist on the table. “No wonder he was smirking, the shit.”

“What are you talking about?”

Carter was coldly angry. “The county planner wasn’t the only meeting I had yesterday. I met Blake Carrera at Lacey’s and we had what I thought was a meeting of the minds. I’m having papers drawn up to sell them the Allencore cabins as soon as title clears.”

“You can’t!” Andi flared.

“We need money.”

“You didn’t even check with me and Emma? You can’t do that!”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake. I still need both of your signatures. You think I wanted to have this meeting and have to beg and coerce you guys into signing? Jesus H. Christ. I’ll tell ya, Emma’s not the only one who needs a drink!”

He slammed out after Emma and Andi got up from her chair and stalked to the window, breathing hard. She was infuriated.

Get this out of your head. This isn’t helping. Maybe Carter’s right and they needed money, but selling to the Carreras? Over her dead body!

She flicked a look out the window and saw a man walking across the front parking lot four stories below. Her heart clutched. It sure as hell looked like one of the Carreras.