A Matter Of Justice (Grey Justice #4)(67)

“How was your first meeting?”

“Polite, but with an edge. Like he was trying too hard, maybe. I remember him from the old days. Back then, Reed called him Pippin, said it sounded weak and that’s what he was. I don’t know how or why his name was changed to Sebastian Dark.

“He was small for his size, and Reed often allowed others to use him as a punching bag. As you know, Reed was good at finding what scared you most and using it to either punish you or reward you. Allowing others to beat him up was Reed’s method of tough love. Dark finally had a growth spurt, and the beatings stopped, but that kind of pain never really leaves you.”

Grey slid an arm around her shoulder and hugged her to him. Irelyn’s training had been like that, and worse. It would never leave her, but damn, she was strong.

“How long were you there before you went for the files?”

“I had to do it the night I arrived. Dark made it clear I wouldn’t be there long. I had hoped to insert myself back into the social scene there. I thought I could gather intel on who might be behind your contract. After I arrived, though, I realized that wasn’t going to be possible. The house was almost empty. I think Dark’s having leadership difficulties. He had plenty of guards, though. Looking back on it now, it was way too easy to get to the records room.”

Considering she’d been confronted by two of those trained guards, easy was definitely a relative term. He wouldn’t even allow himself to think about what would have happened if she hadn’t been able to get away.

“Maybe Dark’s careless.”

“No. He’s calculating, meticulous…a perfectionist. And he’s much more into technology than Reed ever was. He’s got the money to have all the records transferred digitally, but he hasn’t.”

“So you think everything was a setup?”

“I didn’t then, but I was so focused on getting what I needed and getting out.” She shrugged. “That wouldn’t have stopped me. I had to do it. In hindsight, though, I can see where so many things were too damn convenient.” She raised her head and shifted slightly to look up at him. “So what’s his reasoning?”

“Could he have wanted you to find your brother?”

“You mean in an altruistic ‘let me reunite a family’ kind of way? No, that’s not Dark. He might be different from Reed in many ways, but he’s just as evil.”

“Maybe he wanted you to have to choose, me or your brother.”

“Now that’s something I could definitely see him wanting to do. But why? What’s his endgame?”

“Who the hell knows? What I do know is that he’s a dangerous psychopath who’s not going to just stop on his own. If he wants to hurt you, he’ll keep trying.”

“I know.” She dropped her head back onto his shoulder, pressed her face against him. “So what are we going to do?”

His chest went tight, and several seconds passed before Grey was able to speak. They were back to working together again, to being Grey and Irelyn, indomitable, inseparable. He had feared the gulf between them would never be bridged.

His voice thicker than usual, he answered, “We’re going to do what we do best. We’re going to stop him.”





Chapter Twenty-Seven





The meal was the best she’d eaten in a long while. Even though the food was just a simple broccoli and cauliflower casserole, she devoured her dinner like it was the most delicious of gourmet feasts.

She knew her enjoyment had more to do with the man she dined with than the taste of the food. Things felt right between them. There were still things to discuss, problems to solve, but for right now, she reveled in being with Grey once again. No secrets, no evasions.

They talked about nonconsequential things, nothing heavy or business related. He told her about the theater and what he had done to renovate it.

“But why did you buy it? I thought you were interested in turning that Victorian house you liked into a B&B.”

His eyes glinted with laughter. “And that’s exactly what I wanted you to think.”

“But why?”

“I wanted to give it to you as a gift.”

Her throat clogged, and unexpected tears burned her eyes. He had never given her anything like that. Jewelry, a first-edition book by a favorite author, a painting or work of art she had admired. He had occasionally gone whimsical and surprised her with something frivolous and silly. But this? This was beyond anything he had ever done.

“You had me completely fooled.”

“The biggest problem was keeping it out of the news until I could get it finished. I’m sure the workmen thought I was the most eccentric of businessmen, since I asked them to only enter through the back and requested they not discuss the project with anyone.”

Their projects each year had been one of their joys. She’d driven by the park they’d renovated on the way to her secret visit to Kennedy and had loved seeing children running and playing in an area that was once a mass of weeds and broken-down swings.

“I can’t wait to explore it.”

“I have a confession.”

“What’s that?”

“When we were walking through it that first time, I had my phone in my pocket recording the ideas you threw out. I wanted to get it as close to your vision of it as possible.”