A Matter Of Justice (Grey Justice #4)(80)

“Actually, no. I added this little addition a year or so ago. I had it decorated just for special events. You’re my first guest.”

“That makes me feel all warm and cozy. What happens now?”

“We have a discussion.”

“About what?”

“Don’t you want to know why you’re here?”

“Because you’re a sick, twisted, perverted creep of a weasel who kidnapped a little girl and a nun.”

Another smile, this one pure evil. “You think that’s the worst thing I’ve done?”

She gave him a bored look. “I’m sure you think you’re some sort of Big Bad, but you’re nothing more than a slimy worm to me.”

“Your insults won’t change what’s going to happen here.”

“Then let’s get on with it, shall we?”

“You don’t want to know how I knew about the house in Colorado?”

For now, she was content to let him talk. His ego would be the death of him.

“You have little spies running all around the world. Information is easy to obtain if you find the right person and have a bit of money. So no, I’m not that interested.”

“Very well, then. Do you want to know why I hate you so much?”

“Hmm. Let’s see. Because I’m better than you? Because I was being groomed to be Hill’s successor? Because our father loved me more than he loved you?”

All those things would slice into his insecurities, but her last statement would hurt him the most.

His face flickered with intense hatred for a moment. Then, as if a light switch had been flipped on, a triumphant and smug expression replaced the anger, preparing her before he asked the next question, “So tell me, how did it feel to kill your brother?”

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“But of course. Though I would have been happy to have Kevin kill Justice, the way it worked out was much more satisfying. Poor little Irelyn having to choose between her brother and her lover. Oh how I would have enjoyed being there.”

Allowing him to see her pain would only make his joy greater. She refused to give him an ounce of satisfaction. “I wish you had been there, too. Then I could have killed you as well.”

His smile dimmed at her emotionless reply but he didn’t let up. “You’re not fooling me. He’s the reason you broke into the records room. You wanted to find your brother. Maybe have a little family reunion. Instead you killed him.”

Memories of that fatal moment would haunt her for the rest of her life. Damned if Dark would know that though. She snorted softly. “You really think it bothered me to kill another assassin? He was nothing to me. Just one more monster that needed to die.”

“You think you’re so tough, so smart. That you know so much. But you don’t know anything. You don’t even know why you’re being punished.”

“Is that what this is? Punishment?”

“It will be. But we learned from our wonderful father that punishment does no good if you don’t know the reason. You remember him, don’t you, Irelyn? Hill Reed? The man you killed.”

Okay, that surprised her. It was only thanks to the man she had killed that she was able to hide her shock. Only a handful of people knew what she had done. Who had ratted her out?

“You’re not going to deny it?”

“Why would I deny something I’m so proud of?”

“For that alone, you will suffer greatly before you die.” He came closer, stood in front of her. “Want to know how I know you killed our father?”

Since she really did want to know, and it was obvious he wanted to tell her, she remained silent.

“I knew he was having dinner with you that night.”

“So what? That doesn’t mean I killed him. If I remember correctly, he was found in a hotel in Luxembourg two days after our dinner meeting.”

“Ah yes, all very mysterious. Nothing to trace back to you and Justice. But I know the truth. Want to know how I know?”

She sighed as if bored. “I believe you’ve already asked that question.”

“Because Reed was going to kill you that night.”

Another bombshell she hadn’t expected, but it made perfect sense. Over the years, she had met with Hill for the occasional meal and a bit of information sharing. She had never revealed anything that couldn’t be uncovered by a little legwork. In turn, she had gleaned information from him.

That last dinner, though, was set up for one reason only. She had arranged it to finally end Reed’s life. And he obviously had been ready to do the same to her. She’d just gotten there first.

“He was going to retire, but wanted to tie up loose ends. You were a loose end.”

She had to laugh. What a screwed-up life she’d lived.

“You think this is funny?”

“Well, yeah. Don’t you? I mean, I go there to end him and get it done before he can do it to me. Neither one of us expects it from the other. My timing has always been a bit off, but I have to say, in this instance, it was impeccable.”

“You’ll pay for that, you bitch.”

“Yes, yes. So you’ve said. I did the deed. What more is there to say?”

“For starters, how about you’re sorry?”