Echo(78)

“Needless to say, I wasn’t surprised when I discovered your affair,” he says condescendingly. “What did surprise me was when I found out you were nothing but runaway street trash.”

“What’s your point, Richard?”

“Why did you marry him?”

“Because I loved him,” I lie. “Nothing wrong with reinventing yourself to get a fresh start in life.”

“Except when the person you reinvented yourself for winds up dead.”

“You’re an *,” I sling at him in mock disgust.

“I just have one question . . . who did it? Who did you have off him?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“How convenient, but I don’t think the cops would buy it if I turned over all the information I have on you.”

“You’re so cute,” I sneer, pissing him off. “You think your threats have an effect on me? Why don’t you just tell me what you’re after and stop wasting my time.”

“No bullshit, cut to the chase?”

“Please.”

In all seriousness, he tells me, “I need money.” I laugh, and he snaps, “What the f*ck is so funny?”

“You.” I sit back, cross my legs, and ask, “Why on earth would you be coming to me, of all people, for money?”

“Because I trust you to keep that pretty little mouth of yours shut if anyone were to come asking questions.”

“What do you need money for?”

“You haven’t been watching the news?”

“I’ve been a little preoccupied to be keeping up with American news.”

He shakes his head with an arrogant smirk, and I cross my arms in irritation. “Enlighten me. Please.”

“Linq Incorporated is under investigation. I thought you’d know that by now since your lover’s father has been sitting in jail for his part in the fraud.”

“What?” I question, confused as to what the hell Cal has to do with my husband’s business and what was fraudulent about the company. “What fraud?”

“The company’s just a front for washing money.”

“Money from what?”

Richard then stands and walks across the room. When he’s right in front of me, I freeze as he reaches his hand inside his suit jacket. “Guns,” he states as he pulls out his own and aims it at me.

Adrenaline flushes through my system as I stare into the barrel of the pistol that’s marked me as its target. I try to appear calm, but my staggering breaths are my tell—I’m scared.

“I want what was left to you in Bennett’s will. You give me that and I’ll disappear. You’ll never hear from me again.”

“I don’t . . . He didn’t . . . ” I stutter over my words. “I didn’t get everything.”

“You’re lying to me. I know you’re the sole heir.”

Shaking my head, I try to explain, “I thought I was, but . . . he changed it before he died. I didn’t know until I met with the attorney.”

He scowls, takes another step closer, and presses the cold steel to my forehead. I gasp in fear, clutching the arms of the chair as my heart beats in erratic terror.

My voice is pitchy when I frantically explain, “Look, if what y-your wanting is m-money to flee, I-I don’t have that much for you. I mean . . . it wouldn’t be enough.”

“Then where is it?”

The desperation in his eyes makes me fear what he would do if I told him the truth. He’d most likely lose his shit and pull that trigger if he knew about his son being Bennett’s. But beyond that, what the hell was Bennett doing with his company? Did he even know? My mind warps in confusion, overwhelmed with too many questions, that I begin to lose focus.

“Where is it?” he shouts, scaring the shit out of me with his murderous glare.

The tip of the gun shakes against my head as I look up into his furiously crazed eyes, and I begin trembling. My whole body jittery in fear.

“I-I don’t know.”

WHACK!

I scream in heated pain as I fall out of my chair and onto the floor. My hand cups the side of my head where he just pummeled his gun. The blunt force sparking a fire of light in my vision as I fight against the sharp agony that pierces through my skull.

He stands over me, pointing the gun at my face, and I wail, “Okay! Okay!” I throw my hands up in surrender.