Razed (Barnes Brothers #2)(91)
“Sir, you cannot go back there—”
The voice from the front caught Keelie’s attention and she turned her head just in time to see a tall, slim man push past the receptionist with careless arrogance.
His head was averted. “He’ll see me. Why don’t you bring some coffee back?”
“Sir, he’s in a meeting,” the receptionist said and her tone dripped with cool professionalism.
“Is he now?”
Even before he turned to look at the room, Keelie knew.
Drawing her shoulders back, she braced herself.
His eyes glanced off her without really seeing her. He looked at Paul, eyes narrowing slightly. “Well, haven’t seen you in a while, Jenkins.”
Then he shifted his attention to Howie.
“Howie, man. You’re not returning my calls.”
“Mr. Vissing. If you want to speak to me, it’s best your attorney set up a meeting.” Howie stared at him, his eyes sharp as a blade, although his tone was just . . . smooth. Slick and full of Southern-boy charm.
“No reason for that. Yet.” Price smiled and then looked around. “Are you wrapping up here? We really do need to talk.”
Keelie stared at him, hard, seeing past the slick exterior, the polished suit, to the arrogant son of a bitch. Her heart kicked up harder, her hand curled into a fist.
Don’t. Don’t.
She had to be careful, she knew it.
She wasn’t going to let him ruin this . . . again.
The Vissing family had ruined enough.
Don’t. Don’t.
But she couldn’t stop herself from staring at him.
That must have been what did it.
His gaze slid to her, away.
And then back again.
His eyes widened.
His mouth opened in shock.
“Katherine.”
Howie said something, but the words were lost in the roar of blood crashing in her ears.
Paul caught her arm. She glanced at him, smiled. All the years of hiding everything, locking it all down inside, rushed to the fore and saved her.
Turning her head back, she studied her stepbrother through narrowed eyes, let a faint, dismissive smirk dance around her lips for a moment before she looked back at Howie. “You’ll let me know if there’s any other way I can help, won’t you?”
“Of course.” Howie inclined his head and his eyes gleamed with what she could only describe as a predatory sort of glee.
She’d faced Price.
Faced him, and she hadn’t folded.
He wouldn’t—couldn’t—bend her.
“Wonderful.” With one more nod, she looked at Paul.
He held out his arm. “My dear.”
“Katherine,” Price said again, his voice low, but the command there was unmistakable.
She slid him a curious look. He would never know she wanted to hit him. Could even see herself doing it. It would feel so very good.
But that wasn’t the ultimate satisfaction. He’d go down . . . for a few minutes.
She wanted to see him go down, publicly, and for so much longer.
“You’ll have to excuse us,” she said as they walked around him. “Paul and I have so much to discuss.”
He shot out a hand to catch her arm.
She’d been prepared and edged back, lifted a brow as their gazes connected once more.
His smile was strained. “I’m sure we do as well. It’s been a long time. We should do dinner. My treat.”
“That . . . wouldn’t be a good idea,” she said, shaking her head. “Paul, if you’re ready? It’s been a long day.”
That didn’t even touch on it.
Chapter Eighteen
Late that night, she sat on the bed in her hotel room, staring out over the twinkling lights.
There really wasn’t that much to Lexington, she realized. Small, really. She’d lived in Dallas for a year, then moved to Tucson.
Knees drawn up to her chest, she continued to stare outside, willing her mind to stay blank.
Paul had called Howie once he had her tucked in the room he’d booked for her. She’d insisted he let her know what Howie said. Howie was a little irritated over Price’s unexpected appearance in his office, but he wasn’t too concerned.
Yes, now he knew—in advance—that she’d be coming, but the lawyers would have figured that out soon anyway.
Price would go to court.
Alice Reyes wasn’t going to give up.
The date was already set.
So far, nothing Price had thrown at her had shaken her determination and, now with the information Keelie had provided, it was just going to be another strike against the *.
No, they might not get a conviction and Reyes seemed to get that.
But she wasn’t looking just for a conviction.
She was looking for vindication and she wanted the world to know what Price Vissing was, wanted the world to understand before people helped put him in office.
The scandal alone would do him considerable damage.
Keelie was betting on it.
Resting her chin on her knees, she closed her eyes. “I wish I could have done the same for you, Toria.”
Wherever Victoria Kingsley was, this wasn’t going to offer her any justice, but it was the only thing Keelie could give her.