She Can Hide (She Can #4)(69)

“My dear.” Ryland rounded his desk and held both of his hands out to her. Over a sad smile, his eyes shone with a mixture of heartache and regret, the two emotions she most associated with him. She didn’t run to him with open arms. They hadn’t parted on the best of terms.

His face sagged with displeasure at her rebuff. “Thank you, Randolph. You may leave us.”

Randolph gave Abby a doubtful glance, but Ryland nodded. The security guard closed the door as he exited.

Abby glanced away from Ryland. Behind him, a wall of glass overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. The forecasted storm hadn’t arrived yet, but heavy white chop on the dark water told her nasty weather was blowing up the coast.

She blinked away from the mesmerizing seascape.

He walked to her side. “Let me get you a drink. Wine?”

She sidestepped out of reach. “Just water, please.”

Her head was already foggy. Too much espresso instead of food and sleep.

Without touching her, he herded her toward the other side of the room, where a long, low sofa and two boxy chairs formed a conversation area. “You look tired. Have you eaten?”

“No, but I’m not hungry.” The muscles of her thighs trembled. Anxiety or exhaustion? Both, she decided, plus the jitters from her caffeine overload.

“Well, I am.” Ryland steered her toward the couch. He picked up a phone from an end table and murmured instructions into the receiver.

As she sank into the black leather, blood rushed in her ears and drowned out the sound of Ryland’s voice. What was she doing here? Saving Derek and his mother, she hoped. But at what cost? It felt like she was offering herself up on a silver platter. Perhaps she should have ordered an apple for her mouth.

Ryland went to a sideboard and poured water from a carafe into a crystal tumbler. He handed it to her and sat on the sofa next to her. He leaned forward, forearms on his knees, fingers intertwined, studying her.

“What’s going on, Ryland?”

He turned slightly until he was partially facing her. “What do you mean?”

“Someone is out to get me.”

“That sounds paranoid.”

“It isn’t paranoid if it’s true.”

“You make a good point.” Ryland leaned back. His expression turned pensive. He was deciding how much to tell her.

Anger burned through Abby’s exhaustion. His all-powerful, controlling attitude always ticked her off. Reining in her temper, she waited. She’d learned one thing from Ryland. Silence was a powerful negotiating tool.

“I know about the recent attempts on your life. Honestly, I don’t know why you are being targeted. But I am looking into the matter as we speak.”

“Do you know who is trying to hurt me?”

“No.” A slight shift in his eyes gave him away. Oh yeah. He definitely knew more than he was willing to say.

“But you have suspicions?”

“Maybe.” Ryland got up and walked to the bar. He poured himself a short glass of scotch and returned to his seat. Buying time, no doubt, while he carefully phrased his thoughts. “I am in the process of ceasing my activity in a certain trade. My business associates are unhappy with my decision.”

Ryland was the master of vaguely specific statements.

Abby sat up straighter. “You’re going straight?”

“As an arrow, as the saying goes.” Ryland’s mouth flattened in a tight smile. “I’ve been moving in that direction for several years.”

“How many years?”

“A little over three.”

So he’d started backing off the illegal operations right before…oh my God. The truth was a metaphorical smack to the back of Abby’s head. “Right before I was kidnapped.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think it was related?” Abby’s mind whirled. “Do you think Faulkner was hired by one of your partners? It would explain why he never took the stand.”

Ryland scratched his chin. “I don’t think so. No one ever claimed responsibility, made threats, or contacted me with ransom terms. Messages not delivered aren’t very effective as methods of persuasion.”

“So you didn’t think it was about you.”

“Three years ago, I couldn’t see how your kidnapping could’ve been related to my business.” Ryland sipped his scotch. “Though it’s possible Faulkner was supposed to deliver the message and didn’t follow through. Still, if one of my enemies was behind your capture, the ball Faulkner dropped would’ve been picked up and carried by someone else.”

A knock sounded on the door.

“Come in,” Ryland commanded.

A waiter in a black suit carried a tray. He set it on the table and removed the silver domes from dishes of cheese, crackers, and fruit. A plate of finger sandwiches, a pot of coffee, and a bottle of red wine rounded out the snack.

Ryland waited for the server to exit. Then he waved at the food. “Please eat something. You’re exhausted. You’ll be able to think clearer with food in your body.”

He was right. Abby reached for a slice of cheese.

Ryland’s intercom buzzed. He picked up the phone. Scowling, his gaze snapped to Abby’s face.

“Bring him in.” Anger radiated from his eyes as he got to his feet. “You shouldn’t have.”