Page 6 of Retribution

‘What the fuck?’ I snarl.

He shakes his head. ‘Don’t get riled. They’ll just get security to escort us out. Pop messaged me. Said he’s coming…’ Shade’s eyes narrow as he looks at the floor. ‘Had a meeting to finish up.’

‘That sonofabitch.’ I sink down next to him. ‘What about Blake?’

‘He’s down the hall. Smoke inhalation was worse than ours. He has a couple burns, too. Nothing major though, they said. He’s on oxygen and his hand is bandaged up, but he’ll be okay. He’s awake. I told him Daisy’s here. He was freaking out when he came ’round.’

I sit back and take a breath. ‘This is so fucked.’

Shade doesn’t say anything.

‘Who did this?’ I snarl low.

‘I think we know who it probably is.’ Shade glances at me.

I nod. ‘The stalker.’

‘But let’s go through the other suspects anyway,’ he murmurs. ‘Make sure we’re not missing something.’

He puts up finger. ‘Sauvage. He wouldn’t hinder Envy production.’

‘What about the Garretts?’ I wonder aloud.

He frowns, his next finger joining the first.

‘Not really their M.O.. And why? Sark is getting his cut. They don’t care what we do so long as they get paid and we stay out of their business. Plus, Lu is Daisy’s bestie and Pop Pop Garrett knows it. I mean, he literally met her the other day at the play. Everyone knows Lu is his favorite. He wouldn’t do something to hurt Daisy unless he had to.’

‘’Who else is there? And why would they hit the Novelle Center at the same time?’ I mutter. ‘It has to be the same guy. And I feel like it keeps coming back to Daisy.’

Shade lets out a breath. ‘Agreed. I think we can safely assume he did this. Maybe he’s sent her something. A note. An email.’

I nod. ‘He does seem to be ramping up. This. Detective Black’s murder. He’s getting impatient. Blake hasn’t found anything else in the footage from the cameras to go on?’

My friend closes his eyes and leans his head back, shaking it slightly. ‘Nothing from the Forrests’ Christmas Gala either. I found the butler who gave Daisy the note, but it was laying on a table in the foyer by the front door. Anyone coming in and out that night could have left it there while the party was in full swing. No one noticed anything and there was nothing on their cameras either.’

‘This fucker has resources. He’s connected. Has to be.’

‘Yeah.’

After that, we don’t talk anymore. We wait out in the hallway for three hours with no one telling us anything. Our questions are met with apologies and shrugs, some with outright animosity as if we were the ones who hurt Daisy. And no one will let us in to even see our girl until John Novelle says it’s okay.

I seethe in my chair until the sonofabitch finally shows up.

I see him first, sauntering up the hallway with his phone in his hand. He glances up and nods at Shade.

‘My secretary said your stepsister has been in some kind of accident.’ He yawns. ‘Not a great time. What did she get mixed up in now, Jack?’

Like this is on Daisy, her fault. Like her getting hurt is an inconvenience tohim.

My eyes narrow at John and my fists clench. But I reel in my anger. Instead, I glance at Shade, wondering how he’s going to spin what happened.

‘At the club.Ourclub. Gas main caused an explosion.’

John’s eyebrows rise a tad. ‘I told you that building was a liability when you bought it.’

Shade doesn’t rise to the bait though. He gestures to Daisy’s room. ‘They won’t give us any information on her condition without you here.’

John nods, looking a little smug, and everything in me coils tight. God, I want to crack his skull against the wall so badly that I have to sit back down in case I launch myself at him.