Page 151 of Obsession

“This isn’t bribery. Skylar read me the riot act. She was right. I was wrong, and I should’ve been honest with you. She said to grovel. This, Violet, is me groveling. You’ll find those high-heeled boots in the closet when you pack to go.”

“Which ones?” I ask him hesitantly.

“All of them.”

All of them?

He doesn’t sound as if he’s trying to manipulate me, but I can’t help but wonder… is he?

And this is why we can’t work together anymore. I’ll always wonder if he’s trying to manipulate me, trying to get me back into his good graces. I can’ttrustthe man.

“The team’s assembled at the Willows,” he says in a tight voice, his eyes trained over my shoulder. It’s highly populated during the summer, but in the cooler months, there are far fewer pedestrians and civilians nearby.

“It’s so crowded there, though,” I say thoughtfully.

He nods. “It won’t be. Joe’s making sure there will be very few people there when we arrive.”

I nod. I don’t even want to know how Joe’s planning this.

“Okay.”

“Let’s go. I’ll explain on the way.”

We’re halfway to the Willows when his phone rings. Henri.

“Yeah. What is it?” Cain has zero patience.

“I looked through the diary Violet’s mom left behind. All the initials correspond to the names of people who were killed on those dates, and I believe the number next to them corresponds with the payout she received. There were not one but two Castellano deaths attributed to unnamed snipers that year, sir. Not on public record, but I have some resources I pulled together.”

“Good to know. Have we found Armand’s location?”

Silence for a full minute.

“Henri?”

“We did, sir, but you’re not going to like it.”

“Why not?” Cain’s voice is tight. “Why the hell not?”

“Because he’s… he’s been here the whole time, sir. We found a camp in the basement that we thought was vacant, but now know he’s been using for his hiding spot. Not often by the looks of it, but he’s come here more than once.”

I curse under my breath.

“We fingerprinted the place and found for sure he was there. As for his current location, I suspect your plan to bait him at the Willows is sound, sir.”

They disconnect.

“He suspects,” Cain mutters. “Well, I suspect my staff’s in deep shit for not finding out Armand was sneaking around our property.”

I nod. “I understand.”

He looks at me sharply, then turns away again.

We pull up to the Willows, and he parks his truck. He blows out a breath when he faces me. “So…”

“So,” I respond, wrapping my arms on my chest.

“We’re supposed to pretend we’re in love.”

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