Page 129 of Winning Bid

“It broke my heart to see her that way. Anderson … he had been in fight. Bloodied, bruised. Clothes torn.”

“And Mr. Johnson?”

“Dead on floor.”

“What condition was Mr. Johnson’s body in when you arrived?”

“Beaten. Bloody.” He shrugs.

Tanner asks, “What happened next?”

“I gave them tasks to hide evidence ...” He details everything we did that night.

I feel sick. I can’t believe he’s doing this to me. Some part of me wants to hang onto the idea that he’s a good guy in an impossible position. But I’m just a guy he knows. His former boss. I thought we had a bond. I took a bullet for the man. Shouldn’t that buy me some kind of loyalty? I feel like an idiot for thinking we were ever anything but employer and employee.

I was nothing but a job to him. This is one hell of a resignation letter.

Worst of all, Dad won’t let this go. But I can’t let him hurt Moss’ family. No matter how this betrayal stings, I won’t let Dad punish them.

Tanner Walsh glowers at Dana. “Your witness.” Then he sits, looking so pleased with himself that I half expect him to pour a congratulatory martini right here and now.

Dana’s words are clipped as she speaks. “Mr. Kravchenko, why are you testifying today?”

“I have no choice.”

“And why is that?”

“My van was caught on cameras that night. A man at the dock saw us carry the haddock out. Either I testify with full immunity, or I go to prison.” He bows his head, his tone apologetic. “I cannot go to prison ever again.”

I guess that’s something. I just hope it’s enough to stop Dad from retaliating against him and his family. For that matter, I wonder if Dad’s already texted someone to go after them. I have to intervene.

Moss betrayed me, but I won’t let his family pay the price.

“No further questions, Mr. Kravchenko.”

“You’re free to go,” Judge Ackerman says.

As Moss climbs down from the stand, he can’t bring himself to look at us. Can’t say I blame him. But Dad gets in his way. He doesn’t say a word. He just looks him in the eye. Then he steps aside, letting Moss pass.

I definitely have to talk to Dad. And soon.

Chapter Sixty-One-June

Once the front door is closed, the first words he says are, “Pizza. Extra everything, the works. Let’s be bad tonight.” But it turns out neither of us is that hungry. Once the pie arrives, we just pick at it. “I’m glad I got Dad under control before we left.”

“Do you really think he’d do something to Moss’ family?”

“Da.”

I shudder, hearing that. “Don’t sound like that traitor.”

“I don’t want to believe he’s a traitor, even now.”

“I know we’ve been married for, like, five minutes at this point, and over the decades to come, you’re going to get sick of me saying this, but I blame your father.”

He frowns. “For Neil?”

“No, genius, for you wanting to see the best in Moss!”

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