Page 8 of Fate's Unseen Shadow

“No,” Slater said, making it loud enough for Ella to turn his direction. “We’re not.”

She seemed to take the first real breath since walking into the apartment.

Ryker snorted. “Get this. One of the agents made a note that says that Julia Cassin directly told them you were the killer. That’s all they have. Ridiculous you’re on the run. No jury will pin this on you. I’m sure Slater will help you contact the FBI, explain why you ran, get things smoothed over.”

“Sure thing, sweetheart,” Slater said.

“Don’t call me sweetheart.” Ella’s matter-of-fact tone, full of pure authority, seemed to catch them all off guard.

Slater caught it, too. He smirked. “What about honey?”

“No.” A simple word, said with a slight tilt of her nose in the air, like a dare.

Wrong thing to do with Slater. “Sugar?”

Ella stayed quiet.

“Baby?”

At her silent, deadly stare, he chuckled. “No to all my nicknames, huh? Fine. Ms. Ella, you say the word, and I’ll make sure the police listen to me before I give them your whereabouts. And I promise I won’t even collect on the money since Damon looks like he’d enjoy smashing my face in if I did.”

“I would enjoy it,sugar,” Damon shot back, causing Ryker to snort with a laugh.

She looked at each man until she turned back to Damon. “I can hire the best lawyer in the country and this shit won’t even go to court. No, I don’t want to be arrested and go through all that, but that’s not why I ran. If the police pin this on me, then they aren’t looking for the real killer. If you want to help, I need you to do that. Find the man who killed Teddy.” She wrapped her arms around her abdomen. “I need you to find the killer so they don’t kill me next.”

4

It took every ounce of her control to keep her composure in the room with these men. Especially Slater. Damon seemed to be a good guy. Ryker appeared nice. But Slater was the wild card for trust. And Xavier just seemed confused at this point.

Damon held her by the shoulders, bringing her closer. “Do you really think the stalker is Teddy’s killer and he’s still looking for you?”

“Yes.”

“Why him? It could’ve been a one-time hit. Followed Theodore home. Hoped to get some cash or?—”

“Nothing was reported stolen by his mother,” Ryker said. “He had three hundred in his wallet, still in his pocket.”

She yawned, feeling the crushing weight of sheer exhaustion. God, she was tired. “It’s the stalker.”

“What about a bad business deal?” Damon asked.

She moved away from him, his presence distracting and adding to the frustration. Passing Slater, she walked to the window. The parking lot stood empty aside from the men’s cars. Hers sat parked toward the back in the shade, out of sight.“There were no bad business deals. I did all the business deals for the company.”

“For Cassin Systems?” Xavier still held his phone in his hand, like he’d been frozen by discovering who she was. “You’re in charge? I thought your stepbrother ran it. He was CEO, right? I thought that was your motive for killing him. Jealousy.” He halfway smiled. “Sorry. I’ve followed your news story.”

“He was CEO. Dad gave him that role, but it’s structured that way for a reason. It’s a high-level position. Teddy studied everything as a whole from the top down. I didn’t have the time to keep an eye on the daily operations. Not while looking ahead and deciding our next move.” She crossed her arms and faced the room again. “It is my company. I own it. Teddy reports to me. Everyone was fine with that arrangement except for Julia, Teddy’s mother. My ex-stepmother has never been happy with anything pertaining to me since my father passed away.”

“What does that mean?” Damon crossed the room to her.

“Julia thought my father should have left the company to her.”

Slater chuckled. “That doesn’t make any damn sense. You’re his daughter. You work in the company. Based on what you said, youarethe company. Why would a person who’d been married to him for a handful of years think she could take that over?”

“Tale as old as time. I always assumed she was with him for the money. She never acted like it, and he loved her, I know, but she loves money. Clothes. Jewelry. And thankfully, the judge agreed with me when she protested the will.” Ella ran a hand through her hair, the short length still catching her by surprise. “I need my company back. Because when I left, the contingency plan within the company meant full control fell to Teddy. With Teddy dead, Julia probably took control. Not sure anyone is listening to her, but the idea she has any influence overmycompany pisses me off.” With a huff, she turned back to thewindow. “And I don’t know what’s scarier. Someone trying to kill me, going to jail for Teddy’s murder, or watching the company my father builtand I devoted my life tobecoming her piggy bank. The idea makes me sick.”

“Who is trying to kill you?” Slater asked.

Ella rolled her eyes before sending him an annoyed glare. “If I knew that, I wouldn’t be here, would I?”

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