Page 21 of Claiming Veronica

I sent the required texts to Maxim, my sister, and the girl squad, then silenced my phone immediately.

Me: All clear

I entered the address into the GPS and eased the Range Rover out of the parking spot after turning up the radio.

Victor’s leased property was on the other side of Phoenix, so I had about a twenty-minute drive. It was an office building with a warehouse on thebackside. I knew that much from Google Earth. Nothing glamorous, just another hidden corner of the city where someone like him could keep a low profile. But I wasn’t looking for glamour. I was looking for any connection or any trace of Eli.

Chapter 11

Eli

Veronica drove like she’d just got her permit, unsure of herself at every intersection. The vehicle veered a little, hesitating when it merged onto the freeway and either went too fast or too slow. It was a good thing the pakhan of the Volkov Bratva ensured that my little liar was driving what was essentially an armored tank, or I would be concerned. The thing could catch on fire and roll over twice, and it’d still be driveable.

She had moved the seat almost all the way forward and clutched the wheel as if her life depended on it. I briefly considered sliding into the car and offering to drive her to the appointment, but it was good for her to do it herself. I was close by if she needed anything.

Halfway there, I was pretty sure she’d spotted me because she kept glancing into the rearview mirror, the car weaving a little when she did. I’d not been exactly stealthy, but I went ahead and dropped back since I knew where she was going, and it seemed to make her anxious.

Veronica was dressed in all black today: black shorts, a crop top, sunglasses, thigh-high stockings, and tall boots. She looked phenomenal, like a little goth girl wet dream. Fuck she was beautiful. As she hopped out of the Rover, she looked critically at her parking job and strolled into the building like she didn’t care what anyone thought. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was walking into a mall instead of a doctor’s appointment — but I did know better. She had been a good girl and had worn the bracelet. I could see it winking on her wrist among the clutter of her other bracelets.

I wouldn’t have minded if she’d gone down the other route. I would have rewarded her either way. My naughty little goddess and I were going to have lots of fun.

I waited while she went inside for her appointment, wishing I could go with her the whole time. The thought that I wanted to sit with her while she spoke with a doctor was new to me. I’dnever cared about someone before like this. The desire to be with her had burned inside me until it was tearing me up from the inside out. Laying my hands on her had only made it burn hotter.

Chapter 12

Veronica

Ipulled up to the address, parked along the street, and checked my reflection in the mirror.

“You can do this.”

It wasn’t the smartest thing I’d ever done. The property wasn’t what I expected. I’d thought it’d be some beat-up house with overgrown weeds spilling onto the walkway. This wasn’t some rough neighborhood but a clean warehouse district with offices. My chest tightened again, but it wasn’t an issue with my lungs this time. It was a feeling of dread that I was walking into something I wasn’t prepared for.

Suddenly, I wished that Luca was with me. The last time I pulled something like this, I’d waited in the car and sent him in to investigate. I took adeep breath and stepped out of the Rover. No turning back now.

The leased address in Victor’s name was dark, but the one directly to the right looked occupied. Opening the door gingerly, I jumped when it dinged loudly.

An older man appeared in the doorway dressed in casual work office attire. “Can I help you?” he asked, his voice gruff.

“Yeah, hi. I’m Veronica. I was looking for information about the tenant next door,” I said, my voice steady. “Victor? Did you ever meet him?”

His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Why would a tiny thing like you be interested in that guy?”

I shrugged, thinking fast, trying not to be annoyed that he commented on how little I was. That was uncalled for, I thought grumpily, even if it was true. It wasn’t my fault my growth was stunted.

“We used to know each other. Foster care when we were little. I thought I’d look him up. Connect to someone.” Maxim always said if you were lying, you should inject some truth into it. “You know, since we didn’t have any family. Just looking for someone from my childhood.” I tried to look at least a little pathetic, like I was sad that I might not see a childhood friend.

The man squinted at me but seemed to sense something, at least in my story, that was the truth. I tried not to look gleeful. “I guess,” he finally said. “That guy was bad news.” He gave me a stern look. “He wasn’t much for talking, but I heard things. A guy was here looking for him to set up a fight. I think that was what he was involved in.” He nodded at me knowledgeably. “That underground scene, you know? Illegal.”

“Fighting?” My heart skipped with excitement. That tracked with the membership to the boxing gym that I found.

“Yeah. Real brutal stuff. There were some flyers sent here by mistake. I sealed them up real quick and made sure he couldn’t tell the box was opened. That guy was scary. I wouldn’t want anything to do with him if I were you. He didn’t grow up to be a good man.” The man tidied up his counter space as he spoke and tried to look casual. I couldn’t even imagine him standing and talking to Victor. I’m sure it wouldn’t have gone well. “Don’t know much beyond that.”

This guy had no idea how right he was that Victor wasn’t a good man. Victor Litkin was an actual psychopath, no doubt about it. He was the serial killer who brutally murdered three people in Morinrock a few months ago. Granted, theywere all pedophiles, so I didn’t necessarily have a problem with the fact that he murdered them.

“So he’s gone?” I tried to let my shoulders slump like I was bummed out. “You haven’t seen him? It looks empty.”

“No. Not for a while now. Listen to me, sugar. You’re better off,” he said sagely, like he was suddenly an expert.

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