Page 78 of Cold Light of Day

Though she’d suspected something unexpected, hearing him say the words still surprised her. A wave of nausea ripped through her stomach. She hesitated a few breaths before she could ask. “A cold wallet? Where is it?Whatis it?”

“It’s a USB drive that holds millions of bank account transfer codes, along with cryptocurrency private keys to convert to a hot wallet—or rather, give access to the funds or send them. It can’t be compromised because it’s not connected to the internet. In this case, the digital money is illicit. It’s what he’s after, along with making sure I can never tell another soul about any of it, of course. And if the money was taken from Santos’s organization—intercepted before it was handed off to the official—then the Santos brothers want it back too, so they have more than one reason to be here.” Grier lifted his head, his expression contemplative. “Part or all of it could be payment to the government official who could be the key to Rafael’s release.”

A knot lodged in her throat. “Whereis it?”

“In a safe place.”

“With you?” She studied him. “You have it.”

“I put it in a safe place.”

A cold chill crawled up her spine. Could she have trusted the wrong person, after all?

“Why did you take it?”

THIRTY-TWO

The accusation in her gaze gutted him. He never should have shared so much with her.

She slowly stood from the table and backed away. Given the look on her face, he wouldn’t be surprised if she reached for her gun. But she turned and fled. Grier hurried after her. Instead of going to the elevator and up to her room, she rushed through the doors and into the cold night air and a still-busy downtown.

He hurried after her. “Chief!” He caught her arm and swung her around, bracing himself for any defensive moves she might use.

When she stared up at him, her face pale and her eyes pained, she shook her head. He hadn’t expected to see so much hurt, and it filleted him.

“I’m innocent. Please let me finish.”

I never should have told you.

Then again, this secret he’d held as he hid here in Alaska was what kept them apart—whether she knew the truth or not, it would always be there, standing between them. Better that she knew now before going any deeper with him.

An older couple walking by stared at them and quickened their pace. The man looked like he might reach out to the chief to ask if she needed help.

Grier ignored him and stepped closer. “Please...”Autumn.Now wasn’t the time to use her name, because in a weird way, it would feel like he was taking advantage of this emotionally vulnerable moment.

Desperation flooded him. He didn’t want to lose her.

I...love you.

Her eyes softened. “You have thirty seconds to explain.”

He had one chance. One shot to make her understand. His palms slicked. “We can’t let them have the money. I must keep it safe. Keep the evidence. Krueger couldn’t have it on him. Please understand—I had to disappear with it.”

“It makes you look guilty. It makes you look like Brown was telling the truth.” Her eyes glistened.

Shecaredabout him. He’d suspected. He’d hoped. But now hesawit in those eyes he adored, and it was what made this so much harder. But he also saw in her eyes more questions, and he braced himself.

“I need the truth. Are you really innocent? Did you murder Blue?”

If it weren’t for the ache knifing through him that she’d asked him this question at all, he could almost smile at her use of his fictional names. “I promise that I’m innocent. You can arrest me yourself at any moment if you think I’m guilty.” He thrust out his hands, wrists together, so she could cuff him. A few seconds of uncertainty passed, a few thumps of his heart, as he waited to learn his fate.

She stepped back. “What now, Grier? How do we prove you’re innocent?”

With her question, relief blew through him. Though doubt still lingered, he recognized the hope surging in her eyes. She believed him, or just desperatelywantedto believe him.

He needed to think through everything. “Let’s head back in and see if our dinner hasn’t been tossed. I’m still hungry.”

Her eyes widened. “Seriously? I’ve completely lost my appetite.”

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