Page 50 of Ashes of Sin

Connor Barrett is a fellow billionaire and retired US Marine. I was surprised to see him at the Fox household in person rather than sending another one of his team.

“Pierce,” he said, shaking my hand.

“Connor, good to see you.” I sat down opposite him, noting he was watching me carefully.

“Do you think you can find her?” Sally asked emotionally as Derek handed Connor a glass of Macallan and sat.

Meanwhile, the Marine’s trained gaze studied us all, taking in the dynamics. There was nothing for him to discover here. We needed him out in the world finding her.

“There are no guarantees, but I would be interested in hearing all of your opinions on where Kyra might have gone.”

“She’s been taken, not left,” Sally says shakily. “Her phone and clothes are still here. Only her asthma puffer is missing.”

“Nor has she spent a dollar on her credit cards,” Derek adds.

Connor’s gaze drifts to me.

He won’t get anything from me. I know how to play poker like a pro, and I obviously played no part in this.

“She won’t be provided a Sterling credit card until we are married,” I stated.

“She has wealthy friends. Would someone help her?” Connor drags his gaze from me to Sally.

Derek glanced at me, and I lifted my brow.

What the hell did he think I was going to do?

“She has one friend. Penny. I don’t think she’s helped her. She sounds as worried as we are.” Sally wrung her hands together. “We should never have forced her—”

“Sally!” Derek warned.

Connor took a long, slow sip of the Macallan and watched them as if they were guilty of faking their own daughter’s disappearance. “And you, Pierce. What are your thoughts?”

If he thought he was going to rattle me, he was wrong. I had decades on this young man and was innocent.

Why would I take my own fiancé?

“I want her home. We’re getting married next week. I asked Derek to hire you, as you’re the best of the best.”

He took another sip, ignoring the compliment. “That’s not what I asked.”

Fucker.

Sally stared at me.

I laid my arm along the back of the sofa and crossed my legs. “I don’t know, Barrett. Why do women do anything?”

He didn’t laugh.

I was starting to lose my patience, so I got right to the point.

“I’m sure Derek and Sally have shared that this is an arranged marriage. Kyra knew what was expected of her.”

“I see. Did she agree to it?” he asks.

“Yes,” I reply firmly.

Connor made some notes on his tablet and then spoke to the room. “My team will be here in twenty minutes to do a forensics search. I know the police have done one, but we do our own investigation.”

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