Page 15 of Wired Strong

But Dad could have trusted her.He could have shared that classified file with her instead of Raveaux, and discussed all of their options. He could have believed that she was competent to find her way out of the situation. Instead, he’d told Raveaux, and threatened and usedhim.

Thank God Raveaux had chosen to be honest with her!

Now she was sleeping in her father’s apartment, and counting on the protection of his position—and of course, he was enjoying that.He loved her best when she needed him.

Sophie set her watch for five minutes of crying, something she had tried to wean herself off of—but today she needed the release. “It’s okay to let go,” Dr. Wilson, her therapist, spoke in her mind. “Crying is good. Tears carry away cortisol, a stress hormone. Cry regularly.”

Sophie cried for the memory of Jake, and memories of the terrible loss that had been stirred up by Raveaux’s description.

She cried for the fact that her mother was a psychopath that, while pretending to ask her forgiveness, wasn’t to be trusted.

She wept because her beloved father didn’t believe she could manage her life, her work, or her relationships.

And she cried because she was going to lose her friend Connor because of his vigilantism—and because he was turning into someone she really didn’t know anymore.

It was becoming clear that she needed to sever all ties with Connor, or find herself becoming collateral damage in the war between him and worldwide law enforcement.

There was no one around her that she could really trust.

She blew her nose on a paper towel.

Well, there were a few people: Dr. Wilson. Armita. Marcella. Maybe even Raveaux, but not if he kept anything from her. Bix would always tell her straight as far as work went. Paula was more than an assistant . . .

The alarm on her watch went off.

Sophie got up from the chair in the lounge area and went over to the sink. She splashed water on her face, then dabbed it dry with paper towels.

Her eyes were puffy, bloodshot slits. She retrieved a makeup bag from her locker under the counter and applied eyedrops. She touched up her pale cheeks and put on a bit of raspberry lipstick to bring some color to her face. She used a couple of handfuls of water to smooth her curls back from her face, but she liked the look of the mane of wild ringlets tumbling to her shoulders.

“Those sons of a fetid pigbetter have some advice for me,” she growled at her reflection, and headed for the door.

* * *

Raveaux and Fernandezwere as she had left them: Raveaux sat at one end of the couch, Fernandez on the loveseat across from him. Fernandez had taken out a briefcase, and Raveaux held a business card in his hands. The two men were bent towards each other as if she had interrupted them in conversation, but they sat back and gave her their full attention as she returned to her seat.

Sophie smoothed her skirt over her knees and folded her hands in her lap. “Recommendations, please.” Her voice was cool and assertive, just the way she wanted it to sound.

Fernandez cleared his throat. “In light of the amount of crossover and the complexity of the case, I am referring Raveaux to a colleague. This conversation is still completely covered by attorney-client privilege, however, and I have given Monsieur Raveaux a signed affidavit to that effect. I believe he has some thoughts for you, and having heard them, I support them.”

Sophie inclined her head toward Raveaux. “Proceed.”

Raveaux leaned forward. His keen eyes fixed on her like a hawk. “Sever all ties with Connor. Remove the chip so that he cannot be lured to your location, since your father knows about the chip and has no doubt given that information to the team.”

“I’ve come to the same conclusion. Anything else?”

“Don’t let on to your father that you’re aware of his involvement with the case. I know this will be difficult, but the reasons that you sought shelter with him originally are valid. You need the protection of his position, and for everything to appear as if you aren’t aware of his involvement. By his side is the safest place for you to be, Sophie, and if it helps at all, I believe he agreed to help in order to protect you.”

“That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have trusted me by telling me what he knew.” She gestured. “Go on.”

“I believe the task force will move on from attempting to involve us in their scheme when they realize we have nothing further to offer.” Raveaux sat back. “For what it’s worth.”

“Yes, it will be difficult to live with my father and conceal that I know of his betrayal. But I agree with you, at least for the moment. I’ll remove the chip as soon as possible and cease all communication with Connor.” Sophie turned back to Fernandez, raising her brows. “Anything further?”

“I agree with Monsieur Raveaux’s opinions,” Fernandez said. “And I further recommend that you move Connor’s holdings that were deeded to you into a neutral LLC Trust, of which you are the owner. That will help keep them from being confiscated if your connection to Hamilton/Remarkian is challenged.”

“Good idea,” Sophie said. “Thank you, Bennie.”

“I feel certain that your father was threatened that you would be taken into custody if he didn’t cooperate with the team’s plans. I hope you will not judge him too harshly. Sometimes we do foolish things to protect those we love,” Raveaux said.

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