Page 149 of High Roller

I lean into his chest and smell his soothing cologne. “I’m glad you’re here. This is harder than I thought it would be.”

“I know it is, Liliana. But I’ve got you. Grace called. Thank you for making her. She’s better now.”

Talking about Grace makes me relax, and I finally look around the room. It’s empty. No attorney, no paralegals frantically taking notes. No scary bodyguards looking fierce.

“Do you want to talk about what triggered the panic attack?”

He offers me a bottle of cold water, and I gulp it down. “It’s the fact that she wanted photos of my scars for the files.”

“They’ll help make sure you get everything you want in the divorce.”

“I don’t want a divorce. I want a dead husband.”

“You want to be a widow?”

“It would be so much easier if he would just… die. This way feels like I’m going to get dragged through the mud.”

“What if we get the paperwork done today? Pictures and all. But we don’t file anything until you’re ready. Until we figure out a plan for killing the bastard.”

I put a finger to his lips. “I don’t recommend talking about a murder you intend to commit while you’re in an attorney’s office.”

Victor chuckles. “Maybe you’re right. But we’ve used this attorney before. We trust her and her team. So does Hunter, which means you know she’s one of the best.”

“I trust you.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Do you want me to call them back in?”

“Will you stay with me?”

“They won’t be able to pry me away from your side until we’re done here.”

He pulls me close for a tender kiss before he stands and helps me sit up farther. “Be right back,” he promises as he heads for the door.

Another hour later, the photographs are taken; the paperwork is complete, and all I need to do is file it at the courthouse so someone can serve Finn.

We stand and head for the door, the attorney promising to be on standby to file the papers as soon as I say I’m ready.

“Liliana, walk with me so we can have a little chat on the way out, please,” Hunter says.

Trinity sidles up to Victor with a smile. “You and I can visit as well.” I can’t help but laugh at how uncomfortable Victor looks, but he agrees, and the four of us along with an army of bodyguards exit the building.

As we step into the sunlight, all hell breaks loose. Someone shouts “sniper!” and guards immediately descend on us. I find myself face down on the pavement and someone orders me to stay still and quiet until we’re given the all clear.

Radios crackle, guards shout into phones, and someone calls for an ambulance.

“Mrs. Novak has been hit. We need paramedics now!”

Chapter 43

Lili

Mystomachchurnsasthe smell of gunpowder, pavement, and blood mixes in my nostrils. My palms burn from scraping along the concrete, and I can’t find Victor in the chaos. The guard on top of me isn’t giving me room to move my head to look for him.

“Let’s move! Let’s move! Get Trinity in the SUV. We can’t wait for paramedics.”

Hunter sounds panicked. In all the times I’ve met him, he’s only ever sounded in control. His panic fuels my own and rips at my heart. I won’t be able to forgive myself if she dies because of me.

Suddenly Victor is on me, and he’s scooping me up and we’re piling into another SUV. I watch as Trinity is carried to one behind me, and it barrels toward the nearest emergency room. A trail of blood is on the pavement from where she was shot to the door of the car.

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