Page 51 of The Protégé

“Don’t take too long because Elena might not want to wait,” Ralph said. “The longer you make her wait, the more she’ll think you’re not serious about her.”

“I’m not sure if I should listen to relationship advice from a man who has his own relationship troubles. Someone who’s afraid to ask the woman he loves to marry him.”

“I’m not afraid,” he blurted out.

“Then why haven’t you?”

“I’ve got my reason, and I don’t want to talk about it right now. For what it’s worth, I think Elena is the one who can save you.”

I laughed at the ridiculous concept. “Save me from what?”

“From your destructive self.”

I paused at the statement. He knew me as the flawed Orion and The Roc.

“We have to be gentle with her,” he said. “She comes from a different background than you. If you’re not careful, she’s going to run away.”

I pondered on his insight, letting several thoughts appear and disappear.

“All the other women you’ve dated were from your circle. They had money, status, wealthy families. Elena doesn’t have those connections, and I don’t believe she wants a temporary thing. So if you don’t want to be with her, then you should cut your losses now. Save you both the heartache.”

“How do you know so much about her?” I inquired.

“I don’t. But from my brief encounter with her, I can see she has something that none of the other women you’ve dated have—genuine kindness.”

There goes that word again.Ralph had always called me kind, but I never saw it.

“Why do you always say that I’m kind? I think that’s the furthest thing from the truth.”

“You have a kind heart to take in your old chauffeur as your assistant. It takes a kind heart to go after a crime organization that abuses women and children. A kind heart donates billions of dollars anonymously.” He paused. “But your kind heart is wrapped in spikes.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I told him, “Send me the pictures when you can.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

ELENA

Irritation prickedmy skin as I flipped through the folder on the table. Obviously, I was the only one who was pissed. I heard him on the phone laughing. What was he laughing about?

Was he laughing at that embarrassing scene in his lounge?

He could deny it all he wanted, but I knew he was attracted to me. Maybe he was too afraid to admit it. I didn’t want to be with a man who was afraid to acknowledge his own feelings.

Did he think I would cower to his arrogance and quit? Elena Sanchez was not a quitter. I’d stay on this job until it was done.

With a renewed mindset, I focused on the documents inside the folder. It had detailed information about a man who had passed away a month ago. The goal was to find the killer. Possibly hiding in Providence.

I stared attheimage onthe document. Pablo Toledo, also known as The Condor. He was sixty-five when he was murdered on the street.

Who was The Condor? Who was he to Orion?

Was this a personal pursuit? Or was Orion helping someone with this case?I searched for the alias The Condor on theinternet and nothing came up for him except the bird. A few Pablos appeared, but the images weren’t of the man in question.

I didn’t know why I bothered searching on the internet. Orion had probably done it already. I opened the shared drive and reviewed the details of The Condor. His birthdate, place of birth, blood type, and a silver Toyota RAV4. He enjoyed traveling. I browsed some pictures and noticed he liked birds. There were various birds from all over the world. Orion noted two wildlife charities that had received Pablo’s donations.

Pablo’s body was found on the street near his apartment. I knew that area.Orion didn’t have a lot of information about Pablo’s connection to people in Providence. I’d take that angle and see what I could come up with. He had to have had some friends in the city.

I wondered if his murder was linked to the suicides I’d been investigating. I’d never imagined myself researching murders. But the desire for the truth had always excited me. I’d seen the truth distorted, rewritten, and delivered repeatedly. It became the norm that no one questioned anymore.That bothered me.

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