Page 48 of Greed
“What is it?”
She wiped her eyes and sniffed. “Doesn’t matter. I’m done with this place. I’m done with men, and as soon as you give me the pictures, I’m done with you.”
Couldn’t she see he was doing this for her own good? Nobody needed to be involved with extortion and blackmail.
“You’re not getting the pictures, Lilo. They’re going to the police. You’re a reporter. I’m not comfortable with them in your hands.”
“You don’t trust me.”
“Like you said on the way here, we’ve only just met.”
“How am I supposed to get my father back?”
“The police will handle it.”
“Trust is a two-way street, Griffin.” Lilo glared at him.
“What are you doing?” he asked after she continued to flare her eyes at him.
“I’m shooting lasers at you with my eyes.Pew pew.” And then she gave the envelope in his hand an intense look before checking her phone, shaking her head, and leaving the room. “I’m so done.”
Chapter Sixteen
The following night Griffin arrived at Heaven, the restaurant below his apartment complex. Parker owned it, Wyatt used to be the head chef, and since re-committing to their crime fighting mantle, they convened once a week to discuss their operations in the privacy of a secluded dining room reserved for VIP guests.
He was the last to arrive at a frosty six-thirty in the evening. The snow had abated for most of the day, but the temperature remained frigid, just like his mood. Despite her insistence that she was done with him, he’d delivered Lilo to her home the previous night, and had been brooding ever since. He could still vividly picture her stomping outside her parents’ house and into the snow to stand on the soggy front lawn, shivering despite her large coat and scarf. She’d stubbornly called a cab and ignored him to the point of agony.
He guessed the flip side of being his greedy sin’s opposite was help wasn’t easy for her to accept. More of a giver than a receiver. She’d spent her years since leaving her family giving every inch of herself for the benefit of other people. Whether it was to uncover criminal secrets, investigate cold-cases no one wanted to touch, or physically give when she had little herself. It was clear she spent her last dollars on those donuts for staff. Her clothes and accessories were old and worn. She lived in an affordable area of town. He wondered when was the last time she accepted a gift, or received help without offering something in return. She didn’t have a greedy or selfish bone in her body. It must have taken a lot from her to ask him to go to her parents’ house.
On the car ride back to her mid-town apartment, he’d learned the upsetting message she’d received on her phone had to do with her recent article written for the paper. It had been published with Doppenger’s name under the byline and included the content she’d fought to have redacted regarding the attacker’s appearance. Griffin could see why she would be angry at Donald, but not at him.
He was only trying to prevent more violence. He just couldn’t fathom how she thought she’d be safe going to an exchange with criminals.
She’d ignored him all day at work and Griffin had little chance to record data pertaining to her proximity, touch, and effect on his biometric marker. He’d spent the time working with other employees and going over Parker’s algorithm to find the rest of the family’s mates.
To say he was out of sorts by the time he sat in the private dining room was an understatement. At the head of the table he had a good view of the family, including the new addition, Evan’s mate Grace. Parker, Sloan, Liza, Tony and their parents Mary and Flint were all there. However, Wyatt was still absent, leaving Griffin to wonder how long his brother’s self imposed sabbatical would last. Wyatt may be a hot head sometimes, but he was pragmatic and Griffin missed that. He’d been a voice of reason… that was, until toward the end, then wrath had blinded him to common sense.
The danger in their lives wasn’t only physical.
“About time, bro,” Evan grumbled from the chair next to Griffin. “I’m starving.”
“Nothing was stopping you from eating.”
“But that would be rude, and I’m not. Am I, Doc?” He nudged Grace with his elbow. “Except, maybe I had a spring roll already.”
“Don’t ever let Wyatt catch you saying these are spring rolls,” Liza said from across the table. There was a beat of silence as everyone no doubt felt the same longing for their missing family member. “They’re deconstructed… I don’t know. What do you call these, Parks?”
Sitting next to Griffin on the other side, Parker arched an eyebrow. “Vietnamese g?i cu?n.”
“See?” Evan picked up one and put it in his mouth, humming in appreciation. “Spring rolls.”
Grace leaned forward to peer around Evan. “How are you, Griffin? How’s that shoulder going?”
He rotated it. “Good. Almost healed.”
“That’s good to hear. I was a bit apprehensive when Lilo told me Donnie had reopened it.”
“Lilo spoke with you?” But not him?
