Page 121 of Devious Kingpin
Dread pooled in my stomach.
“Explain.”
He smiled coldly. “Your wife has been hunting.” When I gave him a confused look, he continued, “She’s been searching for the killers of her birth parents and picking them off, one by one.”
“What?” It couldn’t be. Juliette had a temper but she wasn’t a killer. The image of the dick painted in blood flashed through my mind. Maybe—
I shook my head. “How would she even connect with you?”
I hated the jealousy in my voice. If Juliette wanted to kill and hunt her parents’ killers, she should have come to me.
“About a year ago, she reached out to my agency. I assume the reference came from our mutual friend.”
“Who is…?” I questioned.
“Branka Nikolaev or her friend, Autumn. They are sisters-in-law now.”
The jealousy still didn’t go away. Fuck!
I opened the envelope and started reading the report. With each passing second, worry grew. “Juliette’s family—birth family—helped the old-man Brennan get Sofia Volkov’s daughter?”
Kian nodded. “To say Sofia has it out for Juliette is probably an understatement.”
I continued reading and the piece of information I saw next sent an even bigger shock through me. “Does Juliette know about this?”
Kian stood up, and headed to the door. He stopped with a hand on the knob and turned to me, his gaze locking with mine.
“About her grandfather, I’m not sure, but about her friend… if she doesn’t yet, she will soon.”
He left, but the dread stayed behind. It felt heavy and tasted like copper.
My cell phone rang again but I ignored it. The moment the ringing died off, it resumed and I glanced exasperatedly at the caller ID expecting my annoying family.
It wasn’t. It was a local Chicago number.
My brows furrowed as I picked it up. “Yeah?”
“Mr. DiLustro?”
“Yes.”
“Hello, this is Alissa from The Ritz-Carlton. Your wife is here—” Everything after that was fuzzy. I authorized whatever charges Juliette ran, barking for them to keep her in their best suite. Still on the phone, I jumped into my Bugatti and sped through the city.
I probably violated every single traffic law, but I didn’t give a shit.
There was no doubt in my mind that she didn’t want to see me. But Ihadto see her. Just a glimpse. To ensure she was okay. I’d get a room next to her or sleep in the car. It didn’t matter.
As long as I was close to her.
Entering the lavish lobby, I was immediately recognized. Not bothering to check in, I headed for the elevators. I instructed the personnel on the phone to provide the best suite, so that would be the Presidential Suite.
“Mr. DiLustro,” came a female voice from behind me as I pushed the elevator button. I didn’t bother acknowledging the woman. I pressed the button again, over and over. Patience wasn’t my virtue. Not unless Juliette was involved. “Mr. DiLustro, I just need to tell you something.”
“Then say it,” I grumbled.
“Your wife instructed us to feed a homeless shelter for a month. Put all their charges on your card. Clothes. Night at the hotel if they need it. Spa. Anything, she said.”
I stilled. “How much?”
