Page 72 of Secrets & Desires
Livia giggled at his teasing and decided she liked this man very much. “Could I ask you not to reveal our conversation to Sandor,please?”
“You havemyword.”
He walked her to the door, but then stopped her. “Livia…I won’t share this conversation, but I can’t speak for anyone who might have seen you come here. New Orleans is a relatively small town when it comes to who knows who in certain circles. Please, tell Nox you came here and make sure you have adequate protection inplace.”
Livia studied him. “You think Sandor’sdangerous?”
“I have no evidence ofit,just—”
“Gutinstinct.”
Rod nodded, half-smiling. “Exactly.”
Livia nodded. “Did you know Sandor’s father? FlorianCarpentier?”
Rod’s smile faded. “I did,unfortunately.”
“Why ‘unfortunately?’”
“He was a viciousfuck.” There was that honesty again and Liv half-smiled.
“Understood. Thank you again, Mr.LeFevre.”
“Rod, please. Goodbye,Livia.”
Livia,being driven back to the hotel by Jason, called Nox. She didn’t want to tell him what she had discovered over the phone, just in case Sandor was listening in, but merely said she’d come to his office later that day. “Iloveyou.”
“Love youtoo,babe.”
After she ended the call, she looked over at Jason. “Jason, could we stop somewhere else, before home?” She gave him the address and he turned the car around withoutcomment.
At the residential home, she asked if she could see Florian Carpenter. “I’m his niece from out of town and I just got here,” she lied smoothly. “I haven’t seen him inyears.”
The receptionist looked at her for a long moment, then turned away. “Just a moment please,ma’am.”
Nervous, her hands clenched with fingernails digging into her palms, Livia waited. Soon enough a smartly dressed administrator came to collect her. “If we could just step into myoffice.”
Shit,they didn’t believe her ‘niece’ story. “If I could just see myuncle.”
The administrator, whose named tag said Susan, ushered her into the office. Her expression softened. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Carpentier, we assumed all the family knew. Did Mr. Carpentier’s son notinformyou?”
“Inform meofwhat?”
“I’m sorry to tell you that Mr. Carpentier Sr. passed away lastmonth.”
Livia stared at her, not needing to pretend her shocknow. “What?”
“I’m so sorry, my dear. He passedpeacefully.”
God, no. I didn’t want him to pass peacefully, I wanted him to fucking suffer after what he did to Gabriella.Livia tried hard to keep the hatred off her face. Susan, reading her, mistook her anger. “You weren’t down as his next of kin,yousee.”
“I haven’t spoken to Sandor yet,” Livia said by way of explanation. She sighed, closing her eyes. “May I seehisroom?”
“I’m afraid it’s occupied, dear. Unfortunately, we can’t keep the rooms open for long. Too muchdemand.”
“Of course, I’m sorry.” Another idea came to her. “Did Sandor, I’m sorry, I mean, Mr. Carpentier Jr., take possession of Florian’s personalitems?”
Susan nodded. “He did. He didn’t want to linger. He arranged the cremation quickly, and took the small amount of personal possessions thatwereleft.”
