Page 221 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
My jaw clenches tight. This isn’t the first time he’s accused Ophelia of being an elaborate ruse to force me to fight under Col. “Ophelia died, yet that still isn’t enough for you to stop harboring ill feelings toward her,” I snarl viciously. “You’re obviously more callous than your reputation suggests.”
Henry flinches from my bitter words, and the anger fettering his face softens. “If you merge your empire with Vladimir’s, Isaac, you’ll never get out.” He paces closer to me as the concern in his eyes overtakes his fury. “Is she worth losing everything for? Your wealth? Your empire? And perhaps even your life?”
“Yes,” I answer without hesitation. “She’s worth risking everything for.”
Thick silence meets my response. Henry’s commanding stature doesn’t falter. He merely maintains control the same way he governs his empire—with sharpness and authority.
I rein in my anger, emulating the man from whom I’ve learned many valuable lessons. “Was the signature at the junkyard him?”
“Yes.” After dipping his chin, he strides to my office door. Just before he exits, he turns back to peer at me. “Tread carefully, Isaac. If you need me, I’m only a phone call away.”
I issue my thanks with a lift of my chin.
Once my office door closes, I dig my phone out of my pocket and dial a familiar number. Ryan answers a few seconds later. “Ryan Carter.”
“Ryan, it’s Isaac—”
“Now isn’t a good time. Can this wait?”
His voice is strained with worry, but I’d rather pass on this message now. “It will only take a minute.”
A doctor being paged to the intensive care unit bellows down the line along with Ryan’s shuffling feet. My brows furrow, wondering why he’s at the hospital, let alone an intensive care unit.
“If it’s regarding Isabelle’s case, the bullet recovered from Megan’s crime scene is being removed from the DA’s evidence. The CSI officer in Hopeton agreed that the bullet did not pass through human matter.”
Relief washes over me. “Does that mean their case against Isabelle has been dropped?”
Ryan sighs. “Not yet, but we’re close.” His voice muffles for the quickest second before he tells me he has to go.
“Before you do—”
He sighs again, louder this time.
“You’ll want to hear this.” He doesn’t say anything, but the fact he hasn’t hung up tells me I have his attention. “The two police officers who assaulted Isabelle—”
“Yes.” Now he’s invested enough to speak.
“They’re dead.”
“Fuckin’ hell, Isaac.”
“It wasn’t me.” My tone gets an edge of anger to it.
“But you know who it was?”
“Yes. If you can meet with me, I’ll explain everything.”
“I’ll be at your office in an hour.”
Not waiting for my reply, he disconnects the call.
CHAPTER29
ISABELLE
Anightmare wakes me from my sleep at 3:35 a.m. I gasp in quick breaths to suffocate the scream attempting to break out of my parched mouth. My body is coated with sweat, and my heart is erratically beating. This dream was much worse than any I’ve had previously. The vivid scene from the barn has come back full force, but my wondrous imagination multiplied the horrific image.
The gruesome scene I witnessed that morning has been plaguing me since I left Isaac at the hotel four nights ago. I’ve tried clearing my mind of negative thoughts before going to bed as recommended by Dr. Clarke, but nothing has worked. Every night, without fail, before I fall asleep, my mind wanders to the last time I saw Isaac. Add that to my upcoming murder trial and suspension from the Bureau, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for nightmares. I’m beyond exhausted, heartbroken, and numb. I’m a fucking wreck.
