Page 79 of The Daredevil

The next day, I informed Michelle about Oskar’s death while preparing to head out for a meeting.

“I can’t believe it,” she said, looking dismayed. “He seemed so nice.”

“Circumstances change people. He probably got tangled up with some dangerous people.”

Concern weighed in her eyes. “Those people might want to hurt you too.”

I didn’t want to lie to her, but I also didn’t want to frighten her, especially now that she knew about the thief being responsible for the explosion. She had too much on her mind.

“In business, sometimes things go awry. The detectives already know about my business competitors, and they’re looking into it. Don’t worry. I want you to stay in and not go out, especially when I’m not with you. I don’t want anything happening to you, okay?”

“I don’t want anything to happen to you, either.” Her brows pulled together in a frown.

“Nothing will.” I kissed the top of her head. “I won’t be long.”

Ten minutes later, I leaned against my new Land Rover and watched Fiona drive up in her Mercedes, parking next to me. She got out, wearing a black wool coat with a Dolce & Gabbana logo belt.

Smiling, she stepped up to me, looking around. “Why are we meeting out here? We could sit down at the café in the mall and catch up.” She ran her hand down my arm.

“This isn’t a date, Fiona.” I pushed myself away from the car and straightened. “Listen carefully to what I have to say. If you don’t take this seriously, I will do everything in my power to destroy your family. Andrew Clark has a prestigious position at Global Bank. He’s funding your elite lifestyle, but that could easily end tomorrow. Do you understand?”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” Her eyes filled with fear.

The Volcanic Sustainability Research Program could survive without Global Bank’s support.

“It’s time you stop causing trouble for me and Michelle. I have a lot of money at Global Bank. All it takes is one phone call from me, and your lavish lifestyle will crumble.”

She extracted her hand from my arm and took a step back. People like her hid under the umbrella of wealth, which gave them the illusion of power. Without wealth, they were weak.

Though Fiona didn’t show any evidence of harming Michelle in her text messages to her friend, I played the game as if she did.

“Who did you hire to hurt Michelle?”

She gasped. “Hurt her?”

I lifted a hand. “Cut the crap. I don’t have time for your excuses. I have proof that you wanted to scare her. Who did you hire to place that bomb in her apartment?”

Fiona clamped a hand over her mouth. “A bomb? I have nothing to do with that!”

I studied her widened eyes. “I want the truth. For every lie you tell me, your family will lose a business, and I know you have plenty. Don’t tempt me. Who did you hire and what exactly did you have him do?”

“I only wanted to scare her so she’d run back to the States. I wanted a chance with you. My friend Brittany has hated Michelle since they were kids. Brittany hired her ex-boyfriend, Larus, to smash the window. She paid him for me, and I paid her back.”

“So you have nothing to do with the bomb or him stealing her purse?”

“No!” The terror on her face proved she wasn’t lying. “I had nothing to do with that. Brittany told me he just broke her window.”

“He also left a nasty note with the rock he used.”

Fiona blinked. “I didn’t tell him to do that!”

I understood why women envied Michelle. She was beautiful, smart, thoughtful, and authentic, but those qualities often became a curse because people would come after her for having what they lacked. The world was messed up in so many ways.

“What’s Brittany’s last name?” I asked.

“Brittany Parker. They were in pageants together when they were kids.”

“Do you know where Larus is?”

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