Page 54 of Billionaire Corruption

“Shit. Thank you,” I said, rubbing my arm.

“Should you go to hospital, or something?” he asked uncertainly.

I gave a shaky smile, “No, thanks, my home is right here.”

“Fucking New York drivers!” he said, angrily. “Arsehole!” he yelled into the empty street where the car had long gone.

People were beginning to look at us and I was eager to get away.

“Maybe just a nutter,” I said, thanking him again.

I went into our apartment and straight into the bathroom.

“Is that you, Grace?”

My grandmother came in as I was taking off my top, to look at my shoulder. There was some discoloration, nothing serious, I’d probably have a bruise. But I was quite shaken up.

“Do we still have whiskey left?” I asked.

My grandmother’s head snapped up.

“This time of the day?”

I ignored her and went to the kitchen cabinet where we kept the booze. I found the bottle and poured myself a stiff drink. Then I gulped it all down, hoping it would settle my nerves, calm me down.

“Grace?”

“I think someone just tried to run me down. Or scare me. Either way, it worked. I’m scared.”

My grandmother stared at me.

“What happened?!”

I told her about the incident on the street and she took another look at my arm, giving me a hug. We sat down in the living room, and I snuggled under a fluffy blanket. I must have fallen asleep because I suddenly came to as Toby came into the apartment.

“Grace! Nan!” he called out to us.

“Over here,” I said, and he came rushing into the living room, holding a box.

“Someone left this for us!”

It was a cardboard box with my name, Grace Bishop, written on top of it. There were red splatters all over the writing, the color of blood. I carefully opened the box, jumping back with a shriek when I saw the contents.

“What is it?” Toby asked as I tried to stop him from looking.

“I think… it’s some kind of animal… heart,” I said, gagging. There was a note in there as well. In crude lettering, someone had written: Stop talking – or else!

My hands were shaking as I took a trash bag and put the box into it, tying it up and putting it outside.

“We need to call the cops,” grandmother said.

“Let me talk to Paul first,” I said.

I saw her look at Toby, and the two of them exchanged worried glances and I went to call Paul. When I looked at my phone, I saw that the charge had run out, it was switched off. I would have to charge it first.

Chapter 22

Paul

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