Page 64 of Stripped

She knew what he said was true. This just confirmed what she wanted so desperately to deny. "Then why wasn't he in prison? We have a justice system."

"He had a lot of people, including government officials and the police, in his pocket. There was no way he would ever have been tried and convicted."

"So, you take it upon yourself to eliminate people you deem bad, and play God," she said bitterly.

"No, we do it to help the victims, the innocent ones. I don't pick the targets; our client does."

"And who's your client?"

"Even I don't have that information." He sat back, and she crossed her arms in front of her protectively, looking down. The empathy was back in his eyes. He held himself with quiet authority. This was a man who knew how to lead people and demanded compliance. "Will you tell me about Sokolov?" he asked softly.

Her eyes grew wide as she realized what was nagging at her. Alex reminded her of her father the last time they were together in Òran Mór. He had been involved in her grandfather's business. Was he as evil as her grandfather and Sokolov? She shook her head as disappointment and disillusionment filled her. "No, I'm afraid I can't talk about it."

He grasped her chin, tilting her head up so she had to look at him. "Did he violate you, lass?"

"Not how you're thinking."

"But he did violate you?"

She pushed his hand away. "I think I'm done with this conversation. I'm tired," she said, standing up. "If you could show me to my room."

He stood up next to her. "Of course."

They walked back to the mansion in silence. Alex held out his hand to slow her, pointing up at the sky. Vivid lights in green and purple snaked across the clear night sky, setting it alive with rainbows of light, nature's own spectacular theatrical performance. "She called them the heavenly dancers, merry dancers in the sky," Alex recited the lyrics from a song.

"It's a cheery thought but not very accurate. The lights of the night sky belong to the dead," Pim said.

His head tilted to the side. "Aye, how so?" he asked.

"Some believe it's the souls of those murdered still bleeding."

"You'll be thinking of your Da," he said matter of factly.

She continued to look at the aurora borealis, hoping he couldn't see her face, and shrugged, surprised at his bluntness.

"He had no part in your grandfather's business if that's what you're wondering." She felt him eyeing her with concern. "Or none that we can connect. I'm sorry, I should have told you earlier. Of course, it would be weighing on your mind."

She looked down, the sudden show in the heavens gone as quickly as it started. "I never thought he was," she lied, disappointed in herself for ever having the traitorous thought.

Gabriel was waiting for them in the foyer when they arrived. "I've put her in the west wing."

"Put her with Wraith."

"No," she said. "I'll take my own room."

"We'll take her to Wraith."

"Yes, sir," he said as he led them down the east wing to his flat and knocked on the door.

* * *

Wraith wrapped a towel around his waist and answered the door. He had taken a shower and was about to rewrap the wound on his arm. Alex stood there with his hands on Pim's shoulders. Tears filled her eyes. "I want her to stay with you tonight."

"I really would like my own room—"

"Of course, she can stay," Wraith cut her off, leading her in. "Why don't you go take a bath?" he said quietly to her.

She went into the restroom, shutting the door.

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