Page 39 of Vow Of Fire

“Ugh. You’re insufferable. Give me one good reason why not!” The heat of her body was messing with my head. I dropped my hand like she’d scalded me.

“The rest of the family thinks you’re dead.”

“What?” She stared at me like I was crazy. “Why the hell would they think that?”

I was already regretting mentioning it.

“Because everybody believes you sold us out. To them, you’re a rat. Vermin. Lower than low.”

“So you told them you’d killed me?” Those enormous green eyes stared up at me and I fought the urge to drown in them.

“I was buying you some time,” I corrected coldly. My visceral reaction to her was a constant source of irritation. “But now you can help us.”

“In exchange for my life?”

She was bargaining with me. It was cute that she actually thought that would make any difference to the outcome. If she was a snitch, she was going down. One way or another. I didn’t much care which. “I can’t promise that.”

Her brow furrowed as she considered this. Then, she pushed me aside and marched to the door. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Stunned, I allowed her to pass. I’d been expecting more of an argument. Not this sudden acquiescence.

She turned back, all righteous indignation in a fluffy pink sweater, and put her hands on her hips. I caught a glimpse of creamy skin at her waist as her top rode up.

“Okay, I’ll help you.” She took off down the hall.

Bemused, I followed. “What are you doing?”

“Taking another look at the figures.” She sat down and pulled the still unlocked metallic case onto her lap. “There might be more clues or other suspicious transactions. Now that I know what I’m looking for, they shouldn’t be too hard to find.”

That wasn’t the worst idea. If anyone could spot the inconsistencies, it would be her.

But did I trust her?

I ground my teeth together as I weighed the odds. If I wanted her help to get to the bottom of this, I had no choice. This was how she could be of use to us. I may as well take advantage.

“Where’s your laptop?” I asked, as she started thumbing through the files.

“In my apartment, along with my phone.” She glanced up from what she was doing to shoot me a pointed look.

I snorted. The one I’d kicked under her bed. That was staying there. I wasn’t having anyone tracking her whereabouts.

Nico had told me she didn’t have a boyfriend. Chloe, her assistant, was the person she was tightest with, according to her phone records and what Vincent had told us. Apparently, they messaged each other a “fuckload,” to quote my brother, but the assistant had been thoroughly vetted and was in the clear. Still, I wasn’t taking any chances.

“I’ll get it. Then you’ll be able to trace the intermediary? And through them, the buyer, yes?”

She pouted, drawing my gaze to those full, luscious lips. I hated the way I wanted to crush them with mine. “You’re going to my apartment?”

“If the laptop will help us get to the bottom of this, yeah.” I could have Rocco or one of my men pick it up, but I needed a change of scene. The cabin was making me feel hemmed in, trapped. I wanted some space, away from her.

Besides, a systematic search of her place might be enlightening. She could have evidence of her “friendship” with Orlov, or her agreement with Malakov. There might even be unread messages on her phone. Even though I had to admit her involvement in the ambush was looking less and less likely.

A guilty party wouldn’t be behaving this way. Evelyn was bargaining for her life. She’d agreed to help us, thinking it would clear her name. Save her gallery.

That didn’t mean she wasn’t playing me, I had to remind myself. I’d been caught out before by people I trusted, and I wasn’t going to let it happen again.

“It’s all on there,” she confirmed with a huff.

Okay, then. I turned to leave, feeling in my pocket for my keys.