Chapter 63
63
Victoria
I stand barefoot outside Lorenzo’s office, hand mid-reach, when I hear his voice.
“We need to find Grant p>
My stomach tightens so fast it almost makes me dizzy.
Grant.
The name hits something inside me. A place I tried to pretend wasn’t there yesterday, but today, in the light of a new day, it’s there. Fear.
I’m afraid of him.
It’s not that I think he could get to me again because I know Lorenzo will protect me. It’s just that I’m still afraid of how unhinged he was yesterday.
How close I came to being taken from Lorenzo, maybe forever.
I don’t move at first. I just breathe, slow.
Then Lorenzo’s voice cuts through again…
“Bring Victoria in p>
He wants me in his office? He wants to involve me in this. If I needed more confirmation that things are different now, his next statement confirms it. “There are no secrets between us p>
My heart practically beats out of my chest at his words.
No secrets…
Coming from a man who built an entire life out of secrets.
Wow.
My hand hovers over the knob, and I finally turn it.
I don’t knock.
I should, probably. There are men in there, but Lorenzo said bring Victoria in, so ask and you shall receive.
I push the door open and step inside.
Lorenzo looks up from behind his desk, eyes flicking to me instantly.
Rafe stands off to the side with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall. Two other men who I recognize from the security room are there too.
Lorenzo’s mouth curves, slow and wicked.
“Were you just standing out there waiting?” he drawls, rolling a pen between his fingers.
I plant myself in the doorway and lift a brow. “Kind of.” I shrug. “I never got my invitation to the meeting p>
Rafe’s mouth twitches.
Lorenzo leans back in his chair, gaze dragging over me. If there weren’t men around, I’d think he would have his way with me right now.
“You’re my wife.” His lip lifts. “You don’t need an invite p>
My pulse jumps. I like this new version of Lorenzo.
Lorenzo taps the pen against the desk once, twice, then lets it go. “Sit.” He gestures toward the chair opposite him.
I don’t sit immediately. Instead, I lean my hip against the edge of the desk, folding my arms. “You were talking about Grant p>
Lorenzo’s jaw flexes once at his name. “I was p>
I push off the desk and finally slide into the chair because my legs suddenly don’t feel as sturdy.
Lorenzo watches me while I do. He then rests his forearms on the desk, fingers lacing together. “Tell me everything you remember about him,” he says quietly. He’s not ordering. He’s asking.
My brain short-circuits, completely caught off guard by the question.
My fingers curl on the chair arm. “He was careful. He didn’t say much p>
Lorenzo’s brow lifts slightly. “He was careless enough to show up and take you p>
“He didn’t technically take me,” I say automatically, then stop myself because he did.
Rafe’s mouth twitches again. “Fair p>
Lorenzo’s fingers tighten together, knuckles whitening. Then he relaxes.
“Start from the beginning.” He sighs. “Tell me everything you remember about him p>
I stare at my hands, trying to think of anything that could be relevant.
“Grant came into my life when I was young,” I say, forcing the words out. “He was just there. Polished. Approved by my parents.” I roll my eyes. “My parents liked that he was the kind of man you could take to a charity dinner without him setting something on fire p>
Lorenzo’s mouth quirks. “I’d like to point out I’ve never set anything on fire at a charity dinner p>
“Not physically,” I quip. “But you would have loved to p>
“I would have p>
Rafe shrugs. “You still have time. I believe in you p>
I can’t help but laugh.
“Victoria…” Lorenzo starts, making me shake my head, trying to drag my brain back into the room. “He… he kept proposing.” I swallow. “Claimed I was his p>
Lorenzo’s eyes darken.
“And he liked,” I continue, voice tightening, “that I didn’t have any real say in my own life p>
Lorenzo doesn’t move.
But the air around him changes. It tightens. If Grant were here, he’d no doubt be dead.
I look down at my lap, fingers twisting together. “He has that cottage. But he also has more places. Not all in his name, though p>
Lorenzo tilts his head. “How do you know p>
I lift my shoulders in a slight shrug that feels pathetic. “He was talking about it to someone, and I overheard. Something to do with not paying taxes p>
Lorenzo’s gaze never leaves my face. “What else p>
I think.
Hard.
The past few years blur together like a montage of dinners I never wanted to be at.
“He fishes,” I say suddenly.
Lorenzo’s brow lifts. “Fishes p>
“Yes.” I nod, more certain now. “He… he loves to fish. He used to talk about it like it was some spiritual thing. Like catching and releasing a fish made him a better person p>
Lorenzo’s brows knit together. “You think he has a lake house p>
“Yeah, I do. Don’t know where it would be, but it makes sense p>
Lorenzo slowly taps his fingers against the desk. “Men like him collect properties. A cottage. A lake house. Maybe something farther away for when he wants to disappear p>
My spine prickles. “Wait. Yeah, he mentioned a lake house once. He said it was quiet. That no one bothered him there p>
Lorenzo’s eyes flick to his men.
“Pull property holdings,” Lorenzo orders, voice turning crisp. “Anything tied to Grant, his family, his known associates. Shell corps. Trusts. Anything p>
The guy with the mustache nods once, already turning to the keyboard. Fingers flying.
My stomach twists as I watch.
The way Lorenzo works and takes charge is impressive. It used to terrify me, but now that I’m not his target, I can’t help but be in awe of him. He’s like a king sitting on his cruel throne.
It should scare me. But instead, it makes me feel… safe.
Lorenzo’s gaze returns to me. “Anything else he said about the lake house p>
I close my eyes, searching memories in my brain.
“Something about… cedar,” I mumble. “He said the air smelled like cedar. And that there was a dock.” My eyes snap open. “And he… he joked once that his neighbors were all ‘too rich to ask questions p>
Lorenzo’s mouth curves, humorless. “That narrows it down to every lake within three states p>
“Helpful,” I chide.
He leans forward, voice gentler. “Keep going p>
My throat tightens at the softness. I hate that it affects me.
“He used to talk about some mom-and-pop bait shop,” I say suddenly.
Lorenzo’s eyes sharpen. “This is good. It would have to be close to the house for him to frequent it. This gives us a lot to go on p>
“I have a list,” the security guard says, turning his laptop monitor slightly so Lorenzo can see. “Most of it is normal—condos, an office suite, the cottage was under a trust. But…” His finger taps a line. “There’s a property holding under a shell corp registered out of Delaware. It’s connected to Grant’s mother’s maiden name p>
My pulse spikes. “That could be it p>
Lorenzo’s chair scrapes back slightly as he stands. “Where p>
The guard reads off an address.
Rafe pushes off the wall, already moving. “I’ll get the cars p>
Lorenzo’s hand lifts, stopping him with the gesture. “Not yet p>
Rafe pauses, brows lifting. “What p>
Lorenzo turns toward me.
He steps closer, and the air changes. Softens. “Stay here.” His voice is soft and pleading, a sound I never thought I’d hear out of Lorenzo’s mouth.
My spine stiffens automatically. “I’m not p>
His hand cups the side of my face, thumb brushing under my eye.
The touch is gentle.
“You’re not going with us,” he responds, voice tight.
My throat tightens. “Why p>
“Because if you see what I do to him, you’ll never sleep again p>
I swallow hard. “I don’t sleep now p>
His mouth twitches, almost sad. “You will p>
My heart throbs against my ribs.
Rafe clears his throat loudly. “Not to interrupt the domestic moment, but we’re on a clock p>
Lorenzo doesn’t look away from me. “You’ll stay put p>
I roll my eyes because if I don’t, I’ll cry. “You love telling me to stay put p>
His gaze darkens with amusement. “It’s one of my love languages p>
I glare. “You’re disgusting p>
“And you married me.” He leans in, placing his lips on mine.
He kisses me.
Deep.
When he pulls back, his forehead rests against mine for a beat. “I love you p>
“I love you too.” I breathe in, shaky. “Be careful p>
Lorenzo’s mouth curves. “I’m always careful p>
I lean back just enough to look at him, brows lifting. “That’s the biggest lie you’ve ever told p>
Rafe snorts, already heading for the door. “She’s not wrong p>
Lorenzo flicks him a look. “I’ll kill you after p>
Rafe flashes a grin over his shoulder. “Put it on my calendar p>
Lorenzo’s attention returns to me. “You stay here,” he repeats. “No wandering p>
I tilt my chin up, stubborn. “I’m not helpless p>
“I know.” He smiles, then he steps back. “I’ll be back p>
“You better p>
“Bossy p>
Lorenzo laughs, then turns and strides toward the door.
As he reaches the threshold, he glances back once.
His eyes lock on mine, and for a second, I see something raw beneath his stare.
Then it shudders.
I remain in the chair, my fingers still tingling where he touched me.
He’d better come home.