A WALK AWAY CHAPTER 45 +25 BONUS For a split second , I considered just walking away . But I'd already come this far , and walking away now would make me look guilty ... which I wasn't . Well ... not for this , anyway . I let out a sharp breath and leaned one shoulder against the gate , pretending his words hadn't just lit a fuse inside me . " Murderer ? Wow , going straight for the headline , huh ? You gonna add ' cold - blooded ' in there too , or save that for your next little gossip session ? " I said , forcing a smirk I didn't feel . His eyes narrowed even further . " You think this is a joke ? " " I think , " I straightened up , " that you've been waiting for this moment . Makes you feel big , doesn't it ? Guarding the gate , throwing around words you don't understand . " He stepped closer , until only the bars of the gate separated us . " I understand plenty . I know Marvin is lying in a hospital bed , and I know you hated him enough to wish him there . " " Wishing someone misery isn't the same as ... " I stopped myself , because what was the point ? He wasn't here to listen . He was here to guard , judge , and make damn sure I felt the weight of every word . And perhaps , he was nothing more than a security guard ... a fucking security guard . He gave a short , humorless laugh . " You don't belong here . So turn around , get in your car , and drive back to whatever hole you crawled out of . " For a moment , I did nothing but stare at him . His tone , his eyes , the way his hands curled like he was daring me to push past him . All of it scraped against my nerves , but I kept my voice calm . " Tell Maya I was here , " I said finally . " And tell her ... I'm not going anywhere until I see her . " " She doesn't want to see you . " He snorted . " Yeah ? " I leaned in just enough to make him flinch . " Then let her tell me herself . " " She's not in the mood for visitors . Especially ones like you . " That landed like a quiet punch to be honest . Something in his tone told me there was more ... something he wasn't saying . But the man was a wall , and I wasn't about to beg him for cracks in it . We stayed locked in that silent standoff until he finally shook his head . " Go home , Mr Jonathan . There's nothing for you here . " The gate clicked shut , and I was left standing there . For some reason , I felt the grip of what he didn't say gnaw at me harder than the words he did . I clenched my fist ... God help Victor if he had a hand in this . Yanking my phone from my pocket , I dialed his number as I strode to my car . He picked up . " Victor . 72 Maple & Fifth , Bean Haven Café . Now . " He wanted to say something but I cut him off . I just slid into my car and drove away . I pushed through the café door and slipped inside without wasting a second . 1/3 A WALK AWAY +25 BONUS Bean Haven Café smelled like burnt over - roasted beans . I spotted Victor immediately ... tucked in a corner booth , sunglasses on indoors like he was dodging paparazzi that didn't exist . I didn't bother with pleasantries . I slid into the seat opposite him , my glare doing all the hello he was going to get . " You look like hell , " he said , smirking over his cup . " Yeah ? " I leaned in . " Hell looks better than you're going to if you don't start talking . " He chuckled , wrong move ... definitely . " Cut the cute crap , Victor . Marvin's in the hospital . You want to tell me why ? " His smile faltered . " Thought you'd be happy . One less problem . " " One less ... " I almost laughed . " We agreed to ruin him , not bury him . You think I'm stupid enough to go down for something I didn't sign up for ? " Victor leaned back , twirling his coffee spoon like this was just another Tuesday . " Accidents happen , Larry . " " Don't insult me . " My voice went sharp . " This wasn't an accident . His car didn't just magically flip . I saw the photos on the news . The driver's side window was blown out . Clean shot , and someone put a bullet in his skull . " Victor didn't answer ... which told me plenty . " Jesus Christ ! You brought guns into this ? Without telling me ? " I hissed . He tilted his head . " Relax . I didn't pull the trigger . " " That's supposed to make me feel better ? " I shot back . " If it wasn't you , then who the hell was it ? Because whoever it is , they're not just after Marvin anymore . And we still don't know there motives . " My thoughts darted straight to Maya , uninvited and insistent , like she'd been waiting in the corner of my mind for this exact moment . I just hoped she was safe . " Then maybe you should be asking yourself who else has a reason to want him gone , " Victor's voice came , cutting through . " Don't play that game . You're the only one who knew when and where he'd be this last night . You set him up . " " And yet , " Victor said , leaning forward now , " he's still breathing . Which means whoever took the shot didn't do it for me . Or for you . They had their own agenda . " The words settled heavy between us . I narrowed my eyes . " You know something . " " I know a lot of things , " he said , picking up his cup again . " Some of them you're better off not knowing . " " That's cute . Here's the thing ... I'm done being in the dark . You tell me who did it , or I'll start looking myself . And when I find them , I'll make damn sure your name's the first thing that comes out of my mouth . " Victor studied me for a long second , then smiled again ... slower this time . " Careful , Larry . Sometimes digging for the truth just gets you buried alongside it . " I didn't flinch . " Yeah , well ... I've been dead inside for years . " " Oh , please ... you weren't dead inside , you were just dramatically napping . Now it's the real deal . " " What do you mean ? " I asked , narrowing my eyes . 11 2/3 A WALK AWAY +25 BONUS " Have you seen the news ? " he shot back . " Yes , of course I- " " No , " he cut me off , leaning in , " I mean really seen the news . " I stared at him , the words snagging in my mind . And now that I thought about it , I had only skimmed the headlines , letting the bold letters wash over me without sinking in . But the way he was looking at me now ... it made me wonder what I'd missed ... and if I was about to regret it . I was about to say something when my phone buzzed . It was my PA , why the hell was she calling . " Laura this isn't the right time , " I shot before she could say a word . " I know , sir , but you need to get to the office . It's urgent ... something's gone wrong , and it can't wait . " BIG SALE : 3500 BONUS FREE FOR YOU ! Click to get it X 3/3