Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
That’s why he thought it was his fault?
“By that reasoning, it could as easily be my fault,” Victor rumbled. “I haven’t been subtle either. And I took out two of their guys. Whoever they answered to in the gang likely knew they were going there that night. He could have figured out something happened to them there and burned down the bakery as retaliation.”
“Or this might have nothing to do with retaliation at all,” Maxim said as he stirred hot cocoa on the stovetop. “Could have been an accidental fire for all we know. Maybe we should wait and see what it’s ruled as before we become conspiracy theorists.”
Regent tapped his fingers against the tabletop as Maxim came back with several mugs of creamy cocoa topped with tiny marshmallows. She took a sip. Perfect.
“I don’t believe in coincidences,” Regent said.
Maxim sighed. “Well, did anyone check the cameras yet?”
Victor grumbled. “Why didn’t I think of that?” He shifted her onto one knee then pulled his phone out.
“Can you put it on my computer?” Regent asked. “It would be easier for us to see it on a big screen.”
“Yeah, I’ll send the feed through.” Victor set her on her feet, then picked up her drink for her as they walked into Regent’s office. They crowded around his desk as he opened it.
“I’ll go back three hours,” Victor said.
They shifted through footage until finally, someone moved through the bakery’s entrance. They had a beanie on their head and gloves on and they were carrying . . .
“Is that a gas container?” she asked.
“Yes,” Victor replied grimly. He pulled her in close to him. “Bastard.”
“Wait, there’s someone else,” Maxim said, pointing at a smaller figure. Definitely shorter than the first person. And this one had hair falling out the bottom of their hat.
“Is that a woman?” she asked. Surprise filled her. Not that women couldn’t commit crimes.
“It appears that way,” Regent said grimly. “Can we focus in further on what’s on the back of his jacket?”
“I can try,” Maxim replied. He did something on the computer and the image was blurry, but there was no mistaking it.
She let out a short gasp.
“What is it?” Victor asked.
“I’ve seen that image before. On the back of a jacket.”
“Whose jacket was it?” Victor asked.
“Ice’s,” she whispered.
“Uh, guys,” Maxim said. “Look at this.”
They turned back to the computer screen. They’d moved on from Ice dousing the bakery in gasoline.
To where the second person was staring right up toward the camera, and her stomach sunk. She’d been hoping she was mistaken. Or that Ice was working with someone else.
But there was no mistaking her niece’s face.
Victor paced up and down the downstairs hallway the following evening. Pausing, he glanced toward the kitchen.
What was she doing? Was she all right? Should he go to her?
He hated being this indecisive. Not knowing what his girl needed.
“You’re giving me a headache,” Regent called out from his office. “Either go to her or get in here and sit down.”
“She said she needed some time to herself.” They’d spent most of today dealing with the fire investigator and the cops. Then he’d taken her down to look at the remnants of what was left of the bakery. They’d gotten home at dinner time and after heating them up some meals, she’d asked for some time alone.
He didn’t like that she’d skipped dinner. Even though she’d heated up some of the meals Gerald had left for the three of them.
The fire investigator had told them that it appeared to be arson, but that a proper investigation would likely take weeks. He’d seemed somewhat intimidated by Victor’s presence. But that was his problem.
Regent had suggested that they didn’t tell the investigator or police about the camera feed. He didn’t want the cops using it as an opportunity to look into anything else, like Ice and his ties to Santiago and the Ventura gang. Or what they were doing to the gang.
He needed to make that bastard Ice pay. Anita, too, but that was trickier. Victor could tell Gracen was conflicted about the whole thing.
The problem was, she wasn’t talking to him. And he hated that. He didn’t like there being anything between them. She’d asked him for some time alone, though. And he had to give her that.
No matter how much he didn’t want to.
So now she was in the kitchen, baking up a storm and he was out here, annoying Regent.
He walked into his brother’s office and sat on the chair across the desk from Regent.
“Do you know where Maxim is?” Regent asked.
“I think he went out to check on the clubs. He took guards,” Victor added.
What was she doing? Had she eaten anything? What if she was sitting there, crying?
He was nearly at the point of sitting her down and forcing some food into her.