Chapter 20

Remy

The gallery was quiet, lit by soft LED lights, giving the pieces a certain dignified quality.

They walked into her office, a small space with stacks of papers on one side, several envelopes on the other, and a wide screen computer monitor.

She had a big window, almost floor to ceiling, which looked out to the street. Downtown Chicago was bustling with life. People walked, cycled, and drove to their destination, oblivious of them. The glass was tinted, people couldn’t see inside.

Veronica, her assistant, handed her some notes on clients and calls she missed. Julie thanked her and closed the door. She sighed and finally sat on her chair.

He sat on the armrest of a small sofa, her office, like her house, oozed personality. It was clean and organized, but also full of decorative plants and paintings.

“I like it here,” he said.

She smiled, and that was the answer he needed.

“Thank you for taking me out of there,” she said, “I was going to die.”

“Why?”

She shook her head, “just… I don’t know. Someone’s working with me, apparently.”

“Here?”

“My dad didn’t give me any details, I have to stalk him on Facebook or something.”

He laughed, “are you good at that? I’m starting to get scared…”

She narrowed her eyes teasingly.

“Why? Do you have something to hide?”

“Not really—”

“Relax, I’m not a psycho-girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend,” he repeated, liking the word. She immediately noticed his reaction and tried to backtrack on her words.

“I mean—”

“Don’t say it,” he interrupted, “I’ve been looking for you my whole life too.”

Her jaw dropped, then, a second or two later she closed it, unable to hide her happiness.

They sipped their coffee.

“What happened?”

“You know.”

“Did he do something to bother you?”

He tried to remain calm. He wasn’t going to tell her what to do or how to act, she was smarter than he’d ever be.

But the thought of that piece of shit bothering his girlfriend drove him to the edge. He wanted his head on a plate.

“He was… just Trey, you know?”

“You’re okay, right?”

She smiled, “yes, don’t worry.”

“Okay, I won’t,” he said, raising his arms, inviting her in.

She rolled on her chair closer to him and hopped on his lap.

“I’m glad it happened, though.”

“Why? ‘Cause I wouldn’t be sitting on your lap otherwise?”

He softly bit her shoulder, “true.”

She giggled.

“We need to work, though.”

“Sure,” he said, and sipped on his drink. It was only half full now.

“And who was the ‘important person’ your father asked you to—”

“Oh! You should have seen the baby! The cutest little guy I’ve ever seen.”

She was so giddy.

“I don’t know who they were, Elton and Sarah—”

“Elton and Sarah Harrington?”

“You know them?”

Fuck. His family had tried to make the guy work for them for a long time. But somehow the Crawford’s could do it?

Shit. Fuck. Fuck! They were a threat now. A real one.

Elton was a financial manager, just like him… only with much more experience. He was a genius, a true genius at laundering money. He’d worked for the top politicians and crime families in the United States.

After a while, he went straight.

As straight as he could, going into international business. Remy was sure he was still laundering money somehow, but it could not be traced.

The Crawford’s must have given him something incredible in return if they made him work for them. This was bad news.

“Remy?”

Her voice carried a hint of concern in them.

“I’ve heard of him,” he said, “he’s great at what he does.”

“Which is…”

“Just making sure your business is operating at maximum efficiency.”

“Oh, just that,” she teased, “does that mean my dad thinks I’m lazy?”

Remy laughed.

“Well, we’re drinking coffee right now instead of working, right?”

She opened her mouth, embarrassment flooding her.

“I need to get back to work,” she said, standing up immediately.

“I was just kidding, I—”

She kissed him, “I know, but you’re right.”

He was going to say something but she slapped his butt and almost pushed him out of her office.

“Thank you for the ride, boyfriend.”

He shook his head, smiling.

“Talk to you later?”

She bit her lower lip and nodded. Her happiness washed over him, walking to the curb, he saw himself reflected in a store window next to her gallery.

He looked like an idiot, smiling for nothing. He hated how great he felt.

His enemies were getting stronger, and now he really needed to do something about it.

This meant the Crawford’s would step up their game. There was no way they would relinquish the territory they’d gained.

This is bad news. Real bad news.