Chloe had heard about the shootout between federal agents and a suspected member of an organized crime family, as well as the death of an innocent woman and an unnamed gunman. It had been all over the news for the past few days and she did everything she could to keep busy and keep her mind from the worry. She instinctively knew one of the agents was Hunter. She tried to call Jack for confirmation, but couldn’t get through. She had tried to contact David several times, but couldn’t get a hold of him either. She felt like she was dying inside with each passing minute. If she could just find out if Hunter was okay, she could breathe easier.
Chloe decided to occupy herself in the conference room, reviewing various papers, when Matthew and Crescent entered. She ignored them as Matthew took a seat across from her, while Crescent stood behind him. Matthew had a cigar in one hand and a small metal box in the other, placing the box on the table in front of him. Chloe knew what that cigar meant and suddenly felt nauseous as she glanced at the box. She raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to talk first.
“What’s all this?” Matthew asked, waving his hand at the papers on the table.
“Most of this is the scheduling and notes for the meeting, which will be held Tuesday after next, but I’m still waiting to hear back from Kansas City and Albuquerque. I have a block of rooms reserved for everybody and—”
“Tuesday after next?” Matthew asked. “Why so long?”
Trying not to look at the box, Chloe answered, “Because David won’t be available until then. I also chose that day because it’s your birthday. By planning a birthday party to coincide with the meeting, the visiting Family members and all of your admirers will be here. Afterward, the meeting can be held.”
Matthew tried, and failed, to maintain a graceful tone. “I’m surprised you even considered planning a birthday party for me.”
“Don’t read too much into it. I know how much you love to celebrate yourself,” Chloe said, disgusted, as Matthew’s eyes began to crease in loathing. “It’s just a coincidence.”
Matthew cast a glance at Crescent, then turned back to Chloe. “You heard about what happened in New Orleans a few days ago?”
Chloe casually shifted in her chair in an effort to give the impression that she didn’t care when, really, her heart was heavy with a worry she desperately tried not to show. “Of course I’ve heard about it. It’s been all over the news.”
Matthew leaned forward, wrapping his hands around the box as he spoke quietly. “Renee, I don’t think you have been completely honest with me.”
Right back atcha, she thought.
“This agent that was killed in New Orleans…” Matthew didn’t bother suppressing a smile as Chloe’s entire posture froze in horror, “…you knew him, didn’t you?”
Did she hear him right? An agent was killed? How did he know that and why was she just now hearing about it? Most of all, was it true? Her thoughts were beginning to blur, but her response was cool. “I know that New Orleans was your doing, but there has been no word of an agent, or agents, being killed. If that were the case, it would be breaking national news.”
“Sometimes the news isn’t always the best source for information. Yes, an agent was killed in the fight. The news isn’t reporting it because Jack Lawrence is very good at his job and isn’t overly happy that one of his best men was a possible liability to the Family.”
Chloe kept her breathing even and her composure still as her chest tightened and terror began to flow through her. The feeling of loss she swore she would never experience again was happening and it scared the hell out of her.
“As a matter of fact,” Matthew continued, “I have it on good authority that not only do you know him, you fell in love with him.” Matthew took a long pull off his cigar as he leaned back in his chair with a sinister look on his face and said, “Chloe.”
She froze, horror replaced by genuine fear for her life. Finally, she was able to speak, but only in a whisper. “How…”
“How isn’t important. What is important is the fact that I have you exactly where I want you and nothing you do or say will change that.”
“Why don’t you just kill me and get it over with?”
“Because I’m not done with you,” he answered as he pushed the metal box across the table to rest in front of Chloe. “I am far from done with you.”
She swallowed a lump in her throat the size of a boulder and stared at the box, terrified of what she would find inside. “What’s this?”
“A reminder that I always follow through on any promise or threat I make.”
Chloe inadvertently glanced in Crescent’s direction. He was watching her carefully and giving her a threatening look to let her know that if she didn’t open the box, he would be the one doling out the consequences. She slowly reached for the box with trembling hands and pulled it closer to her, breathing deeply to steady herself and taking a few seconds to try to prepare for what she would find inside.
Matthew gave her a forceful glare and in a demanding tone said, “Open the box.”
Chloe jumped out of her chair in revulsion as she saw a human heart resting inside. She covered her mouth in an attempt to keep the bile from rising, but failed as she found the nearest garbage can and released all of the contents in her stomach.
Matthew stood and turned to Chloe, who was now bracing herself against the wall, shaking, gasping for air, and tears gushing from her eyes. “Nobody will ever be able to love you again. Do you understand that now?”
Matthew opened the door to leave and she couldn’t help herself. She took the box off the table and threw it at Matthew with all of her strength, hitting him in the back.
“You sadistic son of a bitch!” she screamed. “How can you be so evil?”
She ran toward him with the intent of doing whatever she could to make him bleed, but Crescent was faster. He grabbed Chloe’s arm, forcibly yanking her away from Matthew, and when she fought him and tried to pull free, Crescent flung her across the table like a rag doll, her body slamming into the wall, where she fell unconscious.