Chapter 20

Jenna

Fuck him. He wasn't at all the guy I thought he was, or maybe he was exactly who I thought he was.

I pulled my phone from my purse and called Grace. She picked up on the first ring. Thank God.

"Hey. Where are you? I haven't heard from you in a few days."

"I'm leaving Kadia. I just got in a fight with Nate, and I need you. I hate to drag you in the middle of this bullshit, but I'm going over to Darek's. Can you come with me?"

"Yeah. Sure." She sounded unsure.

"Unless I'm interrupting something. Where are you?"

"I'm still at the library." She yawned loudly.

I got in the car and started it before buckling up. "What? I thought your shift ended at three on Thursdays."

"It does, but I took a shift for one of the guys because Erik was holed up on the top floor, and I wanted to stare at him a little bit longer."

"Erik?"

"The bad guy?" She snorted and laughed.

"Oh, shit." I pursed my lips and headed toward the public library. "Can I just pick you up there? You off soon?"

"Oh yeah. The place has been closed for an hour, but I told him he could stay until he was done."

"Keep him there. Please."

"What?" Grace's voice pinched tight.

"Keep him there. I need his help. Maybe." I turned down one of the busier streets in downtown and cursed as Grace fumbled with her response.

"How do I keep him here?" Her voice shook.

"I don't know. Talk to him. Act like the fucking doors are locked. I need ten minutes to get there, Grace. I need to talk to him."

"All right. Fine. I'll try. Hurry."

I dropped the call and pounded on my horn as if the sound alone could clear the road. My heart ached in my chest over Nathaniel not wanting to help me. Or believe me.

I was on my own. "What else is new?"

The roads cleared a few minutes later and I breathed a sigh of relief and sped toward the library. The beautiful structure was lit up, looking like something majestic as I parked beside it and got out.

I locked the car with my arm extended behind me as I jogged toward the door and used my free hand to pull my phone out. I texted Grace that I was there, and waited outside, pacing the floor in front of the main door.

"Hey. Over here. The main doors are locked." She motioned for me to join her.

"Hey. I'm sorry about this. I need to fill you in on everything." I jogged toward her and slipped into the warmth of the library. I hadn't realized how cold it was outside until we were walking through the halls toward the elevator.

"All right, so, spill." She put her hands on her hips. "Have you been crying?"

"Yes, but never mind that. I got a letter from Darek in the mail."

Her eyes widened. "Explain."

"He sent it to me the day he died. He knew something was up and gave me the password to his personal files so I could review the conversations he had leading up to that day."

"Holy shit, Jenna. Did you tell your father?"

"No." I reached up and tugged at my hair. "I don't want my father involved. If someone killed Darek, and he's as high up in the city as he is, why would they spare my father? No. I'm taking care of this myself."

"Wait. Taking care of this?" The door opened and she grabbed me as I tried to move through it.

"I'm going over there tonight. I have to get his laptop so I can review the files. I know Denise was involved in his death, Grace. My brother wouldn't kill himself."

She released me and we turned and yelped as a dark figure moved out of the shadows. Erik.

"Sorry. I didn't realize how late it was." He glanced from me to Grace and smiled. "You have to tell me if I break the rules. It's in my nature to do so."

"It's okay, no worries at-"

I cut her off. "Erik. I need your help." I moved toward him as he stiffened.

"How do you know my name?" His eyebrow lifted.

"My father is the DA of New York City. I know a lot about you." I stopped in front of him and glanced up into his beautiful face with what I prayed was a pleading expression. "Please. I need your help."

"I love helping a pretty woman, miss, but you being the daughter of the DA doesn't exactly score you any points with me. Your prick of a father has been trying to take down my family for ages. Why in the world would I help you?"

"What if I could delete a few files from the system? My father's computer is completely accessible from his library. He wouldn't suspect me."

He watched me closely as Grace moved up beside me and grabbed my arm.

"What are you doing right now? You can't delete files from your father's library. There should be backups and stuff."

"She's right." Erik glanced toward Grace. "But a well-planted virus would help out a lot."

"Can you get me the virus?" I kept my eyes on my target. I didn't have to figure this out alone. Erik would help me. I had something he wanted. Too bad Nate hadn't felt the same.

"I can." He licked his lips and tilted his head a little, looking like sin incarnate. "What do you want help with, Jenna Webb?"

I stiffened, though I should have known that he knew who I was. Everyone did.

"My brother was murdered last weekend. I want-"

"Your brother committed suicide. I've seen the files." He crossed his arms over his massive chest and Grace sighed and walked away.

"I'm closing everything down. Don't leave without me."

"I won't," I mumbled, grateful that she gave me and Erik a minute alone. "He wouldn't do that. If you know anything about my family, you know that Darek was my father’s pride and joy. He wouldn’t kill himself."

"Agreed. So who fed him the sex drug, little girl? Three of those bitches and your heart will stop." He watched me with an intensity that rivaled Nate's.

"I don't know, but I would bet it's his fucking widow. Something is off about her."

He nodded. "Very off. Her last husband died too. Not four years ago. Seems very suspicious."

"What?" Shock raced through me. "She's not been married before."

He clicked his tongue against his teeth. "Don't challenge my facts, Jenna. Tell me what you want from me for this quid pro quo. Take care of my needs, and I'll take care of yours."

His line was far too sexual, but maybe it was just me. He was overwhelming that close up.

"My brother left a laptop at his place. He gave me the password."

"Don't need it."

"What? We do need it. It should have evidence that-"

"Don't need it. She killed him. Plain and simple. She's a black widow."

I pressed my hands to my face and breathed in slowly. "How do you know this?"

"I know everything, Miss Webb. You want her dead? Is that the payoff? Or you want the evidence delivered on your doorstep?"

"I want two things." I dragged my fingers down my face. "Please."

"Sure. Seems doable if you're really willing to fry your daddy's files for me and mine."

"For you. Not the rest of your family." I shook my head.

"Easy enough." He shrugged. "Two things. What are they?"

"Get the evidence that she forced those drugs on him somehow and go with me when I kill her."

He snorted. "You're going to take out the girl?"

"Yes." I nodded, fully aware that my life would change forever, but I couldn't let someone else clean up the mess. She killed my brother and destroyed my father. I needed closure. Even if it changed me forever.

"I'm getting hard just thinking about it." He licked his lips again and smiled. "Deal, Jenna Webb. Set me up with your pretty friend when this is all over."

"Fuck no. Set yourself up." I turned as he walked past me and chuckled low in his chest. Grace would never survive him.

"Expect to hear from me by this weekend."

"Wait. You need the password to Darek's computer."

"No, I don't."

I stood there in the dark, watching him go until Grace jogged back toward me.

"What did I miss?"

"Nothing. Everything." I turned my attention to my best friend. "Would you still love me if I killed someone?"

"Was it an accident?"

"No."

"Did they deserve it?"

"Does anyone deserve to die?" I reached out and ran my hand down her arm.

"Yeah, some people do." She glanced over her shoulder. "Awww... did I miss him leaving?"

"Yeah, but stay away from him Grace. He's a really bad guy."

"I realize that. It's his name I scream when I masturbate."

"Really?" I glanced over at her and shook my head at the silly pink dress she wore. "You're killing me here."

"Speaking of killing... who are we offing?"

"We? No one." I stopped and glanced around. "I'm not letting you get involved."

"You don't have a choice. Where you go - I go."

I nodded as emotion choked me. Of course, my best friend was willing to have my back. Nate wasn't. My sister wouldn't. But Grace... I could always count on Grace.

No matter the request.