Page 116 of Fierce Storm
“Easy for you to say when you live in the same state.”
“Move here.” I shrug, and the gasp I get in return is so loud, you’d think she was screaming.
“Move here? Leave New York?”
“It’s not as hard as you think.”
“Oh, really? Is that why you’re still keeping one foot in the door? Still running your business as though you never left?”
“Daniel is running D’Angelo Construction. Not me.”
“So you weren’t there a couple of weeks back.”
“There was a fire, Camilla. It’s not like I flew home for the Monday morning catch-up meeting.”Although I do regularly call in for that.
I expect Camilla to argue, but she shocks me when her face pales. “I didn’t know there was a fire.”
“I paid big bucks to keep it quiet, so I’m happy to hear it worked.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you keep it quiet?”
“Because I didn’t want it coming out that we had a disgruntled employee going around setting fire to our offices, wanting to send a message.”
“A disgruntled employee. Is that what you think?”
“It’s what Iknow.”
“I think you’re wrong.”
“What? Why?” I frown until a thought comes to mind and I chuckle softly. “Camilla, this isn’t something for you to get excited about, and it’s not something for you to discuss at one of your gossip-fueled lunches. In fact, I’d prefer it if you didn’t.”
Camilla stares at me deadpan as she folds her arms over her chest. “That’s not what this is.”
“It’s not?”
“No. Do I like gossip? Sure. I like it as much as the average person does.” I wouldn’t exactly say that but I let it slide. “This isn’t gossip. I’m worried.”
“Worried?”
“I increased my security the other week because I think I’m being followed.” Her voice lowers while my heart jolts, and for the first time, I pause and give her my full attention, keeping an eye out for her usual tells. If this was one of her attention-seeking grabs, she would have told me about it the second she arrived in San Francisco. Or called me the moment she increased her detail. If she’s only telling me now, it’s not a game.
“What makes you think you’re being followed?”
“I wish I could say it’s just a feeling, but I’ve seen flashes of light, like someone is taking a photo as I’m leaving the building. I heard footsteps behind me and turned around to find no one was there. It’s freaking me out. And it only started after I was officially called as a witness for the Mikkleson case.”
“The Mikklesons. Fuck.” Why didn’t I put two and two together? Is it them trying to send me a message? Send my family a message.
I wouldn’t put it past them considering what they did to Paige years ago, but I thought that part of our lives was over. Iguess it’s possible that now that the trial is approaching, they’re back to their old tricks.
“You told Paige not to testify, right?” Camilla asks me, her expression neutral.
“I did. They’ve got plenty of evidence without her statement. After she agreed, I pushed it from my mind.”
The second Paige told me about the Mikklesons blackmailing her after she moved to San Francisco, I took over the investigation with Austin, vowing to protect her. And with Camilla’s help, thanks to her affair with Gabriel Mikkleson, we were able to secure the information we needed to bring them down.
