Page 136 of High Reward

“Mrs. Novak will be on her way to the bunker with the Carters shortly. I’ve been told she’s none too happy about it.”

“She’ll live,” Hunter snaps. “Is that all, gentlemen?”

“I’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s on these recordings, but I’ll keep digging and let you know if I find anything else,” Owen promises.

As we leave the Pink Sapphire, I steel myself for what’s coming. The summit. The necessary confrontation with Griffin. And the potential bloodshed and upheaval if things don’t go right. I’ve kept that part of myself leashed for years, the violence came so naturally in my youth.

But if Griffin Price, the Russians, or anyone else comes for me and mine again, I’m prepared to set it free again.

Chapter 35

Grace

“Idon’tunderstand.”

I stare at Victor, confusion making me frown as I try to process what he just told me. “You’re telling me the scholarship was real, but it was funded by Griffin Price just to get me to the university?”

We’ve been staying at his house instead of the club for two days, and it seems like every hour Owen is calling with additional information from the voice recorder.

“I know it’s a lot to process, butterfly.”

“I can’t keep it. Which puts a damper on my plans to graduate faster.”

“You want to write, anyway,” Lili says from her perch on the barstool in the kitchen.

Victor reaches out and grips my hand. “I can set up a fund for you.”

I pull my hand away. “No. Absolutely not.”

He frowns. “Why not? You’re mine. That means I have financial responsibility for you.”

I groan. “Not for things like that. Making sure we have what we need here? Sure. Making sure I don’t starve? Yeah, I’d appreciate that. But forking over thousands of dollars so I can finish my degree early is not your job.”

He wants to argue. I can see it in his eyes, but he presses his lips together and stays quiet.

“Seriously, Grace. Why are you not putting all your effort into the book you haven’t been able to stop working on for the last week? Focus on that and opening your bookstore.”

“Bookstore?” Victor questions.

I glare at Lili as my face turns red. “It’s a pipe dream. I want to open an indie bookstore that focuses on romance novels from indie and small press authors.”

Victor grins. “That’s not a pipe dream, Mariposa. That’s a brilliant idea that I’d love to help you put into action.”

“I’m not ready for something that big.” I hold up my hands, palms toward Victor. “Look. This is a lot you’ve just dumped on me. Can I have a minute to think before I make major life decisions?”

“Of course, Grace. I won’t push. But hear me when I say that I support whichever way you want to go. We’re building a life together. Money isn’t an issue.”

Considering that he’d already paid the lease break fee on my apartment and had it packed up in a matter of twelve hoursyesterday, I believe him. Sabrina decided to stay with Tyson while she figures out her next steps. She wants to follow him to New Orleans but isn’t sure how one of her other partners feels about her uprooting her life again.

Victor rises from the sofa and bends to kiss my forehead. “We’re going to figure things out. But take your time. There’s no need to decide right now.”

He walks to the kitchen and fills a glass with water from the fridge and drains it. “I have to go into Las Vegas to talk to Harper at the hospital before she goes to jail.”

“Are you going to show her Kara and Griffin’s photos?” Lili asks.

Since discovering that Kara and Griffin do have a connection, there has been speculation that the two of them are the couple who blackmailed Harper.

“I am. And ask her a few questions. But don’t worry,” he says when I give him a look. “I’m not going to hurt her. She’s already been arrested for her crimes, and I’m going to let the justice system handle her.”