Page 26 of Beautiful Killer

CHAPTER NINE

Sunny

I lifted my bag higher on my shoulder and hit the button for the fifth floor. As I rocketed higher, I looked down at the card clutched in my hand. I never planned to use it. But after talking to the police yesterday, learning that two weeks into the investigation, they still had no leads on who broke into my house or the precious items stolen, I decided to call Ruby and ask some more about what the King Agency could do for me. I wanted my grandmother’s jewelry back. The thought that someone else had it . . .

My belly rolled and my nose started to sting. I couldn’t bear to think about it.

I straightened my shoulders and took several deep breaths. Pull it together, Sunny.

Ruby had sounded happy to hear from me, and explained that they were specialists at getting stolen items back. I was sold. I didn’t care about their value, I just wanted back what was taken from me. It was all I had from my mother’s side of the family. I’d treasured every beautifully crafted piece. They were my inspiration, the reason I got into jewelry making in the first place.

And if they could track down the man who’d hurt me as well . . . that was something I was more than willing to pay for, whatever the cost. I was still afraid at night, still not really sleeping. I wasn’t only afraid, though—I was angry, furious, about what happened to me. That someone had come into my home and taken my things. I wanted them back. I wanted them all back.

The doors slid open and I spotted Lulu behind the reception desk. She stood as soon as she saw me, a smile stretching her lips.

I smiled back, careful not to smile too wide. My stitches were still in and the bruising on the other side had faded a lot, but it still ached. That wasn’t the only reason I didn’t want to smile too wide, though—the nerve damage had become more obvious. Not all the muscles on the right side of my face worked like they used to. The damage wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but when I smiled now, only the left side of my mouth lifted the way it should. I had a kind of crooked smile. I was still getting used to it. I wasn’t a vain person, and there were people going through far worse than I was, but I could admit I felt self-conscious—mostly, though, I didn’t want anyone’s pity.

She came around and pulled me into a hug. I was surprised, but warmed by it.

“I’m so glad you decided to come. Ruby’s out working a case, and sorry she couldn’t be here. The guys here are very good at what they do, though.” She paused. “But they’re intense, and it can be a little . . . um, intimidating, and after what you went through, I thought it’d be good for one of us to be here when you came in to introduce you.” She took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “It’s going to be fine. I promise.”

I squeezed her hand back. “Thank you, that’s so . . .” I let out a shaky breath because I was nervous. I don’t know why, maybe the idea of talking about what happened again, but I appreciated her being here. “You’re a really nice person, Lulu. You and Ruby.”

Her smile grew warmer. “We know a kindred spirit when we meet one.” Before I could ask what she meant by that, she said, “Come on, Hunter and Van are just down here.”

She led the way and I followed, my nerves increasing as we went.

Lulu chatted as she led me through a security door and headed down a short hall. “Hunter’s my fiancé. You’ll be meeting with him and his brother Van today. They’ll just ask you a few questions and go from there.”

I nodded, my eyes sliding to the tattoo on the side of her neck. “Hunter,” scrawled in beautiful sloping, loopy script. I had wondered who Hunter was when she first came into my shop. I’d assumed it was her son’s name . . .

“Just through here,” she said and opened one of the doors without knocking, leading me into a large office.

Two extremely tall men stood to one side, deep in conversation. Lulu said they were brothers and you could tell, though one was heavily tattooed with dark hair and blue eyes, and the other had darker skin and dark eyes. Their features were quite similar. Both were definitely very good looking.

They turned as we walked in.

“Hunter, Van, this is Sunny,” Lulu said.

Hunter, the one with all the tattoos, came forward and shook my hand. “Nice to meet you. Lulu’s told me a little about what you went through.” His eyes grew intense as they moved over my face and a muscle in his jaw jumped. I’d given up trying to cover my bruises. Makeup just seemed to make them more obvious, so I’d just been using a little tinted moisturizer or some concealer.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Van moved in next and shook my hand. I instantly knew what Lulu meant by intimidating. The guy was even more intense than Hunter.

“Thank you for taking the time to meet with me,” I said.

“Lulu said you had your security system updated. Do you mind if I ask who you used?” Van asked.

Okay, no small talk then. “Oh . . . um . . . Gallery Security.”

He glanced at Hunter then back to me. “We have a guy we trust, who really knows his stuff. Do you mind if we get him to come check it over?”

What was going on here? I thought this was a consultation about my missing jewelry. Maybe a discussion about finding the asshole who broke in. “Please, don’t go to any trouble . . .”

“You’re on your own?” he asked.

“Well . . . yes.”