Page 26 of Scarred Ruin

“That’s what I believe.”

She was a tough girl, her insistence understandable, albeit completely wrong. “Black Diamond Logistics is a completely legitimate, close to a billion-dollar enterprise. If you’re worried I’ve laundered money through the company, I have not. There has been no need, nor would I allow the trust to be placed under a microscope, which has already happened, knowing dirty money would be discovered. That’s not how a successful businessman operates.”

“Okay. I’ll accept that. For now.”

In seeing her concern, I was reminded that no matter if she’d had any involvement, which I continued to doubt, she’d been a victim. She’d gotten shot because of her instincts. I couldn’t forget that if a slightly different angle had been taken by the driver, she’d be dead.

That alone enraged me. “How are you healing?” I’d softened my voice, but she still winced, automatically touching her shoulder. However, I doubted her expression had anything to do with physical pain.

“I’m fine. An ache now and then, but no lasting damage done.” Her eyes suddenly opened wide. “Wait. You were bleeding. I remember.” The fact she was anxious, concerned gnawed at something deep inside.

“Apparently, the bullet meant to kill me went through your shoulder to mine.”

“Several shots were fired.” She looked away, her eyebrows furrowing. “I remember hearing them.”

“Yes, and my… friend was hit with two of them.”

I sensed she was remembering more than she was willing to share. Not that she could have seen anything.

“I’m still uncomfortable about the project. You are without a doubt a very dangerous man.”

She had no idea how correct she was.

“Tell me about the men who tried to hurt my child.”

Her lower lip quivered, but only for a few seconds. “They came from the south, moving rapidly in a white SUV. There was no front license plate. I didn’t stick around long enough to try and see if there was one on the back.”

Her hesitation was as if questioning whether I’d stop her. “Go on.”

“There were three men dressed in suits similar to what your men were wearing when they finally arrived late to pick up Mina. Uncle Roman and his goons?”

I resisted smiling. “My brother and trusted men.”

“Hmm… If you say so. Mina was already alone at that point, unafraid, but I knew something was off, so I grabbed her and ran toward the back gate. They tried to stop us. All three had weapons. I was lucky I had my mace with me and didn’t hesitate to use it.”

“Anything you can tell me about the men?”

“Only that the leader was bald, stretching the seams of his suit and had an accent I couldn’t recognize. I thought Russian at first, but I don’t think so now.”

A bald man with what might be a European accent. That was more to go on than I’d had before. Her memory was intact. “I have no doubt you saved my daughter’s life and for that I will forever be grateful. Now, I must ask. Why did you save me? You do realize the coincidence is strikingly difficult for me to swallow.”

Her expression shifted into a hint of fury. “Trust me, I was wondering the same thing. I had a feeling something terrible was about to happen. I heard brakes squeal and something set me off. Unfortunately, I am blank on certain details after that. My doctor said it’s the trauma of the shooting.”

I believed her. “Understandable.” There was no need to belabor the point, at least for now.

“However, you don’t believe me.”

“I question everything, Isabel. That’s how I stay alive.”

She absorbed what I told her, nodding once.

“Now, let me show you something.”

I studied her for a few seconds before moving toward my credenza, opening the closet door next to it. She didn’t move until after I’d placed a couple of sketches that weren’t unlike hers onto easels.

Yet she stood where she was across the room.

“Take a look, Isabel. I’m no architect, but the idea came to me several months ago. In fact, almost exactly a year.”