Chapter 3 - THE BILLIONAIRE AND THE CAT
Milo hated Elias Kincaid.
That became clear within thirty seconds.
The orange tabby emerged from his carrier, examined the luxury hotel suite, and immediately hissed at the billionaire standing beside the fireplace.
Elias looked down.
Avery covered her mouth.
“Sorry.”
Elias raised an eyebrow.
“Does he do that to everyone?”
“Only people he doesn't trust.”
Elias looked at the cat.
“Smart animal.”
Avery laughed.
It was the first genuine laugh she'd managed since the attack.
The suite occupied the top floor of a smaller hotel owned by Kincaid Maritime Holdings.
It had two bedrooms.
A kitchen.
A living room larger than Avery's entire apartment.
And windows overlooking Lake Michigan.
Avery stood near the sofa holding Milo.
“This is ridiculous.”
Elias looked at her.
“What is?”
“This room.”
“It's secure.”
“It probably costs more per night than my rent.”
He shrugged.
“Probably.”
Avery stared.
“You don't even know?”
“No.”
She laughed again.
Elias watched her.
Something about her laughter unsettled him.
Not because it was unpleasant.
Because he hadn't realized how long it had been since someone laughed around him without trying to impress him.
At three in the morning, Avery sat at the kitchen island eating toast.
Elias stood across from her with a cup of black coffee.
“You should sleep,” he said.
“So should you.”
“I don't sleep much.”
“That sounds unhealthy.”
“It is.”
She looked up.
He smiled faintly.
Avery studied him.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“Why did Crowe want you dead?”
Elias's expression changed.
He looked toward the windows.
“Power.”
“That seems too simple.”
“Usually the ugliest motives are.”
Avery waited.
Elias continued.
“Warren helped my father build the company. After my father died, he became my guardian in everything but name.”
She nodded.
“He raised you?”
“In some ways.”
“And now he wants to kill you?”
Elias looked down.
“I discovered irregularities in several businesses. Missing money. Unauthorized contracts. People using my name to move things I never approved.”
Avery swallowed.
“Criminal things?”
Elias met her eyes.
“Yes.”
She went still.
He didn't look away.
“I've spent years operating in a world where legal businesses and criminal relationships overlap. Some of those choices are mine to answer for.”
Avery studied him.
He continued.
“Crowe believed he could control the company after I was gone.”
“And the police lieutenant?”
“Rourke would control the investigation.”
Avery shook her head.
“Three hundred people could have died.”
Elias's jaw tightened.
“I know.”
Avery looked at her toast.
Then whispered, “I almost left.”
Elias frowned.
“What?”
“When I heard them talking. I almost walked out through the loading dock.”
He said nothing.
“I thought about Milo. My sister. My bills.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Stupid things.”
Elias shook his head.
“Not stupid.”
Avery looked up.
He continued.
“Those are the things that make a life worth saving.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Milo jumped onto the kitchen counter.
Elias looked at him.
Avery sighed.
“Milo. No.”
The cat stared directly at her.
Then sat down.
Elias laughed.
A real laugh.
Low.
Unexpected.
Avery looked at him.
May you like
And for the first time, Elias Kincaid seemed less like a dangerous billionaire.
And more like a man who had forgotten how to be happy.
