Chapter 3 - Victor's Offer
The men approaching the boathouse did not rush.
That worried Gwen more.
Four figures emerged from the fog.
A fifth remained beside the vehicle.
Marcus positioned himself near the door.
Adrian stayed behind Gwen.
She glanced at him.
“You should sit.”
“No.”
“You can barely stand.”
“I've attended board meetings in worse condition.”
“Your board meetings must be terrible.”
A voice came from outside.
“Adrian!”
Adrian's face changed.
Recognition.
“Victor.”
A handsome man in an expensive gray coat stepped from the fog.
He looked remarkably similar to Adrian.
Same dark hair.
Same controlled posture.
But his smile was warmer.
Too warm.
“Thank God,” Victor called.
Adrian opened the door.
Marcus protested.
“Boss—”
“It's fine.”
Victor stopped twenty feet away.
“I thought you were dead.”
Adrian leaned against the doorframe.
“You sound disappointed.”
Victor laughed.
“Still suspicious.”
“Still alive.”
Victor looked at Gwen.
“And this must be the woman who rescued you.”
Gwen said nothing.
Victor smiled.
“Gwen Miller.”
Her stomach tightened.
“You people really need to stop researching me.”
Victor's smile widened.
“I came to thank you.”
“No, you didn't.”
Adrian glanced at her.
Victor's expression hardened slightly.
“You saved someone important to my family.”
“Then take him home.”
“That's exactly what I'm here to do.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
Victor looked genuinely wounded.
“Adrian.”
“Who changed the maintenance crew?”
Silence.
Victor's smile vanished.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“The helicopter.”
“An accident.”
“The pilot said the controls failed.”
Victor looked toward Marcus.
“Is that what Marcus told you?”
“No.”
Adrian's eyes remained fixed on his cousin.
“Gwen did.”
Victor looked at her.
Something changed.
Not anger.
Calculation.
Gwen recognized it immediately.
Men had looked at broken engines that way when deciding whether repairs were worth the money.
Victor was deciding whether she was a problem.
Adrian stepped between them.
“Look at me.”
Victor did.
“She has nothing to do with this.”
“She knows my name.”
“Half the East Coast knows your name.”
“She heard yours.”
Victor's eyes narrowed.
Gwen finally understood.
Adrian had said Victor while barely conscious.
That single word mattered.
Victor smiled again.
“Miss Miller, Adrian is confused. He's injured.”
“I'm beginning to think everyone around him says that whenever he asks inconvenient questions.”
Marcus coughed to hide a laugh.
Victor ignored him.
“I'll compensate you.”
“For what?”
“Your trouble.”
“I don't want your money.”
“Everyone wants money.”
“Then you've spent too much time around people who need yours.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
Adrian looked almost impressed.
Victor reached into his coat.
Marcus moved instantly.
Adrian raised a hand.
Victor slowly removed an envelope.
“Two hundred thousand dollars.”
Gwen stared.
“That's ridiculous.”
“Take it. Forget last night.”
She walked outside.
Adrian caught her arm gently.
“Gwen.”
She pulled free.
“No.”
She walked toward Victor.
He extended the envelope.
Gwen took it.
Victor smiled.
Then she tore it in half.
Marcus whispered, “Oh, hell.”
Gwen dropped the pieces into the mud.
“You crashed into my ocean.”
Victor stared at her.
“My house was surrounded before breakfast.”
His jaw tightened.
“You threatened me on my own property.”
“Careful.”
“No. You be careful.”
Adrian stepped beside her.
Victor's men shifted.
Adrian spoke softly.
“Anyone touches her, they answer to me.”
Victor looked at his cousin.
“You're protecting a mechanic?”
“She saved my life.”
“And now she's becoming a liability.”
Adrian's expression became ice.
“No.”
Victor stared at him.
“What?”
“She's becoming my responsibility.”
Gwen turned.
“I absolutely am not.”
Neither man acknowledged her.
Victor laughed.
“You've known her seven hours.”
“Long enough.”
“You've lost perspective.”
“Maybe.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“But I've gained something more useful.”
“What?”
“A witness.”
Victor's expression froze.
In the distance came engines.
Lots of them.
Not SUVs.
Pickup trucks.
Fishing trucks.
Utility vans.
The road filled with headlights.
Gwen smiled.
Victor looked confused.
She folded her arms.
“You wanted to know who Tommy called?”
Victor stared.
May you like
“The whole harbor.”
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