Hold You Close

by Jessica Linden

  “I’ll be in the bedroom.” He left the two women alone. Any longer in Veronica’s presence and he was likely to physically throw her out of his apartment. She was nothing but a high-class hooker who sold herself to the highest bidder. She better not say anything to hurt Ginny.

  Tony paced in the bedroom, keeping one ear focused on the living room. If needed, he could be out there and get Veronica out of his place in about ten seconds. While he’d never hit a woman, he had no problem forcibly removing her from his home if she wouldn’t go quietly.

  He picked up his phone and scrolled through his emails. There was one from Ingrid with the log-in information for their cell phone carrier. His work laptop was out in the living room, but his personal laptop was sitting on his dresser. He fired it up and logged into their accounts.

  His father’s phone records were extensive. No surprise there. A few of the numbers were familiar, but most weren’t. He’d have to google all of the numbers to see if they popped. He was guessing the other party in the conversation he overheard wouldn’t be listed, so that would narrow down the list.

  But damn, this was still a near impossible task. He didn’t have the resources to trace a number. He could always call it to see who answered, but that wouldn’t do much good. The individual was unlikely to announce his identity to an unknown caller, especially since this individual was involved in illegal activities.

  Tony glanced at the door he’d left open a crack. Ten more minutes. That’s all he was giving Ginny’s bloodsucker of a sister.

  He slipped a shirt over his head. With one eye on the clock, he turned back to his laptop.

  * * *

  Ginny faced her sister, smoothing down her hair and trying to make herself as presentable as possible. In other words, trying to make herself look as if she hadn’t just spent the afternoon in bed with Tony.

  Shit, shit, shit. This was bad.

  She didn’t regret making love to Tony, but she sure as hell wished her sister wasn’t here to witness the aftermath.

  Couldn’t she have just one thing in her life that wasn’t tainted by Veronica?

  No, that wasn’t fair. Veronica had no way of knowing she was interrupting anything. The last time Ginny had spoken to her, she’d expressed concern. She’d give her sister the benefit of the doubt.

  A very small sliver of doubt. If Ginny had been holding her breath for Veronica to show genuine compassion, she would have suffocated long ago. Still, she was a sucker where her sister was concerned. She knew it, but couldn’t help it.

  “How did you find me?” Ginny asked.

  “It wasn’t hard.” Veronica crossed over to the couch. “You weren’t anywhere else. It didn’t take a genius to figure out you’d be here with your new number one admirer.”

  Ginny ground her teeth, but she’d let Veronica have that one. After all, she’d once been engaged to Tony, so it was natural she might have some animosity about her sister and ex being friendly. More than friendly. But really, she had no right to feel that way—she given up that claim when she cheated on Tony and traded him in for a richer, more powerful model.

  “What do you want? I told you I wasn’t ready to talk yet.”

  Veronica sat, crossing her legs and displaying an impressive pair of Manolo Blahniks. The blood in Ginny’s veins turned to fire as her sister made herself at home in Tony’s space. She had no right.

  Ginny paused for a moment, startled at the unconscious shift in her thoughts. She was so used to defending Veronica, acting as her protector. Yet, here she was, being territorial over Tony’s space.

  “I want to make sure you’re okay, of course.” Veronica sniffed, giving off the air of being offended.

  Ginny examined her sister’s face, searching for signs of sincerity and hating that she felt the need to do so. Veronica’s expression was perfectly neutral. She’d long ago mastered the art of keeping her agenda hidden.

  And she always had an agenda.

  Ginny steeled up her walls, which had begun to weaken when pitted against Veronica’s antics. “I’m fine,” she said curtly.

  Veronica cocked her head and peered up at her. “What happened to your face?”

  Ginny’s fingers went to her eye. She’d been avoiding mirrors for the last two days and forgotten about how she looked. It hadn’t been hard to put it out of her mind, especially when Tony made her feel beautiful.

  Being reminded of it was a harsh slap in the face, especially when Veronica looked pristine, as usual. And Ginny had to wonder why it had taken so long for Veronica to ask her about it. If their situations were reversed, that would be the first thing she wanted to know.

  “What do you think happened?” Ginny retorted. The answer should have been obvious, the question unnecessary.

  Veronica didn’t comment. She simply remained on the couch, giving Ginny the once over. Ginny tucked her hair behind her ears and wrapped her arms around herself, painfully aware that her current state made her even more the ugly sister. Veronica was always polished and put together like she was about to strut down a runway. She was the gorgeous one while Ginny was the smart one.

  Though not lately. It was a bitter pill to choke down. She’d been so stupid.

  “Veronica, thanks for your concern, but this really isn’t a good time.”

  “Are you still planning to marry Fedor?”

  Ginny’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t be serious. But Veronica sat there, looking up at her and expecting an answer. She was serious.

  Ginny gestured to her face. “What do you think?”

  Veronica shrugged. “Accidents happen all the time. People make mistakes.”

  Accidents? Ginny was so flabbergasted it took her a few moments to find her voice. “This was no accident. And some mistakes are unforgivable.”

  Ginny clenched her hands into fists at her sides and her mouth twisted. Did Veronica really think she should just let this go? Forgive and forget? Prance back to Fedor like nothing had even happened?

  Didn’t she realize that if it happened once, it would more than likely happen again?

  No, returning to Fedor was never an option. Even if she didn’t fear for her safety, now that she was away from him, she realized she could never live her life as a lie. And that’s what her relationship with Fedor was—an empty, loveless lie on both sides.

  “The company won’t survive.”

  Since when did Veronica care about the company? Ginny pinched the bridge of her nose. What was her sister up to now? The last thing Ginny needed was another Veronica-induced complication.

  “I’ll figure something out.” Ginny hated to admit it, but the company was the least of her worries right now. Her top worry was actually Veronica, though her sister didn’t even realize it. Ginny should take the opportunity to question her, to see if what Fedor had said was true.

  But she was so pissed she could barely stand to look at her, making this a terrible time to bring it up. She needed to be calm and level-headed when she broached that topic. It was a conversation she only wanted to have once.

  “Perhaps Fedor would still be interested in investing in the company”—Veronica paused for a beat—“if he married me.”

  Ginny’s arms fell limp to her side and her eyes bulged. Then she closed them and counted to ten.

  Veronica surely wasn’t serious this time, was she? But when Ginny opened her eyes, Veronica’s expression hadn’t changed—she was as serious as ever.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Ginny said, restraining herself from spewing the words she really wanted to—you’re fucking crazy!

  “Why not?” Veronica stood and moved closer to Ginny. “I know you don’t have feelings for him. You only agreed to marry him to save the company.”

  Ginny kept her mouth clamped shut, not bothering to deny it. There was no point anymore. And she realized she didn’t care what her sister thought of her. In fact, Ginny thought bitterly, Veronica would probably approve of why she’d agreed to marry Fedor, thinking it was a solid
strategic move.

  “So it’s not that much of a stretch to think he would marry me.” Veronica ran her hands down her hips. “He and I are actually a better match.”

  Ginny couldn’t deny that, either. If Fedor didn’t know what he did about Veronica, he probably would have approached her instead of Ginny. However, for his purposes of making in-roads in society, Ginny was better suited. Veronica had shown her true colors one too many times to the local families.

  And the bridge with her own family was shaky at best. Ginny was the link between Veronica and her parents, but she was getting closer and closer to cutting that tie. Would Veronica even care?

  “Veronica, even if I thought Fedor would go for it, it’s not a good idea.”

  “Why not? We couldn’t marry right away, obviously. Some time would have to pass after your split before we could announce our engagement. But think about it, Ginny. You couldn’t control him, but I could.”

  Ginny pinched the bridge of her nose. Control? He didn’t hit her because she couldn’t control him. No one controlled Fedor. A man like him was dangerous and volatile.

  Veronica was delusional if she thought otherwise.

  Ginny’s heart plummeted its final descent. She could no longer believe that beneath Veronica’s surface lay goodness. If it was indeed still there, it was buried deep, so deep that Ginny couldn’t see it or reach it.

  So she might as well find out the truth. Her faith in his sister was already irreparably shattered.

  She looked her sister in the eye. “I want to talk about Barry, Veronica. You never did talk to me about his death.”

  Veronica’s neck snapped back and she narrowed her eyes at Ginny. “That was months ago. Why are you bringing that up now?”

  Ginny leveled her gaze. “I think you know why.”

  Veronica’s eyes widened for a split second before she took a step back, then turned and retrieved her purse from the couch. She stopped beside Ginny on her way to the door. “I came by as a courtesy to you because you’re my sister. But you’re done with Fedor. That makes him fair game.”

  She can have him. They deserve each other.

  Veronica sashayed out the door, letting it slam behind her. She hadn’t even bothered to say goodbye.

  It saddened Ginny that it didn’t bother her one bit.

  * * *

  As soon as Tony heard the front door slam, he set his laptop aside and went into the living room. Ginny stood with her face in her hands. When she heard him, she looked up. No tears.

  Guess Ginny’s past the point of being hurt by Veronica.

  Good. Ginny needed to realize how toxic her sister was. She deserved better. And though it might pain her now, it would pay dividends in the long run.

  “What did she want?” Tony asked, trying to keep a neutral tone. The triangle between him, Veronica, and Ginny was a delicate one, and he didn’t want to do anything to damage his connection with Ginny. She was well aware of his past with Veronica and how he felt about her. There was no need to exacerbate the issue.

  “Fedor,” Ginny said bluntly. “She wants Fedor for herself.”

  Tony’s mouth set in a hard line. Veronica was a fucking piece of work. “She said that to you?”

  Ginny nodded. “Now that he’s fair game and all.” She sounded bitter and broken down and it tore at him.

  Fucking Veronica. He should have slammed the door in her face the minute he saw her.

  Tony pulled Ginny against his chest. “I’m sorry.” He didn’t need to explain what he was sorry for—they both knew it was for Ginny having that excuse for a sister.

  “The worst part is that a small part of me wishes Fedor had gone to Veronica in the first place, you know?” Ginny sniffed. “Then I feel like a bitch for thinking it.”

  She wasn’t the only one who wished that.

  “You’re not a bitch,” Tony assured her. “Why didn’t he go to her, anyway? That kind of exchange is right in her wheelhouse.”

  Ginny pulled away from him and sat on the couch. She brought her legs up and wrapped her arms around them. Though she looked in his direction, she wasn’t looking at him. Her gaze was fixed on the wall behind him.

  “Because Fedor has evidence that Veronica killed her husband.”

  Chapter 18

  Tony did a double take. Had he heard her right?

  “Say that again,” he said.

  This time, Ginny looked up at him, the anguish apparent on her features. “Fedor has evidence that Veronica killed Barry.”

  Tony broke eye contact by scrubbing a hand over his face. He was the first to admit that Veronica could act like a bitch, but murder? That was a stretch, even for her.

  Yet, he couldn’t completely eliminate the possibility. Veronica had always been ruthless, and from what he’d seen lately, that ruthlessness had only increased over the years. Would it extend to killing her own husband? For what gain?

  One look at Ginny told him she harbored the same doubts.

  Damn. How long had Ginny known about this? It had to be eating away at her. For all of Veronica’s faults, Ginny loved her. Ginny’s willingness to marry Fedor suddenly made sense. Of course. She wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice herself to protect her family.

  Tony sat next to Ginny and reached for her hand. He ran his thumb over the back of it, and her shoulders relaxed a little. “Tell me what Fedor said.”

  She took a deep breath, then braced herself to speak words that obviously tormented her. “He told me Veronica poisoned Barry.”

  Underhanded, cold, and detached. Sounded like Veronica’s MO. Still, that didn’t prove anything.

  “The autopsy would have found that,” Tony said.

  “You would think.” Ginny pressed a hand to her stomach, as if talking about this was making her physically ill. “The autopsy reported heart attack as a cause of death.”

  “So what’s Fedor’s evidence then?”

  Ginny sighed. “He claims he can prove Veronica bought potassium chloride. When injected in the right dose, it mimics a heart attack. And it’s normal to have large amounts of potassium in the blood after a heart attack.” She laughed bitterly. “I did my research. Everything he said checks out.”

  If that was true, it was very clever of Veronica in a twisted, sick way. Where would she have learned about that, though? Veronica wasn’t stupid, but she wasn’t inclined to intellectual pursuits. And she certainly wasn’t one to get her own hands dirty.

  He tried to picture Veronica puncturing her husband’s arm with a syringe, knowing the liquid she pumped inside his body would kill him. It wasn’t a pretty picture—but it was there. He could see it happening.

  Goddamn her.

  “Wouldn’t the medical examiner have noticed an injection wound?”

  “Barry was diabetic. He had lots of them.”

  “Damn.”

  “You got that right.” Her voice was edged with anger. He much preferred that to grief.

  “Did you ever find out what Fedor’s proof is?”

  “He told me he knows the guy who sold her the potassium.”

  Tony paused for a moment, running over the scenario in his mind. He was no lawyer and he didn’t know one he trusted enough to talk to about this.

  “Unless he has concrete evidence, it’s their word against hers,” Tony mused. “The type of guy who’d be in the business of selling that wouldn’t be a good witness.”

  It hadn’t escaped his attention that neither one of them had addressed whether or not the allegations were true.

  “She had motive,” Ginny said quietly. “Somehow Fedor has copies of Barry’s wills.”

  “Wills? More than one?”

  “Yes. The original will leaves her seventy-five percent of the estate with the rest going to various relatives. But he’d been working with his lawyer on a new will, one that only left Veronica ten percent. If they had a child together, it would go up to twenty-five percent with fifty percent going to the child. The remaining twenty-five percent remained uncha
nged.”

  “Wow. That’s quite a difference. Do you know if anything prompted the change?” Tony didn’t say what he was thinking. Veronica had cheated on him, so it wasn’t farfetched to think she’d cheat on her husband as well.

  “I don’t know. I haven’t asked her about it.”

  “How did Barkov get the wills?”

  “Through the lawyer,” Ginny said bitterly. “Barry really had poor judgment when it came to trusting people.”

  Tony hadn’t known Barry well—had only met him a handful of times—but he had seemed like a nice enough man. Obviously, since he’d married Veronica, his judgment was questionable, but he didn’t deserve to die.

  As much as Ginny wanted to protect her sister, Barry’s murderer should be brought to justice. Had Ginny considered that? Or was she blinded by her love for Veronica?

  None of this even mattered if Veronica was innocent. The more he thought about it, the more his gut told him she wasn’t. If she’d really killed a man, they couldn’t just let her walk.

  But he wasn’t going to broach that subject until they knew for sure if Veronica was guilty.

  “Fedor wouldn’t tell me anything more than what I told you,” Ginny said. “But his story aligns with everything I’ve been able to find out. I couldn’t risk it.” Her eyes begged him to understand.

  In a way, he could. Despite his recent differences with Marco, if his brother were in trouble, he’d fight through fire to help him. The one difference was that Marco was worth saving—Tony couldn’t say the same for Veronica. Even if Ginny managed to get her sister out of this mess unscathed, her conniving ways were bound to catch up with her eventually. Ginny couldn’t protect her indefinitely—not when the greatest danger to her was herself.

  And how much was Ginny willing to compromise her own morals?

  “I take it Veronica denied everything,” Tony commented.

  Ginny ducked her head. “I didn’t ask her. I couldn’t. If it turned out to be true . . . I just couldn’t. Besides, true or not, if Fedor went public with that information, Veronica’s life would be ruined. You know how people can be—‘innocent until proven guilty’ is just a myth.”