damage control can right that ship. Couple all of that with you backing out of the condo project that was set to make him millions and give him the financial power he needed to proceed with his political ambitions, and I’d imagine that he’d be pretty pissed.”
Mikah can feel a shift in Vivienne – not just physically, but emotionally too – and he remembers he hasn’t told her about his confrontation with Elton at the hospital, nor about all the behind-the-scenes things that MSB has done to destroy Elton’s career. But her mood is not one of anger, as he’d expected, but awe.
“You—” The words are difficult for her to get out. “When did you pull out of Elton’s condo project?” she asks, her voice weak. She needs to know if it was in retaliation for what Riley did to her.
“The night you were attacked.”
Vivienne flinches, remembering.
“The cops came here to the condo,” he continues, “questioning me because of the car Red was in when he drove by your home.”
“It wasn’t you in the car?” she says, a little disappointed.
“All the other nights, yes it was. I was caught up at a dinner function that night, so I sent Red in my place.”
A sense of relief washes over her. Knowing that he backed out of his business deal before he knew what had happened to her gives her new insight into Mikah and what he was thinking or feeling before she was attacked. But a sense of guilt still plagues her heart: She was so mean to him, rejecting him, and look at what he did for her.
“When the police left, I immediately went searching for a connection. That was when I discovered that Elton Bennett, who was a business partner, is Riley’s father. As soon as I found out, I severed the connection. Pulling all my funding for his condo project caused all the other investors to back out, and Elton lost just about everything he had.
“He retaliated, of course. He showed up at the hospital to confront me. We argued, I punched him, and that was the last I heard from him, other than last night, when he showed up at the gala. But his intentions remain unclear. The office has been dealing with it through the legal channels.”
Vivienne doesn’t say anything, and Mikah is silent as she lets all that he’s just told her soak in.
If it hadn’t been Vivienne, Mikah might not have pulled out of his business deal with Elton, but the fact is, it was her, and he never thought twice about it.
Vivienne continues to stay quiet, unsure what to say to him, but she is quickly beginning to understand that she means more to Mikah that she could’ve ever imagined.
“So what do we do now?” Mikah asks Red after a minute.
“We need to go back into Elysium with what we know. I’m sure they’re already aware, but I think that we need to discuss what to do next. It is becoming clear that Riley is behind Rebecca’s death, and we need to plan our next move.” Red looks to both of them. Mikah and Vivienne’s confusion and concern are obvious to him, but he can also see in Mikah’s eyes that he understands what needs to be done.
“Andrew picked up on some additional activity regarding search efforts for Vivienne, but before we can go after Riley, you need some training, Mikah.”
“Training in what? I already know how to fight.”
The statement surprises Vivienne, but she doesn’t say anything. She’s wrestling with a heavy sense of guilt. All of this is her fault, and she doesn’t even know how to stop it.
“You do, and you fight well,” Red says. “But those that you’d be going up against will not fight in the traditional ways. Which is where Andrew, Celeste, Connor and myself come into play.”
Red looks at Vivienne. “Perhaps it is time to tell him the rest and explain what you know.”
NINETEEN
Vivienne’s eyes meet Red’s. Hers are wary. She is worried Mikah might be upset that she hasn’t told him about the shifter yet. But Red gives her an
Mikah can feel a shift in Vivienne – not just physically, but emotionally too – and he remembers he hasn’t told her about his confrontation with Elton at the hospital, nor about all the behind-the-scenes things that MSB has done to destroy Elton’s career. But her mood is not one of anger, as he’d expected, but awe.
“You—” The words are difficult for her to get out. “When did you pull out of Elton’s condo project?” she asks, her voice weak. She needs to know if it was in retaliation for what Riley did to her.
“The night you were attacked.”
Vivienne flinches, remembering.
“The cops came here to the condo,” he continues, “questioning me because of the car Red was in when he drove by your home.”
“It wasn’t you in the car?” she says, a little disappointed.
“All the other nights, yes it was. I was caught up at a dinner function that night, so I sent Red in my place.”
A sense of relief washes over her. Knowing that he backed out of his business deal before he knew what had happened to her gives her new insight into Mikah and what he was thinking or feeling before she was attacked. But a sense of guilt still plagues her heart: She was so mean to him, rejecting him, and look at what he did for her.
“When the police left, I immediately went searching for a connection. That was when I discovered that Elton Bennett, who was a business partner, is Riley’s father. As soon as I found out, I severed the connection. Pulling all my funding for his condo project caused all the other investors to back out, and Elton lost just about everything he had.
“He retaliated, of course. He showed up at the hospital to confront me. We argued, I punched him, and that was the last I heard from him, other than last night, when he showed up at the gala. But his intentions remain unclear. The office has been dealing with it through the legal channels.”
Vivienne doesn’t say anything, and Mikah is silent as she lets all that he’s just told her soak in.
If it hadn’t been Vivienne, Mikah might not have pulled out of his business deal with Elton, but the fact is, it was her, and he never thought twice about it.
Vivienne continues to stay quiet, unsure what to say to him, but she is quickly beginning to understand that she means more to Mikah that she could’ve ever imagined.
“So what do we do now?” Mikah asks Red after a minute.
“We need to go back into Elysium with what we know. I’m sure they’re already aware, but I think that we need to discuss what to do next. It is becoming clear that Riley is behind Rebecca’s death, and we need to plan our next move.” Red looks to both of them. Mikah and Vivienne’s confusion and concern are obvious to him, but he can also see in Mikah’s eyes that he understands what needs to be done.
“Andrew picked up on some additional activity regarding search efforts for Vivienne, but before we can go after Riley, you need some training, Mikah.”
“Training in what? I already know how to fight.”
The statement surprises Vivienne, but she doesn’t say anything. She’s wrestling with a heavy sense of guilt. All of this is her fault, and she doesn’t even know how to stop it.
“You do, and you fight well,” Red says. “But those that you’d be going up against will not fight in the traditional ways. Which is where Andrew, Celeste, Connor and myself come into play.”
Red looks at Vivienne. “Perhaps it is time to tell him the rest and explain what you know.”
NINETEEN
Vivienne’s eyes meet Red’s. Hers are wary. She is worried Mikah might be upset that she hasn’t told him about the shifter yet. But Red gives her an
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