"I hired Gibbs." He knows Gibbs very well."He found a name that made me suspicious but the trail went cold when he couldn't find any details at all on this guy.He said there could be many reasons for that.It's going to sound foolish but I felt in my heart that something was off with that person.I have nothing and I can't even be sure, but I felt it was him who sent those men to kill us."
"Jesus Christ, Candace. Did you tell my brothers?"
"No... I didn't say anything, everything was between me and Gibbs.I felt you guys took care of me enough and I just wanted to look into this myself.When Gibbs couldn't find anything, it bothered me for months after.Until I saw the guys name pop up again." Here's where I'm about to fan the flames.
"What's the guy's name?"
"Richard Fenmoir."
"Where did you see his name pop up?"
"I... saw his name as the account holder on a company called Green Ltd after I was checking out a twenty million dollar deposit made to Jacques Belmont."
The second I say that Dominic's eyes snap wide and he stands up."Jacques?"
"Yes." I rasp. "I was running the standard security checks on him for Massimo."
"Candace, please tell me you told Massimo."
I shake my head again. "No. Dominic... Jacques is clean.I went back to Gibbs and everything on Jacques' part looked legit.The Green Ltd. company at that point was closed, but that's not unusual.The only person who's suspicious was me.Massimo wants him to join the Syndicate.I didn't want to damage the business relationship or mess with plans.He's the first person that's come along in a while that both your brothers think will be good for business.So I did the only thing I could do."
His lips part as realization seems to dawn on him, and he glares at me.
"The auction," he says. "You were going to auction yourself to him?"
I hang my head down, ashamed.So very ashamed, more than anyone would know.
When he takes both my hands into his.I look back at him.
"Candace... you wanted Jacques to bid on you and win?"
I nod slowly. "Yes. I thought I could get close to him."
He shakes his head. "No, baby.That's not how things work."
"You don't think he would have told me?"
When he shakes his head, the gravity of what I could have landed myself in hits me and I dab the tears that spill over my lids.
"Look." He cups my face. "I'm going to look into this for you.Do you hear me? I'll look into it."
"Oh Dominic, would you really?"
"You know I would."
"We have nothing though."
"Your suspicion is enough for me.If there are answers here I'll do my best to find it.Look at me still trying to get the men responsible for my father's death.I know how you feel, so for me, there's no harm in looking."
Hope fills my heart for the first time in forever, and I throw my arms around him as he pulls me in for a hug.
"Thank you, Dominic," I mutter.
"Anything for you, Angel."
He strokes my hair, and as the tension leaves my body, it's replaced with the trepidation of what he might find and what secrets may be unearthed.
I just hope I'll be strong enough to handle whatever truths he finds.