Dubious (The Loan Shark Duet 1)

Before I can get my bearings, the doorbell rings. I run to get it, but the door opens to reveal one of the men from yesterday, the one who shot Puff. He leads two paramedics pushing a stretcher inside. A private ambulance is parked in the circular driveway.

“Where?” one of the men asks tersely.

“Follow me.”

I lead them to the television room. The medics go inside and shut the door on me. Puff’s killer gives me a hard look before he exits the house. While I’m pacing the corridor, a model-pretty woman rounds the corner and stalks my way. Her blonde hair is twisted into a French roll. A white two-piece suit clings to her body, defining her curves. There’s a striking resemblance between her and Carly.

“Where are they?” she asks with regal calmness.

I indicate the door. “Through here.”

She opens and slams the door, causing it to shake in the frame. Through the door, I hear the heated tones of an argument, but I can’t make out the words. Carly’s mom must live close by to be able to get here so fast.

Not sure if I should wait or leave, I decide to stick around in case they need me. Why didn’t Carly call for me? Maybe she did, and I didn’t hear. It can’t be the cake. Carly would’ve told me if she’s allergic to eggs or honey. It can be a bee sting. The sliding doors to the pool deck are open.

Seconds later, the paramedics exit, pushing Carly on the stretcher. Gabriel and the blonde woman walk next to the stretcher, Gabriel’s face tense.

At the front door, the paramedics stop.

“Only one of you can accompany us in the ambulance,” the older man says.

“You go.” Gabriel drags a hand through his hair. “I’ll meet you at the hospital.”

When Gabriel’s guard helps the men to lift the stretcher down the stairs, the woman I presume to be Carly’s mom turns to Gabriel. “I expect you to deal with this.”

“I will,” he says tightly.

She looks down her nose at me before clacking a path down the stairs to the waiting ambulance. At the bottom, she throws her keys to Puff’s killer. “Rhett, bring my car to the hospital.”

Rhett glances at Gabriel, who gives a small nod. Carly’s mom gets into the back of the ambulance, and the door is pulled closed from the inside. As the vehicle pulls off with blaring sirens, Rhett gets into a Mercedes sports model and follows.

We are alone in the entrance now, Gabriel and I, and fury replaces the coldness in his eyes.

“You have a lot to explain.”

Panic speeds up my breathing. “What?”

“The cake.”

To say I’m shivering in my shoes is an understatement. “Oh, no, Gabriel.” This can’t be happening. “I’m so sorry.”

His eyes drill into mine. “Why did you do it?”

“I just wanted to make something nice for dessert.”

“Nice could’ve gotten her killed. Or did you know all along? How did you find out?”

“I swear I didn’t know. I still don’t know! Was it the honey? The eggs?”

“Carly is allergic to coconut.”

“What?” My mind is reeling. “She specifically asked for it.”

He looks at me with an expression that stops my heart before sending it into overdrive, the beat pounding in my ears.

“If you’re lying, you’ll pay dearly.” He grabs my arm with such a strong grip it hurts to the bone. “You don’t want to know what I do with people who threaten my family, let alone try to kill them.” He shakes me hard. “Next time, stick to what’s expected of you and leave the menu planning to Marie.” He shoves me away and takes his phone from his pocket.

I’m hugging myself while he barks out a command into the phone.

There’s a dark threat in his words. “Stay with Valentina until I return.” After putting away his phone, he hisses, “Be very glad she’s not dead and be even gladder Magda is at a dinner party tonight.”

A guard comes jogging up the path, an automatic rifle in his hands.

When he reaches the porch, Gabriel says, “Don’t let her out, and if Magda returns, don’t let her near Valentina.”

The guard nods, taking up a position by the door.

I try to calm my breathing as I meet Gabriel’s livid stare. He has all the reason in the world to be angry, and the fact that he doesn’t hit me makes me fear him more. It means he has control, and men with control are the most dangerous.

“Go inside.” The words sound like an ice lake cracking. “Don’t even think about running. The windows and doors are protected with an alarm.”

I bite my cheek to still my chattering teeth and do as I’ve been told. I’m scarcely inside when I hear the tires of a car shooting up gravel. Through the lounge window, I see a Jaguar convertible clear the gates.