“How could you not?”
“Snot.” But he got me to laugh, and I was grateful for that. “Allen’s dead. The funeral is in two days, and I’ll have to deal with Vanessa. Please go with me.”
“Back up. Allen’s dead? What happened?”
“She said it was an exhaust leak, but that just seems suspect.”
“Why? It’s either a car malfunction or a suicide, right?”
“That’s what I thought, but we both know Allen would never take his own life.”
“You think someone sabotaged the car? Wouldn’t the police have figured that out?”
I shoved my hair away from my face. “Yes, and I hear what you’re saying. Still, it’s weird, right?”
“Very.” He paused for a beat. “Maybe Trey had something to do with it?”
I pushed off the back of the couch and stood, pacing as his harebrained idea took root. “No, Trey would never.” But he was Mafia. It would have been so easy. Trey walked back into the room, a hard glint in his eyes, and I paused my pacing. “I’ve got to go. And for the record, I’m furious with you. You and I are going to have it out. What you’re doing isn’t okay. We’ve been through this same scenario before, and I’m not having it, Justin.” I had to take a calming breath. He made a strangled noise on his end, and I could practically see him rolling his eyes. I knew what that sound was—he’d bit back a snide retort. My guess was that he actually understood the gravity of the situation I’d brought to his attention, because Justin did not like being called out for his bullshit ghosting ways. “I’ll call you later with the funeral details.”
We said goodbye, then I rounded on Trey, my hands shaking with barely restrained emotion. “What did you do?”
He stiffened. “I didn’t do anything, Hailey. I was with you all night. He died this morning.”
I pointed at him, unable to stop myself. My emotions were going haywire from not being able to have it out with Justin in the way we both had needed, and they were misdirected. But I couldn’t stop myself. “You could have had someone tamper with the car for you. And the fact that you knew what I was talking about says everything.”
Trey frowned, and Sofia jumped up, blocking my view of him.
“Let’s calm down.” She grabbed my hand, the one that was pointing an accusing finger at him. “Trey, I’m taking Hailey to the gun range. Okay?” She didn’t wait for a response but started herding me to the elevator, grabbing coats from the front closet. “Meet up with us later.”
I was too stunned by Sofia’s shoving to react. It didn’t help that my mind was in absolute chaos. I clamped my mouth shut and went with it. The elevator doors closed, but not before I caught a glimpse of Trey’s fierce glower. Remorse was late in coming.What have I done?After everything that man did for me, I treated him like an enemy.
I grabbed Sofia’s arm. “I’ve got to go back.”
She laughed then shook her head and dragged me to her waiting car. “Nope. We’re going to the range. I’ll make calls in the car and see who can meet us there.”
I let her push me into the passenger seat and take me away from Trey. Maybe it was for the best. I needed to get my head on straight before I went back and said some additional messed-up thing to him. Because I wasn’t entirely sure he didn’t have a hand in Allen’s death.
Allen was a pompous asshat, but killing him hardly seemed fair.
And if Trey did have Allen killed, I wasn’t sure I would be able to get past it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
HAILEY
Ifell silent as Sofia raced along the highway at breakneck speed. Soon, she took one of the exits then pulled into a parking lot. I stared straight ahead at a looming warehouse-like structure as several other vehicles arrived in the spots surrounding us. I guessed the SUVs were security.
“Hey.” Sofia squeezed my arm. “Everything is going to be okay. I called in a few of the girls. We’re hitting the range and blowing off some steam. It’ll be fun. I promise. ’Kay?”
I managed a weak smile. “Sure.”
She pushed the door open and got out of the car. I was slower to react, my body feeling like it’d been tenderized from watching the video of Allen plotting my death, worrying about Justin, hearing of Allen’s actual death, dealing with my mom, and being targeted by a New York mafia underboss. It was a lot to process in a short span of time.
Several car doors opened and closed. I didn’t pay much attention until Emiliana and El swung into view. I worked harder to shove my crappy mood aside and said hello.
“Wow.” El pulled me in for a hug. “You’ve had a morning.”
Sofia snorted. “Let’s do this.”