Guilty Stars

7

4 MICHAEL Getting shot had been easier than walking away from Evie last night. I wanted her with every fiber of my being, but I also had a nagging sense that I needed to be cautious. It was our first official date. I didn’t want to f**k things up by rushing her. The dynamic between us was engaging with a seductive energy pulsing in every exchange. There was no doubt of our mutual attraction, but there was no need to race to the finish line. I could tell she was wary, and I could totally understand. Asking her to take a chance on someone who lived outside the law was a big ask. Moving slowly would give her a chance to see me and not just my Bratva dealings. Plus, it would give me a chance to better understand her family situation. I got an odd vibe when she talked about her parents, which was why I spent my morning looking into Robin and Donald Carter. In theory, I should have waited for Evie to confide in me and tell me about her family herself. I was entirely too impatient for that bullshit. I dealt with killers on a daily basis, carried a gun with me to business meetings, and checked for wiretaps on any new associates. Background checks were just another part of my life. They made sense. And I saw no reason I shouldn’t make use of the tool in my personal life as well. My search was kicked off with the discovery that Evie’s mom had changed not only her last name when she remarried but Evie’s as well, erasing her daughter’s paternal history. It wasn’t unheard of, but definitely an interesting piece of the puzzle. Once I located all the necessary names, I used a dark web background search to pull up everything I could on them. I debated restricting my search to Evie’s parents but decided all three would give a more complete picture. I learned that Evie had outstanding student loans, which was surprising considering her parents’ financial situation. Donald was the president of one of the largest banks in the city. He could afford to send his stepdaughter to any college in the country. Why had she paid her own way? Had it been a matter of pride for her? Or had she been forced into supporting herself? I thought about her apartment building. While I hadn’t been in her place, the neighborhood wasn’t known to house particularly affluent residents. Each search I performed only led to more questions. I was interested in any information I could gather, but it was clear I needed to focus on Donald Carter. What I found made my muscles crystalize with rage, and a river of molten fury ignite beneath my skin. A domestic violence complaint was filed against Donald by his first wife then retracted before a criminal case could proceed. Considering the evasive answers Evie gave about her stepfather and the likelihood of abusers repeating those behavioral patterns, it wasn’t a stretch to infer that her home life had been unhealthy. I had come across some of the most unsavory people I could imagine in my Bratva dealings. I knew evil and had become a reliable judge of character. There was nothing more telling than looking a man in the eye to take his measure. It was time to go to the bank. Two hours later, I strolled into the grand marble-laden lobby in my most expensive suit. I rarely wore suits because they weren’t my style, but I knew I wouldn’t get close to Donald if I didn’t look the part. Fortunately, tattoos weren’t the obstacle they would have been twenty years ago. Signs of money were all I needed to get a banker’s panties wet. I requested a moment of time with their illustrious president, and after several long minutes of bank minions scurrying about, I was led to a large corner office. Donald stood, anticipating my entry. “Mr. Savin, is it? Please, have a seat.” He motioned to one of his visitor chairs but didn’t bother coming around his executive desk to greet me. Donald Carter was in his late fifties. Trim with a practiced smile that clashed with his critical gaze. “What can I help you with today?” “I appreciate your time on short notice. I prefer to keep my money separated at a number of financial institutions and was interested in adding National to my portfolio.” All the banks I used were offshore, but Donald didn’t need to know that. “That’s understandable. We have many affluent customers who do the same.” He rambled about the various types of accounts and benefits they offered as I discreetly scanned his office for personal affects. There wasn’t a single picture of Evie that I could see. One wall boasted an obnoxiously large photo of him grinning next to a strung-up marlin, and his bookshelf appeared to be a makeshift shrine to his accomplishments, but there was nothing to show for the woman who had called him Dad for the last fifteen years. Just as Donald paused his sales pitch, a throat cleared behind me. “Excuse me, Mr. Carter. Your two o’clock call is on line one.” A middle-aged woman in a polyester pantsuit cowered like a stray dog just outside the doorway. She barely lifted her gaze long enough to make eye contact. “Nancy, what have I told you about interrupting me when I’m with someone?” His warning was laced with such suffocating arrogance that my spine stiffened. If he was willing to castigate this woman in front of a stranger, how did he treat his staff when no one was looking? Jesus. Nancy scurried away without a word. Donald merely sighed in irritation. “I apologize. Women seem to think every damn thing is urgent.” There are those true colors. “Don’t I know it. My last girlfriend didn’t know when to mind her own damn business. More hassle than they’re worth sometimes.” I fed the pig what he wanted to hear, and as expected, his eyes glinted with appreciation. “Sometimes, I start to think all the youth are soft. It’s good to see traditional values aren’t all lost.” You mean misogyny? The man was a certified d**k. What had Evie gone through living under this man’s roof? She had to have been enormously strong to endure his patronizing chauvinism and not allow her will to bend to his demoralizing assaults. She was gracious, confident, and spent her days helping others despite her own tribulations. That was strength. That was being a woman.