Give in to Me Read Online Free Page B

living in style like usual?”
    Looking around at the old building my mother had fallen in love with nearly twenty years ago, I said, “I like this place.” Turning my attention back to him, I continued, “Enough with your bitching. Why are you here?”
    “Your lady isn’t holding up very well.”
    Leaning forward, I studied his face for any sign of what was going on with Nina. “What’s wrong? Is Nina okay?”
    “Physically, she’s fine. The boys tell me she visits museums a lot. Pretty high brow stuff as far as they’re concerned, but she’s getting out. I think this whole thing is starting to take its toll on her, though. I’m wondering if you should consider another way of keeping her safe.”
    “I don’t see any other way, Daryl. As long as Karl thinks what I have is a danger to him, I can’t be around her. I don’t know what he’s concerned about. I’d be endangering her for nothing.”
    “You haven’t figured out anything? It’s been four months, Tristan. I know you spent the first couple out of your mind in more ways than one, but you’ve got nothing?”
    Shaking my head, I admitted the sad truth. “Nothing. I’ve been through those notes over and over, and even those pages that are about other investigations. I’ve got nothing.”
    “Then maybe it’s time to admit what he’s afraid of isn’t in that notebook. I think you’re on the right track, though. Your assistant told me that your penthouse was ransacked twice in the past two months. Michelle said the police think it was an employee each time, but I don’t think we’re talking about some disgruntled maid or bellboy. Karl wants something he believes you have, so the penthouse would be a logical place to look for it, especially since he can’t get at your house.”
    “West and Varo are still guarding Nina?”
    “Of course. And the security system you installed is working fine. No one gets onto the property without them knowing.”
    “He’s going to want to get into the house when he finally figures out that’s the only place he hasn’t been able to check.”
    Daryl nodded. “Have any other homes I’m not aware of?”
    Chuckling, I shook my head. “No. I only kept the penthouse when I took over as CEO. Well, that’s not entirely true. My father kept a place in LA, but I never go there. The house has been empty for years.”
    “Hmmm. I’ll check into whether it’s been broken into lately. Any chance what he’s looking for is there?”
    “I have no fucking idea what he’s looking for, Daryl. If I did…” I ended my thought because I honestly couldn’t say what I’d do if I had what Karl so desperately wanted. Maybe I wouldn’t give it to him. If it just had to do with the terrible things my father and Taylor did to the Cashens and Nina’s father, then he could have whatever it was. But was there something more my father had done that I didn’t know about?
    “I have to ask the question, Tristan. How far are you planning to go with this? Karl’s a man who seems to have something important to hide. If we find out what it is, are you going to let it go or is this going to be some kind of crusade for you?”
    Daryl’s question wasn’t an easy one. Karl had always been a dick to me since the day I took over Stone Worldwide, but I’d thought it was just the way he was. Now I had the sneaking suspicion it was something much more. Even worse, if he had his way, he’d have made sure Nina was dead by now. For that, I’d be willing to make it my personal crusade to make Karl’s life a living hell.
    “It depends on what he’s trying to keep hidden. Karl’s happiness isn’t my concern. If he suffers, I won’t be unhappy about that.”
    The conversation seemed to come to an abrupt halt with my thinly veiled threat, and we sat in silence as I fantasized about Karl Dreger suffering at my hands. My father’s closest friend, he’d been in my life from the day I was born. I’d seen him around the table on holidays, a