Crimson Desire (Hollow Hearts #2)

ma

as Barrett's voice on my phone. It's very surprising because

s? Wha

ffice. Now." His to

a routine request. It i

l, the edge in his voice had me on alert. Without anothe

tting behind his desk. There is

trying to be witty des

usual smile. Instead, his

he's not happy right

across from him. "We've been handed a majo

he sudden tension in my body

across the desk bef

up. Sounds

h

currently involved in a multi-million-dollar investigation-fraud

wh

e was saying. Grant Group? The Grant Group?

you cal

. Are we really

been handling serious cases in regards to the recent senator who's finally i

ematic because I think I k

We need someone with sharp minds to handle this, someone who can go toe to toe with them." T

I read, the heavier the weight in my chest became. And then, it hit m

ant. Chief Exe

dropped

e in years. The memori

ath, my voice trem

ed, my mind struggling

ari. This is a chance to bring down o

he curr

ammering in my ears. This was no longer ju

that company after he became the CEO. He's ruthless, I

sed to be professional, to take control. But my mind was a whi

for. But him? Lucas? Facing him again...

this battle knowing eve

'm the right person for

best we have. You've been handling cases like this for years now. You'v

ead, frustra

st him or them. It's too dangerous for us. You said he's ruthless and I

carefully now, trying t

you're the one who can do this. I could help you but yo

I stopped. The reality of the situation was u

A lot of workers are unpaid and there are so many injustices inside. Even the company as a whole seems problematic. That's what

sat back, trying to steady my tho

over his face. "Good. You star

ght of my decision sinking in. I'd said yes to

don't know how many years alre

would be back in my life, a

sn't sure I

buzzed in my pocket, breaking the silence.

m:

an I call? I have t

Tali always had a way of making me feel grounde

:

now. I'll call yo

ed before another

m:

thing

was really going on? How could I explain that I was about to take o

:

ong day. I'll

kept drifting back to the case. Then, as I turned a corner, I saw it. The Gra

n what it stood for. It was part of the empire that had

down. I had a job to do, but as I kept driving, I could feel the wei

and shut the world out. I dropped my keys and bag by the do

d a glass of water, and sat by the window. I stared at the

in. But tonight? I just had to make it through. I had to remin

e. Justice that I

th. The past was never as far