Three and a Half Weeks(141)
“Does that huge piece have a name?” I don’t wait for her to reply. “A name that begins with an N, perchance?”
“You got it. So you know about her, then?”
“Yes. My fiancé used to…” How do I explain it? “They used to be a couple, since high school, and then went into business together. She’s been systematically trying to sabotage him ever since. He’s attempting to find out why. We thought you might have some insight into it.”
“I can tell you the woman is insane, for one thing—and a total grade-A bitch, for another. I would even hazard to say she’s a C-word but I’ve got too much class to use such language. If anyone ever deserved the characterization, it would be Natasha.”
“What about the goons who work for him, the brothers?”
“They’re bottom feeders but as far as I can tell, fairly harmless. They certainly look capable of serious criminality but in the years that I was with Lucien, I’d never seen them do anything untoward at all. In fact, they were downright respectful of me. I never was sure why because I saw them being very antagonistic and even overtly rude with other women.”
“I’m pretty sure they were the ones responsible for drugging me.”
“God, that must have been awful for you. I wouldn’t put it past the Lithuanians but I’ve never seen them do anything that bad. At their worst, I saw them chase a guy who stole a parking spot from them but, hey, in New York anyone would do that. Parking spots are like the most precious gold in that city.”
“Do you know anything about Natasha that might help?”
“Not really. You know the brothers are her uncles, right?
I murmured an assent.
“She initially came around to see them but once Lucien got an eyeful of her, he was always hanging around like some pathetic puppy whenever she was over. She stayed in New York for a long while visiting them. It didn’t take long for me to realize he was cheating; I think they started up about two or three weeks after she first arrived. I left shortly thereafter.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that she ruined your relationship. And now she doesn’t even see him, I don’t think.”
“Oh, it was apparent even then that the attraction was mainly one-sided but Lucien didn’t seem to care one way or the other. He was fixated on her. We were engaged to be married, you know. He threw away a four-year relationship for a few weeks with her. Good riddance. I will say, though, that it pains me to learn how she’s using him to hurt other people. Lucien can be such a fool.”
“Yes. But I do think he might be the innocent in all of this dirty business. I feel for him, if that’s the case.”
“Well, Ella, that’s about all I can offer you: I really don’t know much at all. If I think of anything at all that might help, I’ll give you a call.”
“Yes, Eliza, I really appreciate your time.”
We disconnect and I put my phone down and get up to get a cup of coffee from the kitchen. I’m halfway there when I hear my phone singing. I do an about-face and grab for the phone right before it goes to voice mail. It’s Eliza’s number displayed on the face.
“Hello?”
“Ella?”
“Yes, Eliza, it’s me.”
“The second I disconnected from you a memory popped into my mind. I don’t want to worry you too much but you need to know. Right before I left Lucien, I was at his place packing and I overheard a conversation between Natasha and Lukas and Leo. I didn’t hear too much of it but what I did made me very nervous. They were talking about the man in Portland, that’s how they referred to him. Leo was saying something like, “If that doesn’t take down the man in Portland, we can always arrange for a little accident.” I actually thought they must’ve been kidding, at the time. It was like dialogue right out of a bad TV movie
Her words suck the oxygen right out of my lungs and I feel my throat begin to close. I can’t even speak to respond.
“Ella? Are you there?”
I try to make a sound to let her know I’m still here but I’m paralyzed with fear. These people are out to get Ian and they sound like they’ll stop at nothing to do it. Eliza is still talking but I’m only catching every third word or so.
“…sorry to upset… thought it would… best.”
“Yes. Thank you, Eliza. You just caught me off-guard. I’ll be sure to relay the information to my fiancé. Thanks again.”
“Sure thing. Good luck to you.”
I can’t call Ian to warn him of this latest threat because he’s in the air right now. I instead send him a text, advising him to call me ASAP. Taking my coffee, I head into the library to do some research on those stupid Lithuanian brothers, Leo and Lukas Sobel. I’m going gunning for them.