That Bad Boy & That Bad Man Duet (Completed)

That Bad Man - 4. Dom

"He lied" I told her and watched the emotions cross her face.  It was both captivating and revealing and once again I found it difficult to pull my attention away from her expressions and back to the problem at hand.  The bruising on her body had shown me someone had worked her over, that she had come to confront me believing i was involved showed me how strong she was, and how at risk, she had already been attached by someone who didn't care about her being female, she was collateral in a bigger picture.

"How do..." she stops as someone knocks on the door.  My gaze skimming her to make sure she is covered before I let anyone in.

"Come"
The door opens and Leon pops his head round cautiously. Again I check she is covered up before I wave him in. "Luca is looking for you, he is aware there has been a breach and I have a prelim report for you" he tells me keeping his eyes on me. "Security has also found a vehicle registered to Ms Rowse parked opposite the building"

I turn to look at her, "Where is the key?"
I watch her expression and know she's going to argue "'Mabel" I warn her and she huffs before replying.
"My coat and bag are in the ladies restroom, my car key is in my bag"
Turning back to Leon I take the folder, and point at the pile of clothes "Get rid of them and arrange some suitable replacements, find her bag and get the car moved to the garage. Oh and let my father know I will update him soon"

"Yes sir" he gathers her clothes and leaves and I focus my attention back on her, wondering just how much I should tell her, and realising that it doesn't matter, I could tell her everything, I didn't want to let her go, in fact the more I tell her, the more reason I have to keep her close, to make sure she keeps my secrets.
"Roy Deering is my new sister-in-laws, adopted brother" I tell her and smile as she works out what I said.
"Maude?" She whispers and I nod.
"Maude married my brother Leo two weeks ago, they are in Italy at present on honeymoon.  As a family we take our protection and safety very seriously, so I did a background check, My brother was going to marry her regardless but Maude was clean, he asked me to check out Roy because he was unhappy with her parents passing everything to him and seemingly little to her. I have been investigating the company and have a number of concerns, as do the authorities who are also investigating, especially his links to the cartel, through his wife"
"Cartel?"
"Yes, the Cartel. The body you mention, your cousin?" She nods and I continue "I know they had found one but my sources linked this to the cartel, they have been running drugs using the lorry's carrying construction equipment, I believe the police spoke to your cousin, and he was going to give them evidence but then he was killed." I pause again thinking about what she was told and what happened to her against what I knew.

"They must know I have been asking questions, that's why my name is being given to you, they are trying to set me up, to start a rumour that will deflect the attention from their operations. I would never condone violence to a woman, especially not for another man's debt, and my men would never be crass enough to name drop any of our names."
"How do I know you re telling me the truth?" She asks softly, but I can already see she believe what I am saying, it's all over her face.

"I cannot prove it to you... not yet, but I think you know I'm telling you the truth. What happened at work when the Deering's died?"

She shivers and pulls the blanket tighter around her and again her face betrays her. "The Deering's were good people, simple, trusting, they were happy with the way business was going, but Roy kept pushing them to expand and in the last 6 months they were with us, he kept changing the suppliers, we also had a lot of new staff. We all knew the Deering's were wanting to retire, now that Maude was finished with her schooling but Norman kept putting it off and Margaret was getting cross with him, there was a big argument, everyone in the office heard them, it ended with her shouting they should just sell it all up.  Roy brought them a cruise, they went and everything went back to how it was, that was four months before the accident.  I wasn't surprised Roy took over but it was the speed of the changes after that, and we never saw Maude at the office again, I asked about her and was told she had moved away. Then Roy got engaged and his fiancée Sophia started coming in, more of her family also started working there, at least on the books.  That's when I started job hunting, and asked Joel to think about leaving.  Did you know, the business paid for his whole wedding... Roy's that is, not that any real workers were invited." She pauses and takes another sip of water. "I argued with her that we couldn't just right off the cost of the wedding, it would be fraud, then Joel vanished, then those men came..." her voice trails off and I fight the urge to gather her into my arms as tears run down her face.

"Rest" I tell her as she wipes at her eyes, and I open the report Leon brought me.  I skim read, flipping that pages that confirm some of the details she has given me. I growl under my breath, making her jump, when I flip the page and see an image of her from the hospital visit, seeing the residual bruising was bad enough but the fresh damage was worse. I flip on quickly to the police report of her arrest and then onto some more details about her.

"You have an arts degree, why would you do accounts?" I ask curious and she huffs at me but replies.
"I was looking for a job and had some interviews lined up, then my parents died and everything fell apart, I was lost about what I wanted, the job was simple Monday to Friday 9 to 5, nothing to worry over, I stayed because it was easy and because Joel was there"

Knock knock, the interruption was timely, giving me a chance to gather my wits and for her to hide back in the blanket. "Come in" I called and Leon comes in with hanging rail.
"We have relocated the car and here is Ms Rowse's bag. I wasn't quite sure what was needed so I arranged a selection for you"
"Thank you Leon, can you gather me all the reports on Deering and then you cancel my meetings for the rest of the day, I am taking Mabel home with me"
"Thank you sir, shall I leave them on my desk for you?"
"That's fine" I say dismissing him and focussing back on Mabel who is now glaring at me from her blanket cocoon.