Chapter 16 Behind closed Doors
CAITLYN'S POV
The party had been going on for hours and I was so tired from pretending to be happy. My face hurt from smiling so much and my feet hurt from the heels Collin made me wear. I was standing by the dessert table talking to some judge’s wife about baby names when I saw Collin slip away from the crowd again.
He had been doing this all night. Going away for ten or fifteen minutes at a time with different men. Each time he came back, he looked tense and distracted, even though he kept smiling for the guests. Something was happening in that study and I needed to know what it was.
“Excuse me,” I said to the judge’s wife. “I need to use the restroom.”
She nodded and went back to talking about her grandchildren. I walked toward the house like I was going to the bathroom but instead I went down the hallway toward Collin’s study. My heart was pounding, and I knew this was stupid, but I couldn’t stop myself.
The door was closed but I heard voices inside. I moved closer and put my ear against the wood. I had to be careful because if someone saw me standing there listening they would know something was wrong.
“The shipment needs to move through the north territory,” a man’s voice said. I didn’t know who it was. “We can’t use the usual routes anymore because the cops are watching.”
“Then we need to clean the money through different accounts,” another voice said. This one sounded like Dimitri. “Split it up so nobody can trace it back to us.”
“What about the judge?” Collin’s voice was clear now. “Is he going to be a problem?”
“He is taken care of,” the first man said. “As long as we keep paying him he will look the other way.”
My hands were shaking and I felt cold all over. They were talking about illegal things. Shipments and money and paying off judges, Collin was not just a lawyer. He was a criminal.
“We need to be more careful,” Collin said. “Jason Cross has been asking questions, and if he finds out about our operation, he could cause problems.”
Jason. They were talking about Jason, and I pressed closer to the door, trying to hear more.
“Cross is nothing,” Dimitri said and laughed. “He is just a small-time biker with no real power, we can handle him if he causes trouble.”
“I don’t want to underestimate him,” Collin said. “He has connections and is not afraid to get his hands dirty. We need to keep an eye on him.”
“What about your wife?” the first man asked. “Does she know anything?”
I held my breath waiting for Collin’s answer.
“Caitlyn does not know anything,” Collin said and I could hear the dismissal in his voice. “She is too naive to understand what we do. As long as we keep her in the dark she won’t be a problem.”
He thought I was naive. Anger flashed through me, and I wanted to break that door down and tell him what I thought of him, but I stayed frozen, listening to every word.
“Good,” Dimitri said. “We can’t afford mistakes now. The Volkov organization has too much invested.”
“There won’t be mistakes,” Collin said. “Everything is under control.”
I heard chairs scraping. They were finishing their meeting, and I needed to get away before they came out, but my feet wouldn’t move. I was too shocked by what I heard.
The door handle turned, and I stepped back, but it was too late. The door opened and Collin stood there staring at me. His face went from surprise to anger in a second.
“Caitlyn,” he said coldly. “What are you doing here?”
“I was just,” I started but my voice shook. “I was looking for you.”
Dimitri and the other man appeared behind Collin. They looked at me like I was dangerous. The other man reached inside his jacket, and panic rose in my chest.
“She’s my wife,” Collin said fast to the men. “Let me handle this.”
He grabbed my arm and pulled me away. His fingers dug into my skin hard but I said nothing. We walked down the hall and he pushed me into a sitting room and closed the door.
“What did you hear?” he demanded.
“Nothing,” I lied. “I just got here. My mother wanted to take photos.”
His eyes narrowed and he tried to see if I was telling the truth. “You were outside my study. How long?”
“I just walked up,” I said. “I didn’t hear anything, I swear.”
He moved closer and I backed up until I hit the wall. He put his hands on either side of my head, trapping me. His face was inches from mine and I could see the rage behind his eyes.
“If you lie to me, Caitlyn, there will be consequences,” he said quietly. “Do you understand?”
I nodded because I couldn’t find my voice. This was not the nice husband smiling all night; this was dangerous and scary, and I was terrified.
“I’m not lying,” I whispered. “I didn’t hear anything.”
He stared at me for what felt like forever. I could see him thinking about whether he believed me. Finally, he stepped back and ran a hand through his hair.
“You need to stay out of my study,” he said. “I told you before the party. That room is off limits.”
“I know,” I said. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think.”
“No, you didn’t,” he said. “That’s a problem, Caitlyn. You need to think before you do things, there are rules here and consequences for breaking them.”
I wanted to ask what consequences but I was too scared. How he looked made me think he’d hurt me if I were a problem.
“I understand,” I said quietly.
“Good,” his voice softened a little. “Now go back and act normal, we have guests to entertain.”
He opened the door and I walked out on shaking legs. I felt him watching me as I walked back toward the patio. My whole body trembled and I felt like I might throw up.
I went to the bathroom and locked the door. I sat on the floor and put my head between my knees trying to breathe. What had I heard? Shipments, money laundering, and paying judges. Collin was in crime and I was married to him.
And they talked about Jason. They were watching him because he asked questions. What kind? Did Jason know what Collin really was?
I thought about that night at the bar when I met Jason. He seemed dangerous but different from Collin. Jason was rough and scary but honest. Collin was smooth and charming but rotten inside.
Someone knocked on the bathroom door. “Mrs. Hayes? Are you alright?”
It was Mrs Chen. I stood and splashed cold water on my face. “I’m fine,” I said. “Just a little sick.”
“Need anything?” she asked.
“No thanks,” I said. “I’ll be out soon.”
I looked in the mirror and hardly recognized myself. I was trapped with a criminal, pregnant with another man
’s baby and I were caught listening to talks that could get me killed.
How did my life get so messed up?