Too Far Gone: A Grey Justice Novel

by Christy Reece

  “With the exception of paid companions and my guards...yes, I spent them alone.”

  “I find that hard to believe.”

  “That’s because you’re looking at the people I’m related to as a real family. We are not. My grandfather, brother, and various aunts, uncles, and cousins are related to me by blood. Nothing more. I have no relationship with any of them.”

  “So you’ve been like a princess in a castle, held prisoner until the prince comes to rescue you?”

  If not for the mocking amusement glittering in his eyes, the blatant sarcasm would have been much more palatable. His doubt was understandable. Who would believe that in these modern times she had been held a prisoner? His amusement hurt. Her life was no joking matter.

  As she did with every other unpleasant ordeal in her life, she dealt with it by pretending it didn’t matter. Her voice was cool and emotionless. “Believe what you like. You will anyway.”

  Jonah cursed himself silently. He had hurt her feelings. She had been willing, if not eager, to answer his questions. But now her face was as remote as a mountaintop, her lively eyes now blank.

  “I’m sorry, Gabriella.”

  In the few hours he’d known her, he knew that Gabriella Mendoza liked to maintain a calm façade. He was quickly learning something else. Beneath that feigned serenity was a mass of emotions.

  “Why are you sorry?”

  “Because my comment obviously hurt you. That was not my intent.”

  “You have a job to do. You have nothing to apologize for.”

  Jonah realized he was going about this the wrong way. He had been approaching this as if she had lived a normal life. Even with the bare facts in her file, he had known her life wasn’t typical.

  “Let me ask you a few more questions, and then we’ll take a short break.”

  “All right.”

  “Who would you say is your grandfather’s closest adviser? And before you say you don’t know, who is he with when you see him?”

  “Stephan Conti. They’ve been friends for years.”

  “Anyone else?”

  “He has numerous acquaintances but no true friends. He does have a handful of bodyguards, but they change frequently. As far as I know, Stephan has been the only constant.”

  “And when you see your grandfather, what does he talk about?”

  “As I said, he gives me my agenda for the year.”

  “Your agenda?”

  “Yes. He reviews my events for the upcoming year. He hands me a calendar and allows me to look at it. As I do, he asks questions about my year before. When we’re finished, if I have questions, I’m allowed to ask. If I don’t, I leave.”

  “And that’s it?”

  “On rare occasions, he’ll send word via one of my guards.”

  “And what would a word from him be like? What’s the last message he sent you?”

  She frowned as she replied, “That I had a doctor’s appointment with my cousin, Antonia Rojas.”

  “That was an unplanned appointment?”

  “Yes. I have a physical every year, but that was months away. A few weeks ago, I had a slight cold, and she insisted I come in, which I did. I recovered quickly. This new visit was unexpected.” She shook her head. “I didn’t question it too thoroughly since it was so fortuitous. I knew my brother would be accompanying me, which gave your people the chance to make the abductions.”

  “Do you have health problems?”

  “No. I’m very healthy.”

  Despite the fact that he was asking questions to learn more about her grandfather, the oddity of this gave him pause. Why would a seemingly healthy woman need to see a doctor unexpectedly and at her grandfather’s instigation?

  “What did the examination entail?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What do you mean, you don’t know?”

  “Antonia gave me tea with a sedative. I slept through the exam. When I woke, I was dressed and ready to go.”

  “Why would she drug you?”

  “She said I was acting nervous and she thought the sedative would calm me.” She lifted her shoulders, shrugging. “I probably was acting nervous. I knew what was going to happen once I left the doctor’s office.”

  “Did you ask anyone what the exam entailed?”

  “No. I was so out of it, I had no real thoughts other than going home and taking a nap. I had even forgotten about the abduction.”

  Why the hell had she been drugged?

  He could tell she was uncomfortable with this line of questioning. Even though he wanted to know more, he wouldn’t pursue it. He might be offended on her behalf, but her doctor visits would not provide any information about her grandfather’s business dealings.

  “Is your brother involved with your grandfather’s activities?”

  “I don’t believe so, but can’t say for sure. I try to stay as far away from Carlos as possible.”

  Jonah could certainly understand why. Had the bastard ever physically hurt his sister? Even though it was none of his business and not relevant to what he needed to learn from her, he had to ask, “Has your brother ever harmed you?”

  Her mouth tightened, and even before she spoke, he knew she was not going to tell him the truth. “No. My brother stays away from me and I from him.”

  “He was with you at your home. Had been there for several weeks. Why?”

  “He claimed that he had been charged to oversee my security for a while. It might have been as punishment. I don’t know.”

  So she assumed she was her brother’s punishment for his misdeeds? Hell, no wonder she had no affection for her family.

  “Did he indicate what he had done?”

  “No. As I said, I stayed as far away from him as possible.”

  “You didn’t have meals with him?”

  “No.”

  “Very well. Did he bring anyone with him?”

  “If you mean like a friend, then no. Carlos has no friends. That’s one of the few things we have in common.”

  The statement was matter of fact, with no evidence of self-pity. Jonah had no idea why that bothered him. Hell, other than his brother and Justice, he had no real friends either.

  “What do you do on a daily basis?”

  He told himself the question was pertinent. She could reveal something inadvertently that would be relevant.

  If she thought the question was off base, she didn’t let on. “If I’m not traveling, I have a routine. Exercise, breakfast, painting, lunch, reading, gardening, dinner, Internet browsing, television, and then sleep.”

  “As restrictive as your grandfather is, I’m surprised he allows you to travel.”

  “It surprised me at first, too. He claimed he wanted to enhance my knowledge of other cultures and have a chance to practice my language skills.”

  “And you’re allowed online access?”

  “My browsing history is monitored daily.”

  Her full lips lifted, and he was momentarily distracted. Forcing his eyes away, he pushed himself to get back on track. “So you don’t have friends, not even boyfriends? Now or in the past?”

  The laugh she gave was incongruent with the beauty of her face. The sound was both ugly and mocking. “Boyfriend? Mr. Slater, please ask a serious question.”

  Anger surged through him. He didn’t know whether it was the way she tried to put distance between them by coolly referring to him as Mr. Slater, or the fact that based on Kathleen’s intel, her words were a lie. She’d once had a fiancé. Possibly still had one.

  He practically barked his next question. “Not even Rudy Bianchi?”

  Surprise and then anger flared in her eyes. “That’s a vile, wretched thing to ask.”

  “Why?”

  “Because Rudy Bianchi is a murderer. A madman. A psychopath. A…a…disgusting piece of human filth. He’s in prison for the rest of his life. I haven’t seen him since…I haven’t seen him in years.”

  “Then you want to tell me how it is that y
ou were once engaged to him?”

  The chair made a screeching noise as she sprang up. Her face was almost as white as the snow outside. “How dare you say something so revolting? I have never been engaged to Rudy Bianchi.”

  Jonah forced himself to stay seated. Her reaction was extreme, her voice shaking with insult. Either she was the best liar he’d ever come across, or Kathleen’s intel was wrong.

  “I have it on good authority that you were once engaged to marry Rudy Bianchi. Your engagement ended when he went to prison. Some think it’s still on.”

  “You have been misinformed.” Her voice was less forceful, more uncertain than before.

  “Is it possible that your grandfather arranged the engagement without telling you?”

  Gabby put her hands behind her and gripped them together, her fingernails digging into her skin. Of course that was possible. For more than half her life, the man had dictated every second of her waking moments. He would have had no hesitation to arrange a marriage for her, even to a murderer.

  What would have happened if Rudy had never been convicted? Would she have been forced to marry the monster?

  The very thought of what might have happened had the breakfast she’d consumed churn in her stomach.

  “Gabby, look at me.”

  Whether it was because he called her by her preferred name or because of his steady, deep voice, she didn’t know, but something calmed her down enough to look at him.

  “Just because he arranged it means nothing. It’s over. You’ve escaped. You’re going to start a new life. He can’t make you do anything ever again.”

  She nodded. Jonah was right. It didn’t matter what her grandfather wanted. She had escaped. He would have no control over her life ever again.

  “Thank you. You’re right. I was panicking over nothing.”

  “Why don’t we take that break now?” He glanced out at the falling snow. “It’s snowing too heavily to go out, but there’s a gym downstairs and an indoor pool. Some physical activity might make you feel better.”

  Yes. She needed to move, to work out all these emotions bubbling inside her.

  “There should be something in your room to wear.”

  “Thank you.”

  She was grateful he didn’t follow. That he didn’t want to show her how to get to the gym. She needed to be alone. Needed to absorb what she’d learned and come to terms with the fact that she’d had even less control of her life than she’d thought.

  Even though she was far away from him now, the knowledge of what her grandfather had planned was impossible to accept. Had he actually intended for her to marry Rudy Bianchi? The monster who had almost killed her?

  Chapter Ten

  Dallas, Texas

  “I don’t think we’re going to get any useful intel from her until she knows she’s safe.”

  “Do you think she knows anything?”

  “Hard to say. She’s good at answering questions without revealing a damn thing.”

  Kathleen studied her brother-in-law’s face. Jonah was only slightly easier to read than their enigmatic employer, Grey Justice, which meant close to impossible. Darkness sat heavily on Jonah’s shoulders. Today, however, something else seemed to enshroud him.

  “How can we make her feel safer?”

  “I’m going to talk with her about what she wants once she leaves here. Where she’d liked to go once this is behind her.”

  “Justice has people who do that. He was planning to schedule a session as soon as the snow lets up.”

  “She needs to know that she has choices.”

  “You think that’s all she needs?”

  “Hell, I don’t know. Her file gave no real indication of the life she’s been living. She’s been held like a prisoner. No holidays or social occasions with family or friends. Other than the traveling she does, she’s alone or surrounded by her grandfather’s hired goons. Everywhere she goes, everything she does, is monitored.”

  “You asked her about Bianchi?”

  “Yes. She seemed more shocked than we were.”

  “How is that possible?”

  Kathleen had met Gabriella Mendoza only one time, and that was more than a year ago. The young woman had been attending the McGruder Art Show in Dallas, one of the few events she was known to participate in every year. Justice had deemed it their only chance to get close to the reclusive young woman who just happened to be the sister of Carlos Mendoza. The serial rapist had been out on bail for the rape and kidnapping of Stephanie Pierce. Instead of allowing Carlos to face the consequences of his actions, Luis Mendoza had spirited him back to Venezuela. Extradition, especially tricky when dealing with a country run by an unpredictable dictator, hadn’t been an option. Making contact with Gabriella and pleading their case had been their only hope to bring Carlos to justice.

  Gabriella had been sitting alone at a table but her bodyguards had been hovering close-by. Kathleen had sat down with her, pretending she didn’t know who the young woman was. Gabriella would have nothing of it. The wisdom in her eyes went eons beyond her age. They hadn’t talked long, as one of the guards had come along and insisted it was time for Gabriella to leave. But they’d talked enough for Kathleen to encourage Gabriella to help bring her brother to justice.

  Since then they had communicated three times, once via an abbreviated phone conversation in which Gabriella had asked to be abducted along with her brother. The other two times were through encrypted text messages. It had taken days for them to decode the text.

  “Where’s Gabriella now?”

  “In the gym working out. I thought it might help her deal. I’ll give her some time and some space.”

  “But you don’t think you’ll get anything.”

  “Not until she knows we’re not going to double-cross her.”

  “I’ll talk with Grey.”

  She was about to click off when Jonah said, “Something else. Can you dig into her medical records?”

  “Possibly. It’ll take some time, though. Why?”

  “She mentioned that her grandfather was the one who arranged for her visit to the doctor. It was an unscheduled visit. She said she’d had a checkup only a few weeks before.”

  “What was the appointment for? What did the doctor do?”

  A blaze of fury ignited in his eyes, and Kathleen thought it might have been the first time she’d seen him so incensed. She was used to the dark and brooding Jonah.

  “She doesn’t know. She was sedated.”

  Outrage swept through her. “She doesn’t know what was done to her?”

  “No. The doctor dosed her tea. When Gabby woke, the exam was over.”

  Kathleen had known that Gabriella was dealing with a lot, but she was beginning to see there was so much more that the young woman had endured.

  “What’s the doctor’s name?”

  “Antonia Rojas. She’s Gabriella’s cousin.”

  “As antiquated as Luis Mendoza is, I’m surprised a female family member would be allowed to have a medical degree.”

  “I’m sure it’s more of a convenience for him. Having your own doctor in the family to do your will would be helpful.”

  “I’ll see what I can find out. I’ll be back with you soon.”

  Clicking off the call, she turned and watched her stepdaughters, Violet and Sophia, run around their playroom, giggling with carefree abandon. This was what a childhood should be like for every single child. Safe, happy, and loved beyond measure.

  Her own childhood might have been unconventional, but at least she had known she was loved. How had Gabriella survived? And just what the hell did Luis Mendoza plan for his granddaughter? Whatever it was, it would be to his advantage and not Gabriella’s.

  A tiny fist punched, and she touched her swollen belly, savoring the unique feeling of having a little human being inside her. It was hard to determine who was the most excited to meet the newest family member. His upcoming arrival was all Violet and Sophia could talk about, and Eli practically
beamed with excitement and pride every time she entered a room. And Kathleen was overjoyed that she would soon be giving birth to a beautiful baby boy. Nothing was more precious than an innocent child.

  At that thought, she glanced back at the screen where she’d been talking to Jonah. Was that the reason there had once been a match planned between a Mendoza and a Bianchi? To create a child with both of the families’ blood running through him or her? Were Mendoza and Bianchi that cold and heartless?

  She already knew the answer to that question.

  Chapter Eleven

  Colorado Mountains

  Rudy Bianchi. Her heart pounded with every step she took on the treadmill. She hadn’t uttered his name aloud in over twelve years. Even having that name in her mind caused bile to surge into her throat.

  The very idea that her grandfather had apparently been set to marry her off to the fiend shouldn’t have been a surprise. But it was. Thankfully, the monster was in prison with no hope of parole. Even if he hadn’t been, she would never have gone through with a marriage. She would have killed the bastard herself before she’d allowed that to happen.

  “Feeling better?”

  Lost in horrific memories, Gabby shrieked as she whirled around, almost falling from the treadmill.

  “Whoa.” Jonah reached out for her and then, as if realizing she wouldn’t want to be touched, held his hands still as if to catch her if she fell. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “That’s okay.” She grimaced a smile. “Just have a lot on my mind.”

  His eyes flickered over her and then swiftly moved away, but not before she saw the heat in them. He was attracted to her. She didn’t know what surprised her the most—that he found her attractive, or that she’d felt a wave of heat herself. After one brief, disastrous fling with the son of one of her bodyguards, she had learned to shut down those kinds of feelings. But now that she was free to have them, wasn’t it just her luck to be attracted to a man who had every cause to dislike her?

  “Did the exercise help?”