Treacherous Intent by Camy Tang Read Free Book Online Page A

now I think maybe it was still shock from her father’s death.” Elisabeth blew out a frustrated breath. “I should have known there was something deeper going on than Joslyn just needing to escape her ex.”
    “Don’t be too hard on yourself. She was injured. Naturally you’d be focused on her safety, not worrying about any type of criminal activity she might have been involved in.”
    “We really don’t yet know how she was involved in her father’s murder,” Elisabeth said. “He was beaten and then stabbed, so based on her height and frame, it’s unlikely Joslyn could have caused that much damage. But did Joslyn witness her father being murdered, as she claimed, or was she involved somehow?”
    “To answer that question, we’d have to find out why Tomas killed him. From what I’ve found about Felix Dimalanta on social media, he didn’t have any ties to the Bagsics or any other gang. He didn’t have a social media profile, but he had friends who do and they tagged his name on photos.”
    “Can I see the photos?”
    Liam took his laptop back, and after a few clicks of his track pad, gave it to her to look.
    Felix Dimalanta had a strong face, a protective set to his shoulders. Elisabeth could see him doing everything as a single parent to care for his daughter and raise her right.
    There were photos of him at an inexpensively decorated birthday party, at a couple fast-food restaurants eating with friends, and a cute picture of him riding his bike somewhere and waving to the camera. No photos at upscale restaurants, dressed up for a party or going out to a show.
    “He seems to have lived a very modest lifestyle,” Elisabeth said.
    “The only thing odd about that is his watch.”
    “His watch?” Elisabeth peered at the photos. He wore the same watch in all the pictures, so it might have been the only watch he owned, the one he used every day.
    “I like vintage watches, which is why I noticed it,” Liam said. “That’s a vintage Rolex—and a pretty valuable one. It might be old enough to have been passed down to Felix by his father. It’s the only expensive item he wears, and it’s not really the type of watch you’d expect of someone making money from drug deals. So I’m guessing he’s not involved in the Bagsics’ meth trade.”
    “Well, Tomas killed him for a reason, and now he’s after Joslyn.”
    “The only way to stop the threat against you and Joslyn is to stop Tomas.” Liam had a determined glint in his blue eyes as he held her gaze. “We need to investigate this murder, find evidence and put Tomas in jail.”
    It was true. Tomas had resources, and he had already shown he absolutely needed Joslyn—and he’d go through Elisabeth to get her. Elisabeth should have been fearful, but instead she was angry and determined. Years ago, she had made a decision that she wouldn’t let any man bully her ever again. She would not let Tomas get away with this. “There’s only so much we can do with internet research. We have to go to L.A.” The heart of Bagsic territory.
    Liam’s expression was sober. He understood the risks they were taking. “We don’t know yet if Tomas told his superiors about you and me in his search for Joslyn. It could be that the gang won’t realize Tomas is after us.”
    At that moment, a distinctive beeping pattern sounded. Within seconds, Nathan appeared, his face tight. “Are you expecting anyone?” he asked abruptly.
    “No,” Liam answered. “No one even knows we’re here.”
    “Well, I’m not expecting anyone, and that was the sensor for my driveway. Someone’s here.”

FIVE
    L iam shot to his feet. Elisabeth’s chest tightened. Had the gang found them somehow?
    “We drove around to make sure we weren’t followed,” Liam said.
    “How about a tracker on her car?” Nathan said.
    “Liam and I checked my car,” Elisabeth said.
    “You have about ninety seconds before whoever’s headed this way arrives,” Nathan said. “What do you want to