The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Lorelai POV

We stride into the company, Knox's face a picture of worry as we go directly to lan's office. lan looks up as Knox slams the door open and I cringe, coming in behind him. I can hardly blame Knox for being this angry when I'm furious as well. After all, I had been the one who had ended up shot. I could have lost my life because of this woman and now the prosecution was saying they had lost vital evidence? How did something so ridiculous happen? It was almost inconceivable. It was like some sort of sick joke or something. I could feel myself shaking in anger. The prosecutor, an older gentleman with salt and pepper hair and a matching mustache stands up as Knox storms into the room.

"I'm Mr Jameson," he says quietly, meeting our eyes.

Knox doesn't mince words "What the f**k happened to the evidence? I personally gave you those surveillance tapes. Your people" he emphasizes as Mr. Jameson listens without interrupting "Assured me that you had everything you needed to put this woman behind bars. Now you're telling me that what....you can't?"

Mr Jameson nods tightly "I understand that you're disappointed Mr Grant, I'm just as angry as you are. We're doing a full in-house investigation into the whereabouts of this evidence but I don't know what else to tell you. The evidence that was primarily for this case, that proved without a doubt Mrs. Deluca attempted to harm you and Mr lan through the use of a hostage, is now gone. Vanished. As though it never existed. There's no trace of it."

"How?" Lorelai's voice is a whisper "How does something like that happen?"

Mr Jameson sighs "Money I'm afraid" his expression turns grim "We're looking into the financial records of everybody that would have access to the evidence. Even though Karen Deluca is no longer as rich as she was, she still has quite a bit of money that she inherited from her late husband, not to mention valuable assets and numerous investments in her portfolio. We're operating on the assumption that she's paid somebody to get rid of the evidence stacked against her."

"You could still go to trial" I objected "You have the guard that was bribed, he's a witness isn't he?"

Now Mr Jameson looks uncomfortable. He shifts awkwardly on his feet, glancing down at the ground. "I'm afraid that the guard is no longer able to offer testimony."

"Why?" Lorelai presses, her body trembling, her voice shaky as she steps up beside me, running a hand through her hair and looking frazzled "Why can't he testify?" Mr Jameson flinches "I'm afraid that the guard is dead ma'am. Killed while in prison by another prisoner."

"You didn't put him in solitary?" I said seething "Did something like this not occur to you?" I demanded in disgust.

He sighs and rubs his mustache "Truthfully it did not Mr Grant. We never thought that the guard would be in danger or we would have made plans to counter that." "Financial records," I said dully, grasping at anything now.

"Also gone and the bank accounts have been hacked," he said swallowing hard "All the information is gone. Even if we had you go through them, it would not be admissible in court."

I want to punch something. Anything. I want to yell at this man who looks as though this is the worst day in the history of his life.

"So what, she just gets to go free? No trial?" Lorelai's voice is incredulous.

"It means that until we find more evidence, Karen Deluca is free of her own cognizance. There will be no trial. We have no chance of winning without the evidence and also" he pauses "there is every chance she's had a chance to bribe the judge at the rate she's going."

"Flair and Grayson" I begin and he interrupts, holding his hands up, his eyes glinting.

"Mr and Mrs Oakes have already been contacted and informed about these developments. They have made the appropriate arrangements in regard to security and assuring their safety. We can offer you witness protection" he begins and I snort.

"Everybody knows who we are so that won't work. Not to mention it's extremely inconvenient."

I'm trying desperately to maintain some sort of control. It's difficult.

"We can put some men on her but we've noticed you already have some watching her."

I stare at him "Fat lot of good that did if she was able to organize for important evidence to go missing" I scowl.

lan sighs "What do you recommend we do?" he asks the prosecutor, remarkably composed in comparison to me and Lorelai.

"Increase security around your homes. Don't go out unless you have a bodyguard with you. Keep each other updated as to where you are going and check in with each other regularly. Change your security codes and pins. Be aware of your surroundings and don't go anywhere that is not public."

Lorelai looks worried. I put an arm around her. "We can't keep looking over our shoulders forever" I growl lightly "I have half a mind to take the law into my own hands, seeing as you've screwed up so royally."

It's not an empty threat. The man knows it too by the way he pales. "Unfortunately with somebody as well known as Mrs Deluca, there are bound to be questions if she disappears. To access the complete chapters for free, visit Job nib.com. We don't know what kind of things she's put into place if that should happen" he warns.

I feel like wringing his neck. Instead, I hold onto Lorelai who is breathing shallowly and looking as though she's about to be sick.

"What if I copied the surveillance tapes?" I suggest.

He shakes his head "You gave us the originals" he reminds me and I deflate.

I had to. They had argued it was necessary and like a fool, I had not thought to make copies. Damnit. I want to curse out loud but what good would it do?

"She almost killed Lorelai, surely you could match the bullet to the gun she was arrested with and..." I trail off. "Missing," Mr Jameson said dully.

I growl and glance at lan who is remarkably calm despite the bad news we've been given. I wish I could have that same composure that he does.

"Even if you find the evidence again, you can't use it" I realize as Mr Jameson clenches his jaw "Because it's been out of the chain of custody, it's effectively useless, isn't it? Because you can't prove it hasn't been tampered with."

He slowly exhales. "I'm sorry" he apologizes as I stiffen and Lorelai's face droops "I know this wasn't exactly the news you wanted to hear."

"Go" I growl, waving a hand at him "Just go."

He hurries out the door, glancing over his shoulder one last time. I slam the door to the office shut, while Lorelai sinks into the nearest chair, her body trembling.

"I can't believe it" she whispers as I put a hand on her shoulder "This is, it's a joke" she gives a small sob.

"Lorelai it's okay, lan and I have men following Karen, she's not going to get anywhere near you," I tell her trying to reassure my fiancee.

She looks unconvinced. lan nods as well "Trust me, my best men are on her. There's nowhere she can go they won't know about. This is merely a" he pauses "hiccup so to speak. We have to keep our wits about us."

"She managed to get a guard killed in prison," Lorelai says dumbly while I rub her back "I would say she could do anything without anybody being none the wiser."

"She might not necessarily have had anything to do with that" lan's voice is calm "It might simply have been a disagreement between two prisoners that ended badly."

Even I know that he's bullshitting just to make Lorelai feel better. She nods, wringing her hands together, still looking wretched.

A knock on the door has us all whirling towards the door. "Sir I must insist you take this creature from my hands" my driver huffs as I open the door bewildered, to find him holding the cage with Midnight in it "I simply cannot look after him a moment longer. It's not in my job description," he says and Lorelai giggles behind me while lan chuckles.

"Thanks," I say sourly while the driver touches his hat and disappears again.

I bring the cage in. lan's eyes are dancing "I see we have a new member of the family."

"His name is Midnight," I say shortly, putting the cage on the desk while lan wrinkles his nose and examines the creature carefully "Lorelai got him for me."

"Well he looks cute," lan says doubtfully while I scowl at him "and very suitable for you."

Whatever. I turn to Lorelai "Let's go home" I tell her with a grimace "We can go and rest and train this furry little bastard" I gesture to Midnight who is running around the cage again.

"Oh congratulations" lan interrupts "On your engagement. It was on the news" he points at the television "You have excellent taste. The ring is gorgeous" he compliments Lorelai who looks startled but smiles.

It seems like a lifetime but it was only this morning we went ring shopping I mused.

"I'm looking forward to having you as a sister-in-law" lan adds and Lorelai smiles, standing up just as lan surprises me and walks around to hug her.

"Thank you" Lorelai stammers.

I glare at lan. He's touching Lorelai too intimately for my liking. Ian meets my eyes and smirks before winking at me.

"I'll see you guys later," lan says, fixing his eyes on me "Don't do anything rash please. I know you're frustrated but let the authorities do their jobs. The last thing I need is to be bailing your sorry a*s out of prison" he warns as Lorelai glances at

me.

The annoying thing about having a twin is that sometimes they can practically read your mind. lan knew me too well I thought sourly as I grabbed Midnight's cage. I had intended to look and see if I could locate the person responsible for the evidence going missing myself but if I intervened, then the evidence I collected would be inadmissible. I gave a disgusted snort. "Fine, but only because you asked me to," I told lan in frustration.

I could feel myself beginning to lose control and was grateful for Lorelai whose mere presence helped me to keep it together.

I begin to walk out of the room with Lorelai holding onto my hand. "I appreciate your restraint brother" lan yells out "Drive home safely and from now on, check in with me. Lorelai you too" he adds.