Page 31 of Bound in Debt

“Getting pissed isn’t going to help matters, Liam,” I advise, trying to sound like I want to help him. “You’ve already sunk yourself by forcing her to marry you. Give it time, it’ll be something to focus on while the Lombardi mess is handled.”

I want nothing more than to wrap my fingers around his throat because I can’t forget how Victoria looked at me last night, equal parts hope and desperation that I might help her.

I can’t.

Things were already in motion way before I got involved. There was no getting ahead of it.

“She knows her place,” my nephew states sourly just as the waitress comes back to give us our drinks. His eyes fall to her ass as she bends over. “It shouldn’t come as a surprise that she’d be married before she’s twenty-one.”

Strike one against her mother.

These are things that I don’t want to know about but the universe seems determined to inform me anyway. Victoria has no one in her corner. I don’t want to play the knight in shining armor.

But who else is going to do it?

Walk away.

I can practically hear the angel and devil on my shoulders bickering back and forth.

“A girl like her sounds like she has dreams,” I acknowledge, trying to keep my voice calm. “Let her have them and you won’t have to deal with her.”

Liam doesn’t look at me, reaching for his prissy fake coffee and bringing it to his lips. “I don’t give a fuck what she does because when that shit hits my account, I’m gone.”

And there it is.

Liam is going to take the fucking money and run. He has no plans to pay the mob. Marissa already confirmed they don’t have any money. So why give it to someone else when you’d still be broke after?

“Italy is nice this time of year.” I reach for my own coffee and keep my focus on the white linens of the table. “I could show you Portofino, where your dad and I grew up.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t go back there the first minute you saw the mob.”

Oh, I wanted to.

However, I’m not looking to get chased halfway around the world. I have some calls out to see if Lombardi has any pull overseas.

“I’m not going to leave my brother’s only kid here with a mother who doesn’t know what to do.” I glance up at him and don’t bother hiding my severe annoyance with how Marissa got her kid involved. “Moretti men take care of their own.”

Liam gapes at me for a second before giving me a curt nod. “Right.”

“How much does she have? Is it going to be enough for you to survive?”

“More than enough,” Liam evades, not giving me the number. “I might take you up on that offer. Mom wants to go to Greece, but I’m not looking to fuck women with armpit hair.”

I really want to drop this kid on his ass.

“This coffee is cold,” Liam complains then returns his white mug to the table before raising his hand to get the waitress’s attention.

Victoria and I are linked now, whether I like it or not. There’s no way I’m going to leave some innocent girl behind while I and the kid who screwed it up run to Italy. She’s the only level-headed person in this scenario. I might just be able to come up with a plan to get us the hell out of this mess.

Liam and Marissa already made their choice.

Now I have to make mine.

Clock’s ticking.

12

VICTORIA