Page 113 of Break Me

Not that the house had felt that way either. It had been a place to sleep, shower, and change clothes. I’d spent more time moving back and forth in the resorts than plopped down on a sofa watching some benign television show.

Which was what I suddenly had the desire to do.

How fucking crazy was that?

“Liam spent my money.”

Her statement was so out of the blue I was momentarily shocked into silence. “If you’re talking about the insurance and settlement money, then yes.”

She nodded and pulled her legs in front so she could wrap one arm around them. She looked so vulnerable when she rested her head on both, turning her face in my direction. “What? You’re so shocked I had a feeling about that?” When I said nothing, she laughed. “I’m not stupid, Alexsey.”

“No, you certainly are not.” I was curious what she thought she knew.

“When I went to work at the bar, part of me did so to remind Liam that I was right there. The other reason why was I needed the money. He’d acted so strange about having the power of attorney. It had been a thorn in my marriage. I’d tried to play itoff in my mind, trying to believe that Sean had been busy and simply hadn’t made the change, but something deep inside had told me that wasn’t the truth. So I worked there partially for money and partly to stay in his face and find out what the hell he was doing.”

“Did you?” I brought the glass to my lips, more curious than I was before.

“He was too guarded to let me into his little world, but people came and went often nightly. They’d go into the back room. The door was locked and they served themselves. The single time I asked Liam about it, he told me I didn’t need to worry about man’s business. Can you believe that shit? Now, I honestly didn’t think he’d stoop so low to steal the money from me, but the way he acted… Let’s just say I won’t be holding my breath.”

“He’s a piece of shit.”

She nodded in agreement. “Do you think they’re working with the Papadakises selling drugs?”

“I think it’s a strong possibility. Maybe to work off a debt.” Or maybe they were actually in business together, the money from the settlement used not only to pay off the gambling debt, but also as seed money for handling a portion of the Papadakis drug shipments. That wasn’t something I was willing to go over with her. She didn’t need any additional shit.

Leaning over, I took her hand into mine. For a few seconds, I did nothing more than roll my finger across her knuckles. The connection was entirely different. “I had an associate of mine check on Liam and his business activities. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I knew it would upset you. He’s in serious debt withthe Papadakis clan. They do back room high stakes poker games. The kind where the odds are always against you.”

Her nose was wrinkled. “And Liam kept losing.”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

She lifted her head, glancing away. “I should be angry with you, but I appreciate you allowing me to come to my own conclusions. I didn’t think Sean was involved with the family, but what if he was? What if they were mafia and Sean was being dragged back into the family fold?”

“Does that matter now?”

Her expression was thoughtful. “It does if I was the wife of a crime syndicate member and fell in love with a Russian enemy. Right? I might not know about the politics of your world, but I’m certain the O’Leary family would do anything to keep me from being brought into another crime syndicate family.”

I huffed and she narrowed her eyes.

“Am I wrong?”

I leaned further forward until we were only a couple of inches apart. “You’re in love with some Russian brute?”

It took her a few seconds to realize what she’d said. She slapped her hand over her mouth, gasping while her eyes opened wide. “Shit.” The single word was muffled. “I didn’t mean that.”

“I think you did, Captain. But I won’t hold you to it. At least not yet.” Every time she blushed, my cock twitched.

“Don’t because there’s no way I could love you. I don’t know you.”

“Well, that’s something we’re going to try and fix.”

Her nose wrinkled at my answer. “I think Sean was murdered.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Faulty equipment? It’s regulated. Inspected.”

“Then why did you say you blamed yourself?”