Page 124 of Break Me

My accusation seemed to catch him off guard. Instead of him lashing out, he seemed startled, as if I’d thrown a punch. Groaning, he turned away briefly, raking his hands through his hair. When he turned toward me again, his face was red, and he pointed his finger in my face.

“I would never place Emily’s life in danger. Never. She is my niece, my brother’s daughter.”

“She’s my daughter too. Mine. You took my money for gambling. You’re working with the Greeks. You’re nothing but a criminal.”

“Do you even have any idea who Alexsey Dmitriyev is? The family he comes from? He’s not some innocent victim, Halle. Don’t fool yourself.”

“I’m not blind or stupid, Liam. I know they’re Bratva, but I’ve been treated much nicer by his entire family than I have from what I thought was mine. I just don’t get it. Why are you doing this? Do you hate me that much? Is this about Sean marrying me?”

When he didn’t answer, I had a feeling this wasn’t as much about me as it was about Sean betraying his family.

I’d had a horrible gut feeling since Sean died. “Sean’s death wasn’t an accident. Was it?”

He cracked his neck then rubbed it, not able to look me in the eyes.

“Was it?” When he still didn’t answer, I jerked his arm from his neck, getting in his face. “Did you kill him? Did you?”

The fact he paled meant he was scared of facing the truth.

“Answer me!”

“No! Okay? No.”

I had to grip the table to keep from falling. “What… Who? Who killed him?”

“As I said, there are some things you don’t know. Sean refused to listen to me. He wanted to live his own life.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“That means he was born to lead. He refused to do that. At least at first.”

“What the hell are you talking about? Born to lead. Are you talking about your family and your criminal activity?”

His exhale was deep. “Things got out of hand.”

“Talk to me. What are you trying to say?”

The sharp knock on the door interrupted us.

“What?” Liam barked.

Just then the door was flung open, one of the two men from before sticking their heads inside. “Boss, need you out here.”

“It will wait!” Liam hissed.

“No, boss. I don’t think so. We’ve got company.”

Liam threw me a look then sighed. “Stay right here.” He pushed his way past me, heading out the door.

Did he really think I was going to stay behind after the bombshell he’d just left? Clenching my fists, I followed behind him into the main part of the bar.

While the sunlight from the open door created a solid haze across half the room, there was no doubt who was standing in a semicircle just inside.

Members of the Dmitriyev family and their soldiers.

And the man standing in front?

Alexsey.