Page 127 of Break Me

“Everything was spiraling out of control. That’s when Dad contacted Sean, putting pressure on him to come back into the family and run the operation. Yes, Halle. Our family had been involved in illegal drug activity for a decade. Sean wanted no part of that either, but he felt obligated.”

She looked at me, not nearly as surprised as I’d thought she’d be. “That’s why Sean and I argued. He was being pressured.”

“Yes,” Liam said quietly.

“You were jealous, so you arranged to have your own brother killed,” Mikhail tossed out. “Everything was going just fine at that point. You paid off your gambling debt with Papadakis and in the meantime, you used an idea of going into business together, eventually using the settlement money as collateral.” He was fishing, but the thought process sounded accurate.

Yet it horrified Liam more than I would have expected. I’d seen men trying to lie their way out of something. I knew the facial tics and could read body language from a hundred yards away.

Liam wasn’t showing anything I was used to. “That’s not right. Not exactly. You just don’t understand.”

“So you keep saying. Explain why you took my child’s money. Why? Don’t you love your niece at all?”

“Of course I do and I already told you I’d never do anything to hurt Emily. The settlement is protected. Even from me. It’s in a trust fund.”

The admittance shocked all of us.

“Yes, I paid back what I lost from the insurance money. And yes, I used the settlement money to bait Viktor Papadakis into going into business. And not just to cut ties with O’Shaughnessy.”

“What else?” I gritted out. “Why? Finish it, Liam. Tell Halle what she needs to know.”

He was in obvious distress.

“You killed your own brother out of jealousy!” she threw at him, getting in his face. “You deprived a little girl of a father.”

Liam looked away.

“Tell her, Liam. Now,” I growled.

“I didn’t kill him. Papadakis ordered the hit. That’s why I tried to work with him to prove it.”

Liam was completely exasperated.

Halle took a deep breath, backing away and turning to look into my eyes. Maybe seeking my advice. Maybe looking to see if I believed him.

In truth, I did.

“Why was it so important to you, Liam?” Mikhail’s voice was barely audible.

“Because I lied to him. I betrayed him with gambling. I was so jealous of my own brother I was blinded by my anger. I was the reason he died. My wife left me, Halle. She fucking left me. That’s why I never go home.”

“Why do you say that?” I pressed.

He looked at me and I could tell he was resigned to whatever life would dole out given his confession. “Because Sean went to see Viktor, telling him the gambling debt would be dismissed or he as the new head of the family would destroy the Papadakis family.”

Halle turned completely away. “I hate you, Liam, but you’ll be forced to suffer the consequences of your actions for the rest of your life. For that, I feel sorry for you.”

The moment was full of tension. We weren’t finished with our conversation. Not yet.

“Mario. Take the woman I intend on marrying to my car. And lock her in if necessary.”

Liam didn’t even react to my statement, but Halle did, throwing me a look that was laced with her signature fury, amusement, and a hint of excitement.

When Mario opened the door, she half laughed. “Don’t hurt him, Alexsey. My little girl deserves to have an uncle. I won’t dare take away something so precious.” As she’d done before, she touched my arm and we both experienced an entirely different level of closeness.

I could feel her reliving heartbreak from losing her husband, but at least she knew Liam had nothing to do with his death. She had such an incredible heart and soul and all I wanted to do was to take care of her.

Once the door was closed, I put my weapon away, shoving one hand into my trouser pocket while I rubbed my jaw with the other.