Page 15 of Break Me

“Your accent is very… acceptable, Mr. Dmitriyev. I’m simply not immune to your power in this city.”

“All me? I do have family.”

She finally pushed her way around me, rolling her eyes as she did. “Fine. Your family. Thank you for the invitation, but I was just doing my job.”

“I think you did more than that. How about a drink?”

“No.”

“A cup of coffee and a Danish. I know this little bistro you’d love. Not too far from here.”

With her eyebrows lifted, she stripped away all my layers with her mind. I was also wondering if she wasn’t stripping away my clothes as well. The electricity was raw and unforgiving, and I could tell she was aroused by her hard nipples poking through the thin material of her tee shirt.

I was such a bad boy. My mouth was watering at the thought of pulling one into my mouth, sucking then biting down. Mmm…

“Somehow, I get the feeling you’re not used to being told no.”

“You’d be right. Very few people do.”

A smile slowly curled across her voluptuous lips. “Well, then allow me to be the first. No to dinner, drinks, or coffee. But thank you for the invitation. Good luck with insurance on your home. Oh, and make certain the fire inspector doesn’t give you the runaround. The fire was an act of arson.” She grabbed her jacket and headed to the curtain. “You’re lucky to be alive. It would seem you have an enemy.”

With that, she walked out. She had no idea how accurate her statement was.

I realized I hadn’t gotten her name. I followed her into the corridor. “At least give me your name.”

She stopped short, waiting for a few seconds before turning around, looking me up and down as she debated telling me anything. “Captain Halle O’Leary.”

My lifesaver really was a captain.

Then her last name registered only after she’d walked away.

O’Leary.

Irish.

The group working with Papadakis.

Fuck. Karma definitely had it out for me.

What were the chances an O’Leary had not only intentionally damaged my vehicle, but had also been right there at the exact moment needed to save my life? I continued to mull over the possibilities while pacing the pool deck at Mikhail’s house.

The question seemed even the more ridiculous since was obvious she had no Irish blood in her. None. With her long, dark luxurious hair and light olive skin, if she had an Irish family she must have been adopted.

“Mystery solved,” Vissarian said the moment he walked outside. I hadn’t realized my close encounter with an arsonist was going to initiate an entire family meeting.

“Meaning what?” I took another long pull of the cold beer, wondering how in God’s name Mikhail could drink the piss water. Disgusted with the taste, I headed to the bar to make a proper drink. The night still burned brightly in my mind.

No pun intended.

“She was married to Sean O’Leary, another firefighter.”

“How did you discover that?”

He snorted and trailed behind me to the bar. “Make me one of those.”

I pulled a second glass as I waited for him to answer.

“I asked around,” he answered then gave me a look. “I had Alessandro do some digging.”