Page 73 of Break Me

“Now you get to learn how to make the crust.”

The way his face fell allowed me to giggle, something I reserved for my friends.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be right there to teach you how.”

I could remember seeing my mother and father standing in the kitchen together, baking or cooking. It didn’t matter. They were always together. Something Sean had had no interest in. Maybe I was just testing Alexsey, but with the music playing in the background and the delicious wine creating a nice buzz, as the minutes ticked by, I realized I was thoroughly enjoying myself.

Maybe fifteen minutes later and after minimal direction, he’d created a crust worthy of… Okay, well, a child, but it didn’t matter that it was misshapen or a little fatter on one side. He’d worked with me while I’d cut the mushrooms and I’d even caught sign of a few beads of sweat trickling down both sides of his handsome face.

“Well, that looks like shit.” The sound of his voice was gruff, the deep baritone rumbling in the small space.

“Shush,” I admonished. “We have little ears in the house. And not bad for your first try. It’ll mostly be covered in homemade sauce and lots of cheese anyway.”

“I heard you curse a couple times, Captain.”

“That’s different. This is my house.”

“That you rent or own?”

While I’d ordinarily think the question invasive, I honestly didn’t mind this time. I moved toward the refrigerator, pulling out the other needed items. “Sean and I were going to purchase. One of those rent to own deals, but after he died, I couldn’t make the extra payments. Besides, the neighborhood has changedsignificantly since we moved in. We have a little backyard for Emily to play in and a swing set. No grass, which bothers me since she’s prone to falling, but it will do. At least there’s a fence, even if it’s in need of repair.” I glanced out the window at the hand-me-down Liam had provided.

“What type of house would you purchase if you could?”

“I don’t know. There’s a community outside the city, an area where all the houses have grassy lots and trees. The houses have front porches and I could see a swing there and maybe one in a tree somewhere. Like I had when I was a kid.”

Alexsey watched intently as I carefully swirled the sauce in a circle moving the back of the spoon outward toward the edge of the crust. I would never think a man of his stature would be so interested.

“That sounds beautiful. What’s going on with the insurance?”

Now I laughed and rinsed my hands, snapping a towel from the counter. “Something I need to grill my brother-in-law on.”

I sensed he was suddenly angry. So was I. More so every day. “It’s been too long, Halle. You should have had the money in your account by now.”

“Yes, I understand. There was a lawsuit. Faulty equipment even though it had been checked just the week before.” I tried to blow it off. The last thing I wanted was to have another evening ruined. “Now that we’re getting into the serious conversation mode, who tried to kill you? Someone who doesn’t like the Bratva, or was it someone who doesn’t like your choice of wallpaper in your resorts?” I added pepperoni, unable to keep from darting glances in his direction.

I honestly expected him to change the subject.

He didn’t.

“We have enemies, Halle. But I can’t think of any successful business who doesn’t have their share of them.”

“Yes, but few competitors try and kill those who might be standing in their way of success.”

Grinning, he grabbed his wine. “I’ll give you that. The people we think are responsible are the Greek mafia.”

“So there’s more than one crime syndicate in Las Vegas.”

His incredulous look brought a smile. “You’re a very intelligent woman, Halle. Yes, there are a few. Some worse than others. Some more organized and many handle business the way my father and uncle did even fifteen years ago.”

“Which means killing people who get in their way.”

“Sometimes. Yes.”

I thought about everything I knew regarding Liam and his family. Sean hadn’t wanted to talk about their father and certain business practices that had troubled him enough that he hadn’t talked to his father in years. The only reason he’d remained close to his brother had been because up until his death, Liam had never pushed an agenda.

Or so I believed.

For some reason, before his death Sean had been off. Angry. Agitated. I’d caught him on the phone late at night talking in whispered words. We’d even argued the morning of the fire because he’d refused to tell me who he’d been talking to.