Page 113 of Theirs to Desire (Club M: Boxed Set)

“That’s him,” I confirm. “Do you know him?”

“He used to drop by at Lockhart the two men own one of the best private security firms in the world. Dixie is protected by Xavier Leforte. It’s time to tell my friends the truth about my past.

“You wanted to know why I’m going to scene with Caleb and Nolan.” My fingers crumple the end of a paper napkin and then straighten it out. “My last name isn’t O’Leary. It’s Thompson. I changed it when I entered the witness protection program.”

I don’t look at their faces. “Eight years ago, I saw a Russian mafia boss shoot two of his people in the head. They’d tried to steal from him.

” Crumple and straighten. Less messy than tearing the paper napkin to shreds.

“Later that night, there was a huge fire in the same bar. My fifteen-year-old sister Bianca was burned to death, as was her deadbeat boyfriend, Greg Dratch. Greg was Sirkovich’s IT guy. ”

Bianca’s body was so badly burned in the fire that the charred figure looked nothing like my sister. The facial features had been burned off. All was left was a human-shaped lump.

Dixie’s face betrays her horror.

“I testified against Sirkovich.” The edge of the napkin, weakened by my repeated fiddling, starts to tear.

“I did it for Bianca. It was my responsibility to keep her safe, and I failed. I had to make amends.” I wipe my sweaty palms on my thighs.

“The rest of the story is simple enough. Sirkovich got life in prison, and I entered witness protection. I moved around a lot at the start. This is the longest I’ve ever been in one place. ”

“Three years?”

“Three years, five months and seventeen days, if we’re being precise.” I fall silent once again as the waiter refills our coffee. I ignore my full cup. I feel jittery. My body is filled with a nervous energy that’s making the corner of my eye twitch. I’ve never told anyone this story.

“That’s the reason you don’t date,” Fiona breathes. “You don’t think it’s right for you to be happy.” Her voice fills with sadness. “Oh, Kiera.”

The sadness will overwhelm me if I let it. “I don’t date because it isn’t fair to draw someone into this mess.”

Fiona doesn’t correct me, though I can tell from the expression on her face that she wants to. Dixie leans forward. “Why did you ask if Nolan worked for the Russians?”

With each word I speak, I make them a part of my problems. It’s not fair to them. I should shut up.

“Kiera,” Dixie prompts, her eyes narrowing. “Fiona runs a private detective agency. I know I don’t look like a badass, but trust me, I’m capable of taking care of myself. If you’re beating yourself up about involving us, stop it. We’re your friends. We’re already involved. ”

“I saw a photo of Greg Dratch on one of their laptops.” My fingers tremble as I reach for the cup of coffee I don’t need. “Why? Why now, after all these years?”

Fiona frowns. “Why don’t you ask them?”

It’s an obvious question, but I don’t have a good answer.

I know I need to find out how Caleb and Nolan are connected to Dratch, but there’s a small, secret part of me that would prefer not to know the truth.

Last night had been so magical. If I ask them about Greg and I don’t like what I hear…

Maybe I want to bury my head in the sand just a little bit longer, and cling to my illusions.

Dixie notices my hesitation. “We’ve got your back, Fiona. You’re not in this alone. Now, let’s change the topic.” Her smile turns mischievous. “Were you with Caleb and Nolan last night? Tell us everything. Are they hung like horses?”