Page 50 of Starting Our Chance

28 Loretta

“Yes!” I pressed myhand into the table. The anger was bubbling to the surface, helping to dispel my fear. “I know where the money is, but I don’t have it—”

“So, you’ve been lying to me this whole time,” my old boss growled, his eyes narrowed. Those dark orbs were calculating and held a touch of cruelty.

We had been having this same conversation for fifteen minutes. I had tried to explain that I had never touched the money. But Oscolti had twisted my words and not listened to a word I had told him. And he had just gotten me to admit that I knew where the money was. Which was true—but it wasn’t like I had access to it, and that was the part he refused to hear.

“I’m not scared of you. You can’t hurt me,” I boldly stated. Thankfully he couldn’t see my legs shaking beneath the table. “You can accuse me all you want, but I neither touched the money nor did I help take it. But if you’d shut up for a moment, I can explain how I am going to help you get it back.”

Instead of lashing me with another accusation, Oscolti lifted a brow. “You and what army?”

That was the ticket, wasn’t it? I had to have friends to help me get the information and acquire the bastard who framed me. I couldn’t do it on my own. But weren’t the greatest businesses or even empires built on help? I steeled my nerves. I could do this, and I would get out of this mess and keep putting my life back together.

“Let me make a phone call.” I crossed my arms under my breasts. and blurted out with more bravado than I felt, “It is my right, after all.”

That last part was a mistake. A muscle in Oscolti’s jaw feathered. The no was on his lips—and it would be my doom.

Before he could speak, I hurriedly shard, “Look, he used me. I wasn’t fast enough in stopping him. But I have friends here, powerful friends. And we are in the process of retrieving your money. I want this to end. I want my life back.”

My old boss pushed away from the table and stood. I couldn’t tell if what I’d said had pleased him or angered him. In two swift steps, he was to the door and about to leave. This was my chance. I dropped the last piece of control that I had. “Does the name Saccone mean anything to you?”

He froze.

I pressed my luck. “I know that I ran. That was my go-to. When things get hard, I run. But I’m done running. I’m making a life for myself down here. I have friends—one of whom is Felicity Saccone. She is helping me find the real culprit.”

“You owe me reparations.” Oscolti laid out his terms and arched a brow, awaiting my response.

“Fine.” I wanted to stand, but the looming presence of the muscle behind me was threatening and I knew they wouldn’t allow me to move anyway. “I will pay whatever you want.” How the fuck I would come up with whatever sum he was considering was not something I wanted to think about. “Just please don’t hurt my family or friends. I can make this right.”

I thought he wouldn’t acknowledge me—hell, it was possible that he hadn’t heard me. But when that cold smile of his flashed over his shoulder, I desperately wanted to crawl away and hide.

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