Page 185 of Push

“The details are far too salacious for your pretty ears, sweetheart. But let’s say one job Iwasn’tinvolved in didn’t gowell. Drugs went missing. Money went missing. Sound familiar? For whatever reason, your father blamed me and sent four men after me to collect his debt. Those buffoons quite enjoyed beating me to within an inch of my life, hoping to break me while your father watched on.” His smile was chilling. “I was sorry to disappoint them.”

“My father…” What type of monster was he? A sharp exhale shot out of me like I’d been punched in the stomach. “I…” I wanted to throw up.

The waitress dropped a bottle of whiskey and a clean glass on the table. Liam’s hand shook when he reached over to pour himself another drink. “I’ll never forgive myself for letting Gwen see me like that.”

“You went to her?”

He nodded. “She cried and cried when she patched me up as best she could with the first aid kit in the back of that rat-infested fish and chip shop where she worked.” The drink he’d poured was gone in one gulp. “I shouldn’t have gone. It was a mistake. I’d only wanted to see her one last time before finally being free of this God-forsaken Earth. Something lurking in the depths below had other plans, though, I suppose.”

“And my father?”

“It was quite unfortunate for him that I’m so patient. I vowed I’d get revenge for what Gwen went through. I waited for years, but finally, after he’d burned every last bridge with Morelli, your daddy came crawling to me.”

“And that’s when you had him sign everything over to her?”

Liam nodded. “Morelli never got over the betrayal and put out a hit on your daddy. Rumor had it one particular enforcer took the job. The one nobody fucks with. The Widowmaker.”

My mouth dropped open. “But Gwen said that guy doesn’t exist!”

He rolled his eyes and took a sip of his drink. “I wish that ridiculous name didn’t exist,” he muttered. “Whoever came up with it should be next on his list.”

“Who is he?”

“A ghost. It’s said he just…drifts around…picking up work because he gets off on the kill. Someone told your father he’d made the list, and he panicked. He was all out of options with the Morelli family, and he was a dead man walking unless someone smoothed it over so he’d withdraw the hit.”

I didn’t need three guesses to figure out who. “You.”

Liam grinned. “And it was glorious. I got vengeance for Gwen. The look on your father’s face when I told him who’d be in control of his wealth if he lived.” His laugh was long and satisfied. “He thought I’d be stupid enough to name myself, and that’s when I knew he was planning to double-cross me. Your daddy was a snake until the very end.”

“But Gwen didn’t know.”

“No. We control the money and manage the properties. Eli’s been even more invested in growing the portfolio since your little creature came along. The poetic irony of how it turned out is rather beautiful.”

“Is Ian involved in any of this? You said he’s stirring up the hornet’s nest?”

“It seems your business partner has a similar taste in friends. Mr. Cooper is walking a very tight rope with the same family, and if he’s not careful, that rope will find its way around his neck. When Gwen mentioned he was a complication, I decided Romeo’s presence was necessary. You can never be too careful.”

I scrubbed my palms down my face. What an absolute mess. “Now what?” I sighed, weary, the last month catching up to me. “How am I supposed to explain all of this to Gwen? You know she’s going to completely freak out.”

“Ah yes, her ethics.” He snorted. “The simple solution is that you don’t tell her.”

“I won’t keep a secret from my wife.”

“That’s a complication.”

No shit.“She’ll quit when she finds out.” At the minimum.

“She’s going to quit anyway.” Liam’s smile was tight. “She’s bored out of her clever mind, and the offer’s coming for her to take back her old job in the Prosecutor’s Office…if she can be patient a little longer.”

“You set that up, too, didn’t you?”

He jerked a nod. “It was the right thing to do.”

“You feel you owe her some kind of debt?”

“You’re far smarter than you pretend to be, sweetheart.” If I didn’t know better, I’d swear his expression softened, his smile almost genuine. But the sign of affection vanished as quickly as it came. His eyes dropped back to his drink, and he waved me off with a flick of his hand. “Now, leave me be.”

Another storytime was over.

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