Page 53 of Claim Me
There was no denying the connection we shared or the way my body reacted to his touch. Even as angry as I felt toward him, I tingled from the light pressure of his fingers. He took a deep breath and placed the flash drive into my palm, curling my fingers around the plastic.
“This is for you. There are emails and other documents that will provide you with all the information you’re looking for. Just know that in discovering the truth, you will experience additional pain.”
I started to jerk my hand free, but he gripped my wrist.
“I’m going to warn you that there are also some aspects about your family, what your father was into and other details that you will find disturbing. If you’d like, I’ll keep this from you and you can go on living your life believing the best in your family. And don’t get me wrong, Charlie put himself in harm’s way to protect you because you were his sister. I also think your father did everything in his power to end the twisted relationship he found himself in. That doesn’t change things. It’s up to you how you want to handle this.”
He wasn’t being forceful or condescending. That was easy for me to see. I’d never felt so much at a crossroads in my life. Up until now, I’d known what I’d wanted. “What would you do?”
His chuckle was as strangled as the moment. “If it were me, I’d need to know every detail, but my reasoning and yours would be entirely different.”
“Because you’re using the information for plans on acts of revenge.”
The slight smile didn’t fool me. He could easily be a cold-blooded killer. “Yes. You’re innocent and kind, believing in the best of people.”
“Maybe before, but I don’t know what to believe in any longer.” There was sadness in my voice, but the anger lingered.
If only he knew that we weren’t all that different. His hand was still on mine, but he relaxed his fingers, allowing me to choose.
I chose information and the truth.
He eyed me carefully, giving a nod as if one of respect. “I have a meeting that won’t take very long. Do not think that you are leaving this house. The men will be here to protect you. They won’t bother you, but you are not to leave. Is that understood?”
I took a step away, fingering the flash drive. “Why, yes, sir.”
His features softened as his eyes swept down the length of me. While I wanted to feel as if he was undressing me with his eyes, his gaze was more clinical. He was trying to figure out what to do with me. “I’ve left my laptop in your office. The password is Zhasmin.”
A moment of surprise caught me off guard as he signed the name in letters while pronouncing the word. Jasmine. “What is that, someone special?”
His eyes darkened. “Someone I once knew.”
Yes, I could tell the name meant something to him.
“Okay. My choice. I understand.” The moment was awkward, but for a few seconds I’d seen into his soul. Perhaps his heart. Whoever Jasmine had been to him was special enough he carried the memory every time he used the computer. I was dying to ask him who she was, but I sensed he wouldn’t answer.
I was also craving the closeness we’d shared only hours before, even though my heart was fearful I’d never recover if even a single additional moment of passion was shared. He’d had that kind of effect on me.
My defiant tone allowed me to see a flash of irritation, but he immediately masked his emotions. For a few seconds, we studied each other, neither moving nor talking.
I’d heard him taking a shower earlier that morning. A huge part of me had wanted to join him. He stood in another suit, even more handsome than the day before. My stomach was filled with butterflies, my pulse racing.
Even my nipples were hard and aching.
Yet there was anger. So much anger I couldn’t control myself. I grabbed the bouquet of roses I’d brought back with me from fucking Paris, babying them on the plane. Then there’d been the ones in Los Angeles along with another incredible gift. This time a stunning bracelet. I wasn’t certain if the piece of jewelry had made it home with me since I’d been so lost and hopeless.
“When I’m gone, I need you to contact the attorney who you spoke with. My guess is he has other information that I will need including details about the resort. Please have them forwarded to your email address. We will need to have a meeting at some point just so we’re both clear on the details of Charlie’s will.”
“You’re kidding me. Business as usual?”
“Your parents then your brother operated a multimillion-dollar empire. Unfortunately, business doesn’t cease when someone dies. I realize how crass that sounds, but it’s the truth. Can you do that for me?”
“Why, certainly.” He had no emotion at all. That confirmed he’d been playing a game with me. And with my brother. I would never forgive myself for daring to feel anything for the disgusting pig.
“Thank you.” So polite. So formal. “Charlie gave me a list of important people. I’ve already contacted the accountant. He should be able to provide a list of employees, so I know where to start. In addition, I need financials, which I’m certain you’ll want a chance to look at. Plus, there are several bank accounts. And there’s the issue of your trust fund.”
“So I gained a business manager as well as a gatekeeper?”
His smirk made me even angrier, his silence much worse.
