Page 26 of Break Me
“Don’t worry. Nothing nefarious. I simply need her help with making a few purchases.”
“Ah…”
“What does that mean?”
“That means you like this girl. Just think, all it took was for her to save your life.”
CHAPTER 7
Halle
“Five hundred dollars,” I said absently, still marveling at the money Alexsey had left as a tip. Granted, I’d almost raced after him, tossing the bills in his face like an impetuous child, but the moment the impulsive thought had entered my brain, I’d shoved it away.
In fact, I’d felt giddy the rest of the night, a little on cloud nine and not just because I’d been able to purchase an inhaler, but because I’d had enough money left over to buy my baby girl a new toy.
Something she hadn’t gotten from her mother since her birthday. I’d also been able to take her out for an adventure, something else that I hadn’t been able to do for so very long.
Now she was taking a nice, long nap, tuckered out from the day.
Today had been my first day off in almost two weeks. I’d spent the morning with my daughter, who didn’t seem any worse forthe wear from her attack the night before. We’d gone to the zoo and out for ice cream. I’d had the best day in a long time.
All because of Alexsey Dmitriyev.
Even if Liam had tried twice more to both grill me what my relationship was all about and warn me that he was dangerous.
It had all felt too pushy. Too contrived.
I’d finally told him to shut the hell up.
Then I’d caught him snickering with a couple of his buddies that had come into the bar later about the fire. That’s when I’d broken the news my engine company had been called to the scene and I’d almost died saving Alexsey’s life.
That had been the moment I’d known there was something going on with Liam. I’d suspected something foul when he’d told me, not asked me about the lawsuit filed about Sean’s death.
I’d tried to understand and I’d been so deeply involved in personal grief that I’d allowed the fact he’d gone behind my back to slide. The power of attorney had been in place for at least a couple of years, something I had never fully understood and one aspect of my marriage with Sean that always brought an argument. But I’d finally stopped asking.
Until his death when everything had seemed muddy.
Now I was uncertain and angry with Liam for not being straight with me.
No, I was just angry with the world.
With an unlikely suspect being the only reason that I’d felt something other than darkness.
Alexsey.
My little slide into a moment of joy hadn’t just been about cash. In fact, that was second to the way the handsome man had been looking at me. As if I was a carefully presented feast on a silver platter slathered in honey and juices that he was ready to devour.
Then there’d been the words he’d said to me. Of course, I was no fool. He was the kind of man who likely had women hanging all over him and knew what to say. Still, that didn’t mean for a couple of hours I hadn’t felt beautiful. What woman wouldn’t when someone risked being mauled to death by marauding Irishmen for her?
However, as I stood staring at the dozen or so packages that had just been brought by a courier service, my emotions and thoughts were slowly drifting back to irritation. That could lead to full-blown anger.
“Is there a note?” Kristine asked as she studied the array of bags. “This is a little bit like you being Cinderella.”
I studied the bags, hating the trembles in my hands. When I noticed a white card, I almost bristled and ignored it. “Yes, there’s a card.”
“Well, read it. You don’t have much time before your date.”
My date.
