Page 64 of Sins of a King
“Are you calling me your boyfriend?”
“I think so.”
“You think so?” he asked in amusement.
I tugged up the sheet to cover myself while enjoying the view of him without clothes. He looked relaxed yet powerful. “Nothing’s really been resolved between us. I still want you to open up and you still seem inclined to keep things from me because that’s your natural way.”
“We’ll order food and then you can ask me all the questions you want, and I’ll try to answer them to your satisfaction. Okay?”
Recognizing his words for what they were, I nodded.
When he hung up, he went for his pants and then tossed me his button-down. I arched a brow but said nothing, donning his shirt and rolling up the sleeves. We moved into the living room, Flynn’s chest still bare. It was a distracting sight. I sat on the couch and propped my legs up onto the coffee table.
“Your move,” he said.
I nodded, trying to compose my thoughts but then decided to let it all out. “The casino and brothel…why do you really do it? It’s not because of the danger. I know that was an excuse.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Of course it is,” I muttered. “Well, explain.”
“I can’t.”
“And there it is.” I got up off the couch.
“Hold on.” He reached out to grasp my arm, tugging me down to sit. “Instead of you asking the questions, let me volunteer some information.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him a cold stare. “I’m listening.”
“Have you heard of Giovanni Marino?”
“No.”
“He owns The Dominus Hotel—the one on the Lower East Side.”
“You want to talk about another hotel mogul?”
“Marino is head of the Italian Mob of New York.”
“Mob? Wait. Areyouin the mob?”
He paused. “There are certain powerful, wealthy men who run the city.”
“Are you one of these men?” I demanded.
“Aye.”
“So the casino and brothel allow you a certain form of power? Am I close?”
“Something like that. There are things I can’t tell you—not because I don’t want to but because I’m protecting you.”
“Stuff about the brothel and casino?”
He paused and then, “Aye. Let’s just say there are certain people who might use you to get to me. The less you know, the better off you’ll be. Please trust me on that, okay?”
“Am I in danger?”
“There’s always an element of danger—to anything.”
