Page 59 of Wicked Oath
He reaches across the table to grab my hand. His touch is like comfort food, but I don’t know if I’m supposed to trust it. “I’m working through some things with your father that need to be dealt with. Once that’s done, all will be well.” He says it more to himself than to me.
“You’re just confusing me more, James.”
“That’s all I can really say for now.”
“Did you have something to do with the fire?” I blurt out.
He squeezes my hand. “Why would you ask me that? And no, I didn’t. You know Finian caused that fire, and he’s been dealt with.”
“Just like you’re dealing with my father,” I say slowly, pulling my hand away.
He huffs. “I’m not going to kill your father if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I wasn’t, but now I am.” I stare at James in a new light. Could it be that he’s been lying to me this entire time? I have no clue. He won’t give me a straight answer, so I don’t know what to think.
“Olivia, your father is safe, trust me. I just need you to trust me.”
But I don’t, and I don’t know how unless he’s fully honest with me. “I’m trying, James, but you’re making it hard.”
He pushes out of his chair and stands up. “I’m not sure what else you want from me, Olivia. But I have more work to deal with, and I’ll be at it all night long, so I won’t be coming to bed tonight. We can talk more in the morning.”
I watch him walk away. He might think things are done for now, but they’re not for me.
I have work of my own to get to.
Uncovering the truths James is hiding from me.
CHAPTER16
Olivia
The question now is—how do I find out the truth? Straight out asking James doesn’t work, and he’s not dumb enough to reveal information where I might be listening.
The only solution is to follow him and see what I can learn. But that’s tough when he’s a mafia man, attuned to people following him.
God, this will be tough.
I need help. I need Lucy.
Which means I need to apologize for my insensitive comments.
I try calling her, but she doesn’t answer. After I try a few more times, I get the sense she’s avoiding me, so I make a trip over to her house.
Her housekeeper answers, and when I announce myself, she goes to get Lucy for me. When Lucy bounces down the stairs and sees me on her doorstep, she immediately turns to walk back up the stairs.
“No, wait! Lucy, please. I’m here to apologize.”
She looks over her shoulder. “Really?”
“We’ve been best friends our entire lives. I don’t want one stupid fight to ruin that. So I’m sorry for hurting your feelings. You’re right. I was angry over things between James and me and snapped at you. Can you forgive me?”
“Mmm. Ok.”
“Just like that?”
She shrugs as she approaches me. “Yeah. And you were right, too. I can get a little silly when it comes to my crush on Owen. He never really notices me. And it sucks.”
I pull her into a hug. “I’m sorry my brother is stupid.”
