Page 46 of A Dirty Business
“Huh. You mean the aunt that’s not here?” His voice was grating on my nerves because he was fully taunting me, and I didn’t understand why.
“Give me my phone.” I moved closer, my gun now too close for both of our comforts, but he ignored it.
And right then, he dropped his act.
The amusement fled, and I got a glimpse at the very real and very blistering anger under the surface.
He lowered his head, his nostrils flaring. “This is why I didn’t want you around me. This is why I should’ve forgotten you the second I found out you’re a cop.”
He began to move toward me. His chest touched my gun’s muzzle, and I swallowed a curse before making a decision. I wasn’t going to shoot him. He knew it. I knew it.
I holstered my gun, and then he was in my space, moving me back against the wall. He was breathing hard, staring down at me, and looking like he wanted to chew my head off, literally. But his tone came out soft, and all the more dangerous because of it. A whole new chill slithered down my spine. “For three years your uncle has been a pain in my family’s ass, refusing to work with us. Did you know that?”
I didn’t respond, too caught up in what else he was going to tell me, because I knew more was coming. I felt it, and I didn’t know if I wanted to know or not. I did.
His hand slid up, touching my chest and slowly moving to my throat, then around to the back of my neck, cupping me there. He held his own head back, watching me from his fullest height. “Then I met you. I becamefuckingcaptivated by you, and somehow that shit got back to my uncle, and guess who my uncle thought I should move in onnow? Fuck him for seeing an opportunity to capitalize on, and fuckyouruncle for being the abusive weasel shit that comes out of his own asshole. Goddamn fuckeveryonebecause now we’re in a situation. So when I ask why you’re here, you’re going to tell me because you are now in this too.”
A low growl was building in my throat, and I brought up my hands to shove him away.
They didn’t, though. They rested on his chest, and at the touch, he sucked in some breath, closing his eyes a moment. When they opened, raw pain flared briefly. “You’re not going to call the cops on me, and you know it. I’m sure there’s a valid reason you came in here, but the real reason you came and the real reason you came into that room is because you were hoping to do something to your uncle, probably what we’re doing.”
I looked away. “You’re torturing him.”
I felt the distance closing, and then his forehead touched the side of my head, softly, before he whispered, “I’m killing him slowly, for you. Because he’s hurt someone who shares your blood.”
A surge of emotion surged through me, and I really didn’t want to identify what that was. I ripped myself out of his arms and went to the opposite corner.
He went with me.
“Stop,” I grated out.
“You and me, it’s been there since the beginning. You’ve done a search on me by now. I’m not stupid. You know who I am, and you know who my family is.”
“You’re a Wall Street guy.”
“I’m barely there lately.”
God. This was all so bleak. Why did I feel I had a small opening that I could see out, but it was closing on me—and it was closing fast?
I dropped my voice. “What are you doing here? Really?”
He angled his head back, giving me another assessing look.
I met his gaze, steadily. “I need to know.”
His eyebrows dipped down again, and he moved back a step, his head lowering. “We’re here creating a job opening.”
A low and swift curse came out of me.
“I shared. Now it’s your turn.”
I seared him with a look, stepping away from him. “That’s none of your business.” I took a step toward the room for the window when he moved just as quick, his hand grabbing mine. “What are—”
He was pulling me toward him, a whole different and intense look filling his eyes, when suddenly—bang!
We both took off running.
I pulled my gun.
