Page 150 of Sinner's Obsession

I offer a small nod, depleted, dejected, hollow.

“Let’s eat. I am sure you’re hungry.”

I’m not hungry, I’m ill with worry, and I want my Kieran back.

We step outside and I remember why he rushed out of the office.

“Who is Alessandra?”

An entire range of emotions passes through his eyes. “No one.”

“No one doesn’t have you reacting like this.”

“Like what?”

“Like she is so much more.”

“You are so like your mother.”

The sharp change of discussion doesn’t go unnoticed, but I’m starved to find out more about Mom and him.

“Will you tell me about your relationship with Mom?”

“What do you want to know?”

So many questions run through my head. It’s not that I don’t believe him when he says he’s my uncle, but Kieran is also right. Something doesn’t add up.

I open my mouth, but Chiara steps inside, wearing a despondent look.

“Are you all right?”

She nods and we go to the dining room. An entire wall of glass, with the most spectacular view over the landscape outside, spreads in front of us.

Magdalena says something in Spanish as she sets the table. I play more than I eat my food.

Uncle Hayden’s phone rings and he apologizes before he picks up, leaving us alone. I stare at my friend while she lifts her eyes at me, whispering, “This place is so guarded.”

“Did you think someone who would mess with Kieran and Cato to get us wouldn’t live just as dangerously and need just as much security?” My voice rises to a pitch I’ve never reached before, but my nerves are stretched to the limit. Her eyes widenat me. I didn’t want to yell, but at least I knew what type of man Hayden Carrera has to be. My friend just took the first way out, not caring about anything. Dejection and guilt spar inside me. “I’m sorry.”

“I shouldn’t have dragged you into my mess.”

I go to her, hugging her. “You’re my best friend. I want you to be happy. That’s all.”

“I will be,” she says as if trying to convince herself.

“Let’s walk around the perimeter.”

This place is even bigger than Kieran’s. We come across an entrance separated by a wall, but a man stops us.

“You can’t go inside. Boss’s orders.”

We take a step back and lift our eyes. We gasp the second a woman’s shape comes to the window, her hands crossed, and beside her is my uncle. She gesticulates, and he backs her up to the window.

“Now I know this was a mistake.” Chiara sighs and leaves.

I wait for my uncle to come down and the moment Uncle Hayden sees me, he abruptly stops.

“Who is she?”

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