“He didn’t send me.”
I snorted. I seriously doubted that. A year ago Luca’s men drugged me then- I bit down hard on my inner cheek to stop that train of thought. “Bullshit.”
Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Luc didn’t even want me to bother. But I knew it’d be mutually beneficial for everyone involved.”
I examined him, searching for the lie. His muscular shoulders were relaxed, his strong jaw unclenched, and his eyes showed sincerity. Somehow, I didn’t think he was lying. And I’d survived for a long time by being able to tell the difference.
Odd.Luca hadn’t been the one to send him. And it didn’t appear he was about to kill me. But it didn’t matter, I’d never make a deal with the Amato family.
Still, something was bothering me.
“Why didn’t Luca want you to make a deal with me?” I knew the answer to that, but did he?
Sebastian crossed his arms. “You know the rumors about your family being responsible for my father’s murder.”
Oh, I was more than aware. It was the reason Luca had drugged and tortured me. It was the reason I’d expected Sebastian to try to snap my neck, so I wouldn’t spill what happened and start a war. But the more we talked the more I suspected that Sebastian wasn’t clued into that situation. It made sense: if it came out that the Amato family had tortured the second-in-command of the Regan family, there’d be a very bloody war. It’s the exact reason, I’d kept my mouth shut for the last year.
“And?” I said, watching him even closer now.
“And what?” he said, his brows furrowing together. Holy shit, he wasn’t lying. He really had no idea what his brother had done.
Before I could strategize how to utilize that, he spoke, “You’ll be protected if you take my offer. Not just from your father, but from the debt collectors.”
My stomach tightened at the reminder of Ray, my debt collector. I’d gone into more debt than I’d ever be able to repay. And my father sure as hell wasn’t helping with the situation. Conor had made sure that I couldn’t even get a job, so I’d be forced to go back to the family.
But Sebastian Amato wasn’t my knight in shining armor. He wasn’t going to save me from my issues. His familywasmy issue, and every moment I spent with him was dangerous. In more ways than one, because the back of my mind was working through the details of the offer. Because lately I’d come to realize how few options I had. But there was no way I could ever trust him not to screw me over.
“Get out,” I said, inclining my head towards the door.
Surprisingly, he actually listened to me. Didn’t dig in his heels and refuse to leave until I acquiesced. Instead he threw off the deadbolt and stepped into the sweltering heat. Sunlight peaked through the opening and threw his muscular frame fully into the focus. “You should think about it, it’s a good offer.”
I gripped the warped door, and slammed it closed as hard as I could. The sound of the impact echoed through the empty room as I was enveloped in darkness.
Chapter 3
My former business partner walked into his apartment balancing bags of groceries. Ronan’s body tensed when he spotted me sprawled out on his couch. But instead of reaching for his gun, he just sighed as he watched me flick through Netflix.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, but he didn’t even seem remotely surprised that I’d broken into his house while he was out. After my interaction with Sebastian, I’d wanted something comfortable, something safe. Even if lately the only emotion I felt around Ronan was disappointment.
Instead of responding, I shrugged and turned my attention back to my search. I groaned when the search bar failed to show the new season of Grey’s Anatomy.Nope, of course itwouldn'tbe available when I finally had access to Wi-Fi and a tv. At least I was able to enjoy the central air. It was way too hot to be living in a shack without even a window unit.
When he set the groceries down with a sigh on the Carrara marble countertop, I leaned back into the white sofa and fully turned my attention to him. I smiled at him, but he just rolled his eyes.
“Are you planning on telling me why you broke into my house?” he asked.
“Good to see you,Ronan.”
Heraised an eyebrow while leaning his elbows on the island.“Well, it’s not great to see you, Selene. You look like shit. When’s the last time you showered?”
I shrugged, I hadn’t exactly had access to running water.
“You better not get anything on that new sofa,” he said.
I didn’t understand why mobsters insisted on having white furniture. We’d inevitably have to get blood out of it.
“Hey, do you have anything other than Netflix? I wanted to check out the new season of Grey’s.”I tried to sound flippant, but I couldn’t quite put the feeling into it. There was a heaviness in my stomach that seemed to grow everytime I came to see Ronan.
“Whatare you doing here, Selene?”
