She glares at me for a beat longer before coming over and picking up her glass. “They’re putting a suit on you.”
“Exactly. That’d be you.”
“I’m a damn nice suit at least.”
I toast her with my empty glass. “We can agree on that.”
She takes a sip of her drink and crosses one arm, resting her elbow on top of it. “My father does launder money for the Whelans though. He launders a lot of it.”
“Oh yeah, a fucking metric shit ton of money moves through your father’s business every year. Most of it ends up in the pockets of the core Whelan family though.”
“That’s why he’s important.”
“And it’s why whatever your ex took is a big deal.” I flick at a speck of drying blood on my shoulder. “You knew all this already.”
“I knew. And I didn’t know. I didn’t want to know, anyway.”
“Does it change anything? Hearing it all confirmed?”
“Not really.” She slumps against my island. “Makes me feel tired is all.”
“You’re welcome to crash in my bed, love.”
Maybe it’s the way I say it, but she stands up and shakes her head. “I need to get home.”
“Alright. No pressure.” I move forward and take her wineglass from her fingers. She surrenders it, but lingers near me. I breathe in the smell of her perfume. Floral and lemony sharp. I like it very much. I’m tempted to fist her hair and pull her in close.
But her nose wrinkles. “You stink like blood.”
“That’s a side effect of my work.”
“Good night, Liam.” She hurries to my door.
“See you in a couple weeks.”
She doesn’t look back as she gets the hell out of there.
CHAPTER 13
REGAN
The sun feels good on my arms and face. I find a decent spot on a low retaining wall in a decorative garden outside a large office building near the one where I work and pop off the lid to my usual afternoon big salad. I crack open a Diet Coke and fold into myself as I eat.
It’s a nice day, but I don’t feel much of anything.
I’ve been numb ever since I went to Liam’s a week ago. I knew it was a mistake, sitting down on that couch in his lobby at ten at night after trying to call up to his apartment. But the obsession wouldn’t let me go.
I had to hear it from him. I needed to know for sure.
I’ve been aiding and abetting a money laundering scheme since the moment I started working at this place.
That’s why Dad wanted me to get my CPA license. He told me as much, but I didn’t want to think about it too deeply. It was easier to stay in denial. We’re just a rich family. We’re successful,and sure, we’re connected to some shady people, but I’m not involved in that side of the operation.
Except I am.
My name’s on all the filings.
All those fake freaking numbers I chose to ignore.
