“It’s complicated and not something I need to discuss with you.”I run a hand through my hair.“But you’ve already claimed to be all in.I’m protective of her, even if she can’t be mine.So if you’ve got something else going on that’s going to hurt her, that’s one hundred percent my business.”
“Do you not see how much you hurt her?”Drew sounds amazed and dumbfounded.“How you cut into her and leave her bleeding?”
I glance down at the mats on the floorboard of the car.“Trust me.It’s better that she bleeds a little now than deal with what I’ve done.”
“Please tell me you did not fuck that bitch we just left.”Drew recoils.
“No.I wish that was it.”I look out the window.That would be easier to come back from.If Tom knew what I’ve done with his sister, he wouldn’t hesitate to tell her about that day.It may not have been my hands that did the deed, but I’m to blame.I’m just lucky Tom didn’t cut me out of his life.
The car pulls into the alleyway behind Drew’s club.
“It seems we both have secrets.”Drew cocks his head.“I’ll tell you mine, if you tell me yours.”
My breath catches and my eyes narrow on him.Give him ammunition to turn Sara against me forever?Not happening.
“How much do you pay Sebastian Cross to keep your secret?”I meet his brown eyes and see the wince.“You know, it just takes money to find out anything.What do you think I’d be willing to pay to guarantee Sara’s happiness?”
Drew shakes his head.“Apparently not enough if you won’t even consider staying with her.”
He gets out of the car, and I clench my fists because it won’t matter how much I want to stay with her.How much I need her.The minute Tom tells her what I did, she’ll leave me.
I get out of the car and follow Drew into the Veiled Vixen.It’s daytime, but there are employees in the hallways back here, setting up for tonight and keeping the customers that are in here doing business happy.
We head back to Drew’s office and he cues up his TV.Security footage plays.Someone cut the clips of Peter Sokolov and Tom together.
“We won’t have any sound, but this might help us figure out what kind of relationship these two had.”Drew pours himself a drink and holds up the bottle to ask if I want one.
As much as I’d like to drown in alcohol in this moment, I decline it.He shrugs and rounds the couch to sit down.I sit on the edge of one of the chairs and watch Peter and Tom talk, taking note of the guys they’re surrounded by.
These seem pointless, but if we find even a hint of something that will help Finn and Dante find her faster, it will be worth it.
Peter seems very confident but so does Tom.It’s odd to see Tom.It feels like so much has happened and changed since he disappeared.I can’t imagine him slotting himself back into our lives again.
But he’ll be back, and I’ll need to end what I’m doing with Sara.But he might decide to blow me up with her anyway.There’s this imbalance in our relationship.We’re fiercely loyal to each other, but he’s also held what happened all those years ago like a guillotine over my head.Just waiting to let the blade fall.
I’m not even sure he’s forgiven me for it.
“Wait.”I hold my hand up as a woman who definitely is not a stripper walks up to their table.“Who is that?”
Drew pauses the video and takes a picture with his phone.He types on it and after a few minutes, it buzzes.“Natasha Sokolov, according to Verity.”
It’s easy to tell that she’s Peter’s daughter.She has his dark eyes and dark hair.There’s something softer about her mouth though.I study Tom, but the still frame doesn’t tell me much.
“Play it.”I stand and focus on Tom’s face.
There’s this moment where Tom glances at her and there it is.That fucker wants her, but it’s more than that.At the same moment, Natasha meets his eyes and it’d be obvious to anyone paying attention that these two want each other.
“I’m going to kill him.”I need something to hit, but take a deep breath instead.
“What?”Drew glances from the screen to me.
“That fucker took off with her because he wanted her.He totally disregarded his sister’s safety to bang a chick.”I never thought I’d hate Tom, but in this moment, I do.Because he was thinking with his dick, Sara is gone and probably terrified.
“There may be more to it.”Drew looks at it as an outsider, but I’ve known Tom my whole life.
The video continues and we cut forward.The next time we see Natasha, a man is next to her, holding her arm possessively.Tom’s nostrils flare, but that’s the only hint that the man’s presence bothers him.
“Perhaps he was saving her from that guy.”Drew pauses and takes another picture.He texts, and when his phone buzzes, he arches an eyebrow.“Apparently that’s the guy Natasha’s father wants her to marry.”
