Page 89
“Because of the dowry, bimba,” he snarls. “Ferguson promised money for Collins’s hand in marriage. It would’ve been so sweet to break her beautiful body, but what she offered in terms of money was so much sweeter.”
“Why did we need the money?” My voice is small and confused.
We ran girls. As much as it disgusted me, my grandfather made his entire business on the backs of women and had much to show for it. How could we need money with that disgusting business under our feet?
“That isn’t your concern,” he growls.
He’s not telling me something.
“What of Briar?” I ask, crossing my arms.
“Who?” He drops into the chair, tired.
I have no compassion for this man.
“Briar O’Brien.” I hold up my fingers. “There are four children. Maeve, Collins, Sloane, and Briar. Where is he?”
“Why?”
“Is he a threat?”
He deflates, turning in his chair. Glancing up at the windows, he folds his hands across his belly, dark suit rumpled. There’s a small stain on his tie.
“He could be. I’ve heard rumors.” He side-eyes me, lips pressed tightly. “What do you know of the sisters?”
“Not much,” I admit.
“Sloane is a hellion and catty,” he begins, ticking them off. “Collins is smart, but vengeful. And Maeve? She’s the worst of them all. Always undermining me.” He points to a scar on his jaw, then reverently touches one on his nose. “She gave me these. I’ve yet to repay her.”
He speaks of them as if they’re holy relics, and he wants to claim them all.
“But Briar,” he says ruefully. “Take the worst qualities of all of them, and put them into the body of a man who can’t control his temper.”
I lick my lower lip. “He has anger issues?”
“From what I’ve heard,” he drawls, reclining in his chair, “he beat Ferguson within an inch of his life over some disagreement. He ended up banishing the kid, and then a bounty was put on his head. Ferguson never copped to it, but we all knew. Briar’s information is on the dark web, and hired killers have been after him ever since.” He shrugs as if the point is moot. “I’d be surprised if he’s still alive.”
I let him into my room.
I let him into my body.
I let him into my heart.
“You don’t think he’s back?”
“Here?” he scoffs. “No, bimba. Put all those worries out of your pretty little head. He wouldn’t dare come back into this city. Not when so many people are looking for him. This is the first place they’d check.”
Roman’s an idiota. Briar is dangerous, and reckless enough to be here; he’s been in his club. He’s been in his house. He doesn’t play by the rules of logic; he does what he wants and when he wants.
“Go,” he says, flicking his hand. “I have business. Concern yourself with your marriage.”
“Any word, when?” I ask, edging back to the door. My thoughts are spinning, and I want to crawl under my covers for safety, but I can’t show Roman that.
He grunts. “Marco is demanding a date, but he has dues owed before I sign off. You’ll know when I’m ready.”
A small comfort. Not that it matters now. They’ll discover my virginity is gone during their inspection, and everything will be forfeit.
Returning to my room, I lock the door and pull out my mother’s chest from under my bed. I haven’t explored it since finding her love note from her secret lover, but now I feel it’s imperative.
