Page 20 of Shades of Loyalty
Daniel left me alone here, most likely an office with lots of family secrets and documents, and he didn’t show a single sign of nervousness.
How the hell does he even trust me enough to leave me here alone? I wouldn’t trust myself if I was him.
It makes me wonder how much this man knows about me.
He didn’t even lock the door, which seems suspicious to me. Like he’s not even worried about me looking around his office, maybe even trying to find out what’s going on by sifting through documents or just leaving.
But I know better than that. The only thing I do is walk around, look at some books on the bookshelf, and some pictures on the wall. For most of them, I’m sure they’re of men who have worked for, or still work for his family.
Hearing footsteps, my body stills. What will he think of me if I’m not sitting down? Will he think I’m sneaking around?
What if he thinks I’m leaving? Would he punish me? No. I’m a woman. He said he doesn’t hurt women. But still…
I sigh as the footsteps fade. Oh, God. I shouldn’t risk anything here. But then again…
He never told me his full name. As much as I want to make sure my baby and I are safe, which will always be my biggest priority, I’m also curious.
Curious about hisrealfull name. Which mafia is this? We live in Chicago, after all. I’ve heard names of several gangs in the news before. What if I’ve heard theirs too?
I stand completely still, listening to the silence that seems to fill the room—hell, the entire corridor.God, I really am alone. But I can’t leave.
I don’t even know where the exit would be. And I couldn’t leave without my daughter.
For a few seconds, I make sure no one’s near, and then I take two more steps toward his desk. It’s huge, and I don’t even want to know how many documents lie there.
I don’t want to know what they’re about either.
I just want to know the goddamn name…
My hand picks up a folder before immediately putting it down again. Finances. As if that would lead me anywhere.
I sigh and open another one, but no matter how many folders or letters I look at, the name isn’t anywhere.
Just as if they wouldn’t want any evidence nearby. Clever. Really damn clever.
Just as I’m about to give up, I take another look at Daniel’s wristwatch lying in the middle of all the files.
It looks expensive, and I’m sure he’d kill me if anything happened to it, but...
I pick it up slowly and stare at it. It’s beautiful, with a black rose imprinted on the back and gold lining the case. God, it’s so gorgeous. I can’t even begin to imagine how much it costs. More than a million, probably.
Another deep breath escapes my mouth before I turn it around. Finally. Along with the year of manufacture, there’s a name I’ve been searching for on the main housing.
Caruso. Daniel Caruso. Fuck, that sounds a little too sexy for my own liking.
“You’re a pretty curious woman, aren’t you?”
I gasp before turning around, making sure to keep the watch safe in my hand. “I’m sorry, I just—”
He looks at the desk and nods knowingly.
“I understand you have lots of questions. I’d just prefer to answer them verbally instead of you sneaking around,” he says calmly, but with a dangerous tone.
I gulp, my heart beating fast in my ribcage, threatening to fall out.
Daniel strikes toward me, hovering over me as he grabs the watch from my hand.
“I told you we don’t want women involved in our business. I’d like to keep it that way, pretty.”
