Page 28 of Mafia Obsession

“Here’s what I’ll do. Yourformersalary, the same exact amount, will be deposited into your husband’s account,” he continues evenly. “The remainder will be structured differently.”

“Differently, how?” I hide a glimmer of hope.

Hope that I can help Sandrine sooner.

“You will receive an executive stipend. It will accumulate under a Zervas corporate account that only you will have access to. You can draw from it as you wish. It will also not reflect on your W-2.”

My pulse stutters. David will see the same low salary, but I’ll know the truth.

“There is one other matter we need to talk about.” Ares turns and walks back to his desk.

From the credenza cabinet, he withdraws a sleek, silver MacBook. He sets it on his desk, opens it, types something briefly, then spins the screen toward me.

The interface and account balance I know better than my own reflection appears in front of my eyes.

My shell account. Hefound it.

“Care to explain this?”

The room tilts, and I back up toward the door without thinking.

Chapter 10

Ares

Ipush a button and lock the door so Lourdes can’t escape.

“Your theft was sophisticated,” I say in a sharp voice. “Who taught you how to do this?”

She only shakes her head. Hiding something from me will only make me pursue her more.

“Juniper is mine now. You need to start talking.”

“Does Nathan know?” she asks in a scratchy voice.

I study her, fascinated. “No.”

“Did you delete the account?” Her voice trembles. “Take the money?”

“No,” I say and pick up the laptop.

“It’s not what you think.” She clears her throat. “I told you my situation. My husband keeps all of my money. This was…in case of an emergency.”

She’s lying. It’s delicious, even if I don’t know what the truth is. I want to peel back more layers of this woman. Who knows what the hell I’ll find? Was she saving money to leave her husband?

To disappear?

No, I won’t let that happen. Not until I’ve had my fill of her.

“The money is yours,” I say, placing the laptop in her hands. “This was not an asset I accounted for.”

“You’re going to let me keep it?” Her fingers curl around the cool metal edge. “Without reporting me to Nathan or the police?”

“The police,” I scoff, as if that is a reasonable thing to worry about.

“Why are you doing this? You don’t even know me.”

“I’ve seen enough.” I hold her gaze then continue, voice measured, “Including your husband’s blatant disrespect. What you told me about his financial subjugation of you only confirmed my impression of him from the other night at Winterhall.”