Page 40 of Wicked Truths
Something’s wrong. I want to pull her aside, ask what happened, but she won’t meet my gaze again.
“I’ll put these in water.” She disappears into the kitchen, leaving me staring after her, wondering what walls have gone up now.
“I’ll come with you,” Poppy says as Milly strides down the stairs.
“What happened last night?” I ask Milly.
“Fucking Con threatened her,” she hisses. Milly is less gentle than her younger sister. “So I kneed him in the balls.”
I laugh as Dom comes out of his office. He looks at me and gestures for me to follow him into his office. The heavy door closes behind us with a soft click. The room smells of leather and cigars, a combination that always reminds me of our golf games.
“Does Poppy know anything about what happened with Mateo at the party?” Dom settles into his chair.
“I asked, but Amara’s kept quiet about it.”
The door opens and Dom’s son, Dante, strides in, his presence filling the room like his father’s does. “Any news on Lia’s shooter?”
“My investigators are working on it,” Dom replies.
I sink deeper into my chair, feeling like an outsider. This world of violence and vengeance is galaxies away from my lecture halls and student papers.
“How is Lia?” Dom’s voice softens at the mention of his stepdaughter.
“Rafe and Cade are taking good care of her.”
Dom’s jaw tightens. “Have you heard anything about Amara and Con? He’s assaulted her twice now. Do you know the reason before I kill him myself?”
Dante’s expression darkens. “There was an incident at the warehouse a while ago. Do you remember I mentioned it was bizarre? The man killed was a supposed Irish mobster?” He leans forward. “But he had Amara’s name on him. Her birthday too.”
“Did you question him?” Dom’s knuckles whiten on his desk.
“Con killed him before we could. And it turned out he wasn’t an Irish mobster at all.” Dante’s brow furrows. “He was a detective.”
“And you never thought to tell me before today?” Dom’s voice lowers, but Dante tilts his head to one side, unaffected.
“No, why would I? Con was the one who needed to come forward. I’m no snitch.”
I keep my face carefully neutral, but my heart pounds against my ribs.
“Should I be here?” I grip the door handle, ready to escape.
Dom’s laugh cuts through the tension. “I trust you.”
“Still, I’ll let you two speak about this while I’m not here. I prefer to stay out of this stuff. I’ll check on Poppy and Amara before I leave.”
In the kitchen, I find Amara alone. I corner her by the sink. “Where’s Poppy?”
“Talking to Milly about me.” She rolls her eyes. “Everyone is creeping around me now.”
I lean forward, brushing my finger against her hand. “Meet me in the dining room. It’s private and we’re less likely to be seen.”
Her eyes lock onto mine, and she nods as I turn away.
The moment she comes into the dining room, I lock the door behind her and press her against the wall. “I can’t do this anymore. I want you in my life—properly.”
Her smile lights up her face. “Properly.”
“I can’t stop thinking about you. I was going to tell you last night, and I couldn’t sleep thinking that you came here rather than to me.”
