Page 9 of Fearless Sinner

But who is he?

He seems to be in charge, but the beast-like Jason Momoa lookalike carries that vibe of authority, too.

“Hello.” Thank God I found my voice. The worst thing I could do in this situation is freak out. For a moment I allowed myself a fleeting second to wonder if maybe Mom moved and I got the house wrong. But then Irish guy said my name. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Is your mother awake yet?”

He knows about Mom. I swallow hard, past the slab sealing off my lungs. “No.”

“Then you’ll have to help us.” He gives me a mirthless grin, amplifying my fear.

“What am I supposed to help you with?” I try to keep the quiver out of my voice but fail miserably.

“Tell me where your stepfather is.”

My eyes narrow to slits and I stare at him. “Stepfather? I don’t have a stepfather.”

The men exchange curious glances.

“Look around you, lass. Isn’t that your mam right there?” Irish guy points to the pictures on the wall across from us. “They’ve been married for two years.”

The pictures are of Mom and a blond-haired man on their wedding day.

My mother… got married?

My mother got married two years ago. And I wasn’t there.

Slowly I turn back to the man, who intensifies his stare.

“I need to speak to Harlan right now. Your mother, his wife, is in the hospital. You must have seen him.”

“No. I haven’t. I was at the hospital for five hours and it’s just been me. What is this about?”

He considers my question for a moment, then his eyes roam over me from head to toe, taking me in in a way that spreads inappropriate heat coursing through me.

“I’m the guy your mother and stepfather owe a ton of money. And your stepfather took something from me that I want back.”

Jesus. What the hell is this?

And Mom owes money? I've never even known her to have a credit card.

I bring my hands together to stop myself from shaking. “How much money?”

The man tilts his head and continues to regard me with that sexy edge I wish I didn’t find sexy.“A quarter million dollars.”

My eyes nearly pop out of my head. “A quarter… million dollars?”

“You heard me. So, one more time: Where is your stepfather?”

Panic steals my senses, but I think on my feet to save myself. “Until just now, I didn’t even know I had a stepfather. I’ve been living in L.A. My mother and I fell out. I came back to New York this morning after I got the call from the hospital. If you don’t believe me, just look up the Nathan Ferrera case.”

He looks even more curious after my outburst of desperation.

His gaze lingers on me for a moment too long, then the tension leaves his face.

He stands, showing how tall and muscular he is. I peg him to be at least six feet six. He says something in what sounds like Russian to the other guy, who frowns.

He looks back at me, then marches over, making my five feet and four inches feel like an ant next to him. Having him so close to me makes my skin crawl and my entire body reverberate with unease.

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