Page 70 of Day Shift

“There’s a lot you don’t know,” I admitted. “And for that, I’m sorry. But I did everything I could to keep the club separate from my family. It was the only thing in my life I thought I had control over.”

Gabriel sighed and walked over to the office’s private bar. “Anyone need a drink? Conan? Braxton?”

“Redbreast 12, if you have it,” Conan said, his eyes never leaving mine. “Neat.”

Braxton nodded. “Same for me.”

Lachlan, who had been silent thus far, perked up. “Well, at least they have good taste in whiskey. Redbreast 12 is one of Ireland’s finest. Smooth, with just the right amount of spice.”

Gabriel fetched the drinks, and soon the whiskey was flowing, easing the tension a bit.

The guys stared at me, waiting for me to continue. I squared my shoulders and inhaled slowly, ready to lay it all out.

“My real father, Viktor Volkov, is a notorious Russian Pakhan—mob boss. The Russian mafia isn’t just some street gang. It’s a massive organization involved in human trafficking, drug dealing, and pretty much every horrific crime you can imagine.”

Pausing, I took a sip of my drink. The fire burned my throat as the golden liquor descended, boosting my confidence.

“Like I said before, I was shipped to America when I was twelve and placed in Elena and Luca Genovese’s custody. I knew I came from a Russian family, but I was raised as a Genovese. They mostly kept me in the dark about what that actually meant. I’ve met with my biological family a handful of times at their estate in Tacoma, but they never really felt like family except for Nik. I think they only had me visit because they wanted to evaluate my progress in becoming an American socialite. I feel so stupid for never looking into the Volkovs and learning about the terrible things they were involved in. It wasn’t until I was in the hospital that I discovered the truth about Viktor and his disgusting empire…and what he did to Samantha.”

My breath hitched, and I had to look away from Conan for a moment to gather my thoughts. What that monster had done to Samantha was hard to share. “Six months ago, Viktor kidnapped Sam. He tried to kill her, Atticus, Conan, and Braxton.”

Julian let out a low whistle.

“She was smacked around and grabbed from Atticus’s house. Her hands were zip-tied, and she was thrown in the back of a van and taken to a warehouse at the port. She tried to escape and almost drowned in the frigid water of the bay. Then they dragged her back to the warehouse, where Viktor nearly raped her. If Atticus and the others hadn’t arrived in the nick of time, he would have. Sam told me how he stripped her and started doing the unimaginable to her. Gunshots distracted him, and somehow Sam was able to escape the office she was locked in just to find herself in the middle of a shoot-out. Atticus threw himself in front of a bullet meant for her, knocking her off her feet, and she ended up cracking her head on the concrete floor.”

I trembled, fighting back tears as I continued. “Conan, Braxton, and a bunch of private-security men fought off Viktor and his thugs. If you guys could only meet Sam. She’s such an amazing person. She became my friend while in the hospital—a real friend when I needed one most. It makes me sick knowing it was my father who did that to her. And now I’ve made matters worse for them all.”

Conan, who was sitting across from me, leaned forward. “Angel, you shouldn’t blame yourself. Viktor’s the monster here, not you.” He chuckled darkly, shaking his head. “What are the odds that, six months later, Viktor Volkov’s daughter would wind up in the emergency department under the care of all three of the Thorin brothers, suffer from amnesia, and become close to my family and friends?” He emphasized the word close, and I noticed Lucian cock an eyebrow, but I was too mad at myself to say anything.

I clenched my fists, trying to control the anger boiling inside me. “I’m so furious that I’m associated with a family capable of such horrors. I feel terrible for dragging Samantha and everyone else further into Viktor’s violent world and putting their lives at risk.”

I studied my hands resting in my lap. My lip quivered as I forced the next part out. “Conan…Nik told me…Viktor has put a hit out on you guys.”

Conan inhaled deeply, then rose from his chair and moved behind me. He gathered my hair in his hands, placing a tender kiss behind my ear. “We’ll figure out how to protect you and everyone else, my Angel,” he murmured. His touch calmed me, making me feel important, wanted, cared for.

I leaned into him, savoring the warmth of his presence. “And now I’ve made things worse by involving you guys from the club,” I said, glancing at each of them in turn.

Lucian turned his chair, and then mine, so we faced each other. He leaned forward, put his elbows on his thighs, and took my hands in his. “Ana, you have our complete loyalty. We’ve believed in you for the last six years. That’s one of the reasons why we made you an equal partner. We all love you and will do whatever it takes to protect you.”

The others nodded in agreement, and my heart melted.

Lucian’s eyes darkened with that all-too-familiar smoldering gaze. He let go of my hands and ran his fingers up my thighs. “You know I’m still here any time you need a release. Nothing’s changed between us.” He swallowed hard. “I know your life’s been turned upside down, but I hope you know I’ll be there for you, no matter what you need. Fuck, I know we have shit to do, but right now, all I want to do is you.”

My face blazed red hot as heat shot to my core and an inferno burst to life between my thighs. Did he really just say that in front of Conan?

There were a couple of chuckles.

My head snapped over to Conan, who was leaning against the edge of the table next to me. He crossed his ankles and rubbed his chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Angel, what exactly does Lucian mean by he’s ‘still here any time you need a release’?” he growled.

I sat there between Lucian and Conan, tension crackling in the air. Lucian had just spilled the beans about our special relationship, and Conan was understandably shocked by it. The whiskey had everyone talking more freely, so there was no stopping now.

“Lucian and I have had a no-strings-attached thing for years,” I explained, choosing to address Conan directly. “We enjoy each other’s company without any emotional baggage or exclusivity. We’re great business partners and friends, but nothing more.”

Conan pressed his lips into a thin line. “So, you two just fuck and that’s it?”

Someone across the table cleared their throat. But I hadn’t done anything wrong, so I straightened my spine and slapped on a smile.

Lucian leaned back, crossing his arms. “Pretty much. We agreed from the start—no emotions, no complications. Just two people who like and trust each other.”

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