Page 23 of Toxic Things I Love About You

“That’s what we need to figure out. I remember something about him. His family ran several businesses that I believe were all used as drop points. But when he went to jail, it appears, based on what records we can find on an older drive, that all dealings were slowly pulled. A quick search and it appeared his mother and father moved out of the country.”

Roman’s hand wrapped tightly around my waist.

“This was all around twenty years ago. It was like he was waiting for something. Perhaps your father’s death? Obviously, his own parents haven’t been heard from since.”

I didn’t really like surprises. But, even if I’d been allowed to be around the family and the boys growing up, I would have still been far too young to know or remember any of this.

“So we think he bribed a judge or something?”

Several pairs of eyes looking at me and then back at the screen told me that might be the case.

“Where did he get the money? Don’t courts freeze assets and stuff?”

Roman spoke this time.

“Butterfly, we need to introduce you to your offshore accounts sooner rather than later.”

There was the sound of more typing, more sighs, and my stomach rumbled.

“I need to eat. Something about that guy just gave me the creeps.”

I left Roman to play with my cousin and went to Halle.

“How are you feeling?”

She smiled.

“Honestly? Horny as hell or hungry. There is really no in-between, and sometimes I let Parks—”

I cut her off. “No. No, thank you. I don’t want to know about Parks and you and what happens in the bedroom. I’m still bitter that I had to listen to the two of you for an entire week while he got an apartment ready for me.”

Halle’s smile was infectious. “Yeah. Sorry about that. But now you have your own little toy, don’t you?”

Roman’s voice carried through the room even when he wasn’t talking to me. It was like I couldn’t ignore his existence, or maybe it was that he couldn’t not remind me he was there. Hard to really say.

“He isn’t little, is he?”

I watched his every move. The man seemed tireless. His eyes following whatever was on that computer screen.

“Hey, Romy-poo? Did you catch what Uncle Dickface said about your brother? Is that going to be an issue?”

Roman looked over at me.

“My brother has a tendency to stick his nose where it doesn’t belong. It will probably warrant a visit. But you’ll stay here.”

Would I? I put down the food I’d been picking at.

“Roman, why would I do such a thing?”

The way his brow flattened out, I was certain that he was growing pretty damn tired of my attitude. And I didn’t care.

“Are you planning to announce the engagement?”

Was I? I searched all the faces in the room, but Parks was looking back at the computer.

“I suppose not yet.”

And Roman shrugged.

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