Page 82 of InfraRed

So quickly that I wondered if it were imagined, a look of sadness and pain etched across his hard features, but it vanished as he straightened in his seat. “I assume you understand who I am—what I am?” Of course, I did. It wasn’t a well-known fact the Luccheses were Mafia, but it was also the worst-kept secret. Instead of an answer, I sat quietly, staring, waiting for him to say what he wanted to say. I also wanted him to understand I wasn’t afraid of him, and if he expected quaking in my shoes or kissing his ring, he came to the wrong guy.

Seconds passed by in silence before he lifted a brow and a slow smirk spread across his face. He nodded—a sign of respect—and I did the same before he continued. “Edwin Lambert owes a lot of money to some powerful people.”

“You?” I lifted my glass to my lips once again.

The waitress appeared with his food and drink. When she left, he cut into his filet while his eyes stayed on mine. “No. My rival.” He trails off and looks away. “I understand your stepmother is involved with him. Are you close? Is she someone you care about?”

Yeah, I cared about wrapping my hands around her throat andwatching the light fade from her eyes. “No. We aren’t close.”

He nodded. “Then I suppose this meeting was pointless, but I felt you should know the people he owes will get it by any means necessary, and they aren’t above taking human beings as payment. It’s one reason we are at odds. I’m against many of the old traditions, but breaking the traditions of old men is difficult.”

He kept talking, but I tuned him out. My blood had turned cold as my mind swirled. I remembered what Casey said she overheard years ago from Krista. I replayed mine and Henry’s conversation. I thought Casey would be of no interest. She’s no longer an innocent teenage girl—though I supposed Krista didn’t know that—and sex traffickers were known for not wanting anyone with tattoos because they were identifying marks. Casey didn’t have one small tattoo. She had large pieces that wouldn’t go unnoticed. But what if Krista was too stupid to realize any of that? What if Lambert was? Or worse, what if these men weren’t as selective?

“How do these men work?”

He lifted a brow, shock written across his face at my tone. It wasn’t a question despite my phrasing. He set his fork down next to his plate, lifted his napkin, and wiped his mouth. His fingers wrapped around the glass of wine he ordered with his meal, bringing it to his lips. His penetrating eyes never left mine, and I had the distinct impression he wanted me to apologize or take it back. See the error of my tone with a man like him.

The thing was, I might not be part of his world, but I would not roll over because of it either. I’d gotten my hands dirty plenty of times over the years.

And where Casey was concerned, I would kill anyone who tried to get near her. If I’d been this obsessed and consumed whenshe was younger, perhaps I would’ve taken care of the problem then. Because I’d sacrifice everything—my freedom, even her—if it meant no one ever hurt her again.

“Like you would imagine,” he lifted a shoulder as he folded his hands in front of him. But I didn’t want vague answers. I needed details, and I said so. He brought his hand to his mouth as he stared at me. He looked at me like I was a puzzle that needed solving. “You are notfamily. I’m not telling you the inner workings of my organization or what I know about my rivals. What I will tell you is they don’t follow the rules. Even within their own… industry. Be wary.”

It wasn’t the answer I wanted. Honestly, it pissed me off, but the itch to get to Casey overtook me. Wasting more time when all I wanted to do was lay eyes on her wasn’t happening. So I threw a few bills on the table and stood to leave.

*****

I must’ve fallen asleep because I wake to soft lips kissing my jaw. My eyes open and bright blue eyes stare into mine with a smile. She straddles my lap, looking a hell of a lot more lucid than I feel right now. “What time is it?”

“Just after ten.”

“And you’re back already?” I sit up, gripping her waist. “Are you okay? Did something happen?”

She plays with the collar of my shirt, shaking her head. “No. It was fun to go out with everyone, but it felt wrong without you. Maybe if it had just been Lily and Ash, it wouldn’t have been so bad, but…” Her nose scrunches as a playful smile pulls at the corner of her lips. “It was no fun watching everyone with their significant other when mine was here waiting for me.”

Fuck.

Fuck.

It feels ridiculous but the sense of relief that washes over me when she says that is immediate. Every muscle in my body unknots and relaxes for the first time in hours. “You weren’t the only one without someone, though. Jagger and Thad were both there.”

She gives me the funniest look I’ve ever seen her make. Blue eyes roll as disgust curls her lips. “They both ended up all but getting it on with random girls they found. They stumbled out with them after an hour or so. And I promise if I never see Thad Reynolds with his tongue down a woman’s throat again, it will be too soon.”

I chuckle as I reach up, pulling the pins from her hair. It falls in enormous waves around her shoulders, and I brush my fingers through it. She releases a satisfied breath as she shakes her head. I know how much keeping her hair up actually bothers her, but she won’t deviate from her routine. “As long as you had fun,” I tell her, as I rub my fingers through her scalp. “Sunflower, I’m sorry I lost my shit earlier. I still won’t apologize for keeping things from you or even lying if it means I keep you safe, but I shouldn’t have yelled. I definitely shouldn’t have cornered you like I did. You were upset. I should’ve calmed down and talked to you instead of acting like an asshole.”

She leans over, resting her head on my shoulder. “I wasn’t exactly letting you speak. And I’m sorry for pulling away from you. It’s not fair to punish you like that. I just…”

“You were hurt.” I kiss her head. “You felt betrayed. I’m sure it won’t be the last time I do something you don’t like, or you find out about it after the fact. But I meant what I said. I willneverlet anyone or anything hurt you. But, Case, we need to deal with this bullshit from your mom. Everything you were saying it was…”

“You’re right. Even as I said it, it was Mom’s voice taunting me. I guess… I guess I need to talk to my therapist about it. I neverhave before for fear they would tell her. And maybe out of guilt because I thought it was my fault she treated me that way.”

I squeeze her tight, wanting once again to bury her inside me. To keep her from everything bad. To erase all the awful things from her life. “It was never your fault. Not once. I know she’s your mom, Case, but the way she treats you isn’t right.”

“I know,” she whispers, then taps her head. “In here. In here,” she presses her hand against her heart, “it’s still a struggle because I do love her, Graham. I know it doesn’t make sense to everyone, but I do.”

I nod, not knowing what else to say. Honestly, anything I could say would negate her feelings and that’s not what she needs. So I hold her close for a while, just letting the silence surround us. After a while, I hear her soft snores, so I lift her and carry her to bed. I remove her shoes and skirt she changed into before she left the studio, leaving her in the cropped t-shirt, and pull the covers over her body.

I head to the shower, jumping in and rinsing off quickly. When I return, she’s exactly as I left her. I crawl in beside her, and my chest squeezes when she immediately seeks me out. Holding her tight, I press my lips to her hair and pray this fucking need to protect and possess her doesn’t eventually bite me in the ass.

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