Page 32 of Arran's Obsession

“Us, our fathers, a lawyer. Outside of that, no one else knows what she was to ye,” Camden said.

“I screamed out that she was my mother. It’s on a recording. I’ve never told anyone since, but that’s—” My throat choked, and I tried again. “I’ve never mentioned her name to a single person, but the cops know. My father’s long list of convictions included her murder. Over the course of a decade, that won’t have been kept quiet.”

Camden heaved a heavy breath. “Then we’ll assume anyone in the police knows, or could’ve passed that information along, which means it could be widespread. Even playing devil’s advocate and thinking this new murder might be some random act of terror, it’ll pay to work this through. Who would target ye like that? Has anything else happened to make ye think you’re drawing heat?”

Slumping back in the seat, I rubbed the space between my eyes and let exhaustion settle. “Nothing specific. There are a dozen men who’d kill me given half the chance, maybe twice that for cash. Some women, too. Considering what I do, and the role I carved out in the city, I’m valuable dead and out of their way. I haven’t had a second to even think through the rest of it, That’s why I’m here. I just needed…”

“A sense check?” Camden suggested.

“That. And a place to take Genevieve.”

The brothers eyed me, curiosity obvious. But they waited.

“She might have answers. When I went to her place, she saw someone she was afraid of. This was right before the murder. She lives opposite where it happened.”

“Ye kidnapped her to question her on it?” Camden’s eyes bugged out.

“That, and the fact I claimed her this evening. She was in the game.”

And in every second since, I’d wanted her with a desperation that was only growing stronger.

The brothers took one look at each other, and Camden opened his mouth to voice the first question of what I knew would be many.

I beat him to the punch. “I fucked her. Which means I broke my vow. I need your help in paying penance.” No need to admit it was a single thrust. That alone went against all I’d promised and at the same time was nowhere near enough.

Camden swore, and Jamieson flexed a fist as if anticipating what I needed from him. He’d do as I asked. The youngest and wildest of the family had taught me how to fight, taking time to make sure I wasn’t going to die from the company I was keeping after my world had fallen apart.

“We going now?” he asked.

Adrenaline soaked me. I stood, and he did, too, gaze lowered and his mouth curved in the delight of sparring.

Unlike when we’d been younger, I wasn’t going to fight back. I wanted the pain. The bruises on my skin to show Audrey I repented. To show Genevieve what she’d done.

It still wouldn’t be enough.

No amount of hits would undo the wrong.

I paced a few feet away, Jamieson following, then rounded on him. “Don’t go easy?—”

He slammed a punch into my jaw. I rocked back on my heels but absorbed it, the explosion of pain exactly what I’d asked for. Behind me, Camden swore, never a fighter unless he had to be, but my focus stayed on his brother.

“Again,” I yelled.

If he could take me down, I’d be fucking thankful of the darkness.

Chapter 12

Genevieve

When I was little, I used to force myself to endure the dark. I’d suffer nightmares and would wake with a racing heart, pure terror gripping me, but I’d never go to my mother because she worked so hard and was always exhausted. Instead, I’d play games to get my brain to settle from the panic.

An alphabet game was my favourite. I’d pick a topic, like animals or food, then go from A to Z, naming one for each letter.

I still did it now, my unfortunate caffeine addiction messing with my sleep. But tonight, my mind wouldn’t supply. I’d get six letters in then would find myself back in the basement of the warehouse, poised to be attacked by one of the violent strangers. Or with Cherry on the steps of the church, a blade flashing towards her.

I’d had a terrifying evening, but it could’ve been so much worse.

Even with the comparison, I was stuck here with no phone, clothes, or anything, with just the will of Arran to decide what was to happen to me. Damn me for not listening to his staff member as she’d walked me back to the office. I might’ve had a clue what was going to happen next with his game and the rules.

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