Page 120 of Samson

She followed him to the living room, taking in his boxers and ripped T-shirt. “Did you just wake up?”

“The sleeping pills I’ve been taking have been messing with me. It’s hard to get up in the mornings.”

“I didn’t know you were having trouble sleeping.”

“You never asked.” He flopped down onto the couch.

“I didn’t know I needed to.” She sat on the edge of the nearest chair.

“You haven’t been saying much to me lately. I didn’t think you wanted to know.”

“I didn’t think you wanted to talk to me,” she said.

“Why? Because you helped put Marc behind bars?”

“That and I put you at risk of prosecution as well.”

“I guess it was a risk you were willing to take.” He picked at his fingers to avoid looking at her.

“I’m sorry. But it got out of hand. I couldn’t let it go. Too much had been lost.”

“I know. Every day I’ve been expecting you to tell me you quit. Or maybe even disappear without a word.”

“I have been looking for other work.”

Luca nodded. “I deserve that.”

“No, you don’t.”

He looked at her and pursed his lips. “I did this to you. You had already been through so much, and then I made things worse when all I wanted to do was help.”

“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

Luca huffed a laugh. “Sounds to me like you’re letting me off the hook.”

“I am. I want us to be friends again. You’re my family, and I don’t want to lose that.”

“Even though I don’t deserve it?”

“I spoke to Agent Trevors this morning.”

“Oh yeah? They get a break in the case?”

“He told me you helped their investigation into Marc.”

“That. Yeah. I bet he told you I did it to save my own butt.”

“Did you?”

“Partly.”

“What about the other part?”

“D, I’m ashamed of what I did. I thought I was being smart, taking Marc’s offer to help me with my restaurant. I thought because I’d been out of the game so long, I was strong enough to control him.”

“But you couldn’t.”

“Marc is brilliant at manipulation. He let me think I was in control at the start. And when your business went under, I was so proud that I was in a position to look after you. It was like I was the big brother helping out my little sis.” He focused back on his hands. “And then I made you turn against someone you cared about. Samson is dead because of me. I’d like to say I wouldn’t have done it if I knew it was going to end that way, but I can’t be sure.”

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