Page 36 of The Secrets We Share

“Sounds like your expectations were a tad delusional. I don’t owe Alina anything, and as forherdaughter, I still plan on helping her, but that doesn’t have anything to do with you. So, why don’t you tell me what you really want from me, Domenico? We both know it’s not about a big family reunion. You wouldn’thave kidnapped me or sent your men after me a second time if that were the case.”

“Don’t be so dramatic, mio cuore,” he chastises.

“Drop the shit. You know where we are. What do you want?”

“A meeting. I have a proposition for you. Bring your keeper and bodyguard. It’ll be a friendly conversation.”

“Where?” Harkin cuts in.

“Oh look, there he is. Your father says hello, by the way. I was disappointed it took you so long to make a move.”

“He’s not my priority, Domenico. A wise man like yourself should have grasped that the first time we met. Now, when and where?”

“This Friday, eight o’clock at the Pendry. Don’t be late, or I’ll let my men take something a little more vital from Mr. Greyson. Maybe his head. At least, then he won’t have to face his charges.”

The phone clicks off before either of us can respond to his threats.

“Not exactly the trap we were expecting,” I say on an exhale.

“Let’s get out of here.” Harkin turns off the phone and pockets it.

I’m sure he’s interested in seeing if there’s any information he can pull from it, but Domenico’s too smart to leave something so obvious. The three of us leave the same way we came. James tells us to split up again and meet back up at the SUV, but Harkin doesn’t leave my side. I get it. He’s on edge after that last little bit. I would be, too, if I still had a parent to care about.

The ride back to the house takes twice as long as it should, with James taking every backward route he can think of. My eyes are heavy, drooping as sleep tries to steal me away while the tires on the pavement try to lull me into a zoned-out state. Everyone’s been quiet, processing, and no doubt wondering what this magical proposal from Domenico might be.

His meeting at a public bar is likely his idea of a show of good faith. However, I wouldn’t put it past him to rent the entire space and fill it with people who work for him just to give himself an edge if it doesn’t go his way.

My mind harps on all those possibilities. Everything from Harkin taking over for his father in whatever capacity to drug running or guns. Then again, maybe I’ve watched one too many mafia movies over the years, and things aren’t like that.

Resting my head against the back window, I finally give in and let my eyes fall closed. Unfortunately, I’m not met with the sweet oblivion sleep typically brings. No, my thoughts still race a mile a minute. Just as I heave a sigh of frustration and wretch my eyes back open, the house comes into view.Thank God. We can debrief, and I can take a scalding shower to wash away the day before collapsing into bed.

SEVENTEEN

HARKIN

The World We Made - Ruelle

The week passed slowly, like we were swimming through a world of molasses. The finger came back positive for my father’s prints. I wouldn’t be surprised if by the time we get around to finally seeing him again—if we see him again—he’s down a whole handful. The phone was a dead end, just as I’d expected, but I was hoping maybe they were too cocky and missed something I could have used.

A punch comes out of nowhere, the pain radiating through my jaw. Okay, maybe not nowhere. My focus isn’t on the match and James is taking full advantage of it. But his assault draws me out of my head. I lose my footing, but I’m back at him with a drive straight for his ribs.

“It’s about damn time you stop dancing around,” he chides.

“Fuck off, there’s too much shit going on.”

“Yeah, which is exactly why you needed this.”

He jolts out with a kick, trying to catch me off guard, but I call it the moment his weight shifts to his standing leg. Instead oflanding another blow, I catch it, using his momentum to take us to the ground and me into a position to win this match. He taps out with my forearm against his throat in a chokehold. I relax and let go, splaying out on the mat as his agile body rebounds from the ground. Moments later, a towel hits my face, and James’s shadow looms over me.

“You can’t take the meeting if you’re going to be in your head the entire time.”

“It won’t be like that when I’m there.”

“Better not. There’s too much riding on this.”

“You don’t think I know that?” I bite back, finally getting up from the floor to talk face-to-face.

“You’re about to be thrust into a world you’ve only glimpsed. It’s not pretty, and it’s not fair. These guys play dirty and are only out to benefit their own interest, even where their blood is concerned.”

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