Page 34 of Breaker

“Any word?” Rune strides into the kitchen, the scent of his musky cologne mingling with the aroma of brewing coffee. His fingers fumble with the buttons of his suit jacket as he leans over to place a kiss on the top of my head like he didn’t hold me down and have my doctor examine me without my consent.

It’s so typical of him. Pretending as if last night didn’t happen. Just like he always did after he fucked me. It’s heavy, holding the vile deeds of others. It suffocates all the good things left inside a person until they’re drowning in the sickness.

“No,” Clyde tells him, pulling a coffee mug from the cabinet and setting it on the counter for Rune.

I told Clyde I wasn’t hungry, but guilt must have turned him into a chef, because he’s currently making me eggs I don’t want. His arms flex as he scoops eggs from the pan onto a plate. A simple t-shirt under his blazer replaces his usual attire of tailored suits today, the material clinging to his toned back. Faded jeans hug his strong legs. I rarely see Clyde so casually dressed, which means he doesn’t plan on joining Rune at the office today.

Lucky me. I get to spend my day with Clyde.

“Have you heard from Snyder at all?” Rune asks him, petting my head before he walks to the coffeepot. I resist swiping at my hair.

Screaming.

Crying.

Instead, I say, “I thought we settled the Snyder deal?”

I can pretend too. I’ve gotten good at it. Sweeping bad things under the carpet and pretending they don’t exist.

But I remember.

I just file it away for later.

Clyde glances over his shoulder. “Rune presented another deal and they’re sitting on it.”

“Deal?” I ask, forgetting I was mad. Delly and I worked so hard to cover up whatever Rune was actually buying, that every detail has etched itself in my mind. “We bought their entire chain of hotels. What else do they have?”

Rune glances at Clyde but says nothing.

I give wide eyes to Rune as he pours himself a cup of coffee, then turns to place the carafe back.

“Well?” I ask. It’s obvious this isn’t something they want to discuss, but I push on, “Anyone? If I’m going to be spending my days covering up illegal shit, then at least I should know what crimes I’m committing.”

Rune whips around so fast, his coffee sloshes out of his mug on to his hand. He exhales a sharp hiss and slaps it down on the on the counter, reaching for a napkin. Blue eyes laser in on me. “You’ve become quite bold for a girl who was held hostage for three weeks.”

I hold his gaze, daring him to be cruel in front of Clyde. They may be lifelong friends, but Clyde does not know what Rune is really like.

“Cora,” Clyde warns, glaring at me.

Rune brushes past, saying over his shoulder to Clyde, “Get me the RSVP list for the event. I want to make sure one of their guys is attending.”

“Event?” I ask.

“Zane’s annual fundraiser,” Clyde says. “And yes, you’re expected to attend.”

“I’m not fucking going,” I say, crossing my arms like a defiant child. The thought of spending an evening at Zane’s stupid fundraiser makes me want to slam my face into the table until I’m unconscious.

Every year, Zane holds a fundraiser for some random cause and invites all his friends and associates. Delly and I sign the checks for Rune, and most times, we attend the function long enough to shake a few hands and pose for the cameras before we slip out. I hate his fundraisers as much as I can’t stand him.

Clyde steps over, placing a plate of scrambled eggs in front of me. He points to his runny eggs. “Shut up and eat.”

My teeth grind together as I lock eyes with him. His intense, penetrating gaze warns me to tread carefully. When he gets like this, I know better than to push.

Deflating, I uncross my arms and angrily snatch up my napkin. “Your eggs suck,” I mumble. “Where’s Claudia?”

Clyde picks up the fork and hands it to me after the front door slams shut, telling me Rune’s gone. He lifts his chin toward the front of the house. “He fired all his staff except for Conner.”

“His driver?” I ask, shocked. “Why did he let everyone go?”

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