Page 109 of Dangerous Rhythm

“Well, we heard it started over love. And love could be the key to fix it once and for all.” Curtis smiled mysteriously.

“How do you mean?” Tony asked.

As if on cue, the elevator dinged. Connor Murphy, dressed in a slick navy blue suit, walked out. Tony’s back stiffened slightly as Connor approached them.

Sal continued to stand where he was, not sure what to do.

“What is he doing here?” Tony glared at Lina and Curtis suspiciously.

“Connor has something to tell you. I think you’ll find it enlightening.” Curtis nodded at Connor. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

“No. But I’ve met your friend here. She’s very persuasive.” Connor nodded at Lina. “I didn’t realize who you work for, Lina.”

Connor shook Curtis’ hand. “I’m a big fan.”

“Thanks.”

“I should thank you for trying to help my cousin,” Connor said solemnly. “What happened on that staircase was my fault.”

“What are you talking about?” Tony demanded.

Connor didn’t answer Tony’s question right away. Instead, he said to Curtis, “I don’t think you know. Tony, Sofia, and myselfgrew up and went to the same school together. Just like our grandparents did.”

He chuckled. “Funny how history repeats itself, in a way.”

“Why are we walking down memory lane?” Tony asked.

Still not answering Tony, Connor continued, “Tony, being a couple of years older than me and Sofia, went off to college first. While you were in college, Sofia and I became really close. But with the rift between our families, of course, we told no one. We kept our relationship a secret on and off throughout college. We broke up when I graduated and she went on to law school.”

“You and Sofia? My sister?” Tony’s voice rose. His brows crunched so deep above his nose bridge, Lina was worried he’d break a blood vessel.

“I love her, Tony,” Connor said. “I can’t move on with someone else because every time I try, her face is all I see. Even though she told me we could never be together, I asked her to see me at Morrigan’s in secret.

“She came. She couldn’t forget me, either. So she started seeing me at the club every Thursday night. Sean, my cousin, escorted her to me on those nights. But on that fateful night, your brother must’ve followed Sofia and came to the wrong conclusion,” Connor finished.

“I overheard Rocco being territorial about a girl to Sean. I didn’t know it was your sister,” Curtis added.

“Guest number three is en route up,” Kate’s voice quietly gave Lina and Curtis a heads-up.

“Why are you telling me all this now?” Tony asked Connor.

“Because I can’t live with Sofia thinking that I killed her brother,” Connor said. “I swear on my father’s grave, it wasn’t me.”

“But it was your family.” Tony pointed his finger at Connor. “You can’t deny that. You may say you’re out of this game,but you still have contact with people who would do your dirty work.”

Lina watched a confused-looking Sofia Stiletto enter the floor. Her eyes widened at the sight of Connor and her brother together.

“It wasn’t me, Tony.” Unaware of Sofia’s presence, Connor added regretfully, “But I just found out after looking into it further, it could’ve been my aunt. She alluded to it in a letter she left me before she flew to Ireland.”

“I knew it,” Sofia said softly.

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Curtis’ gaze flew to the dark-haired beauty standing a few feet away. Though Kate had warned him and Lina about Sofia’s arrival, Connor’s revelation had riveted him.

“Sofia,” Connor and Tony said in unison, Tony, surprised, and Connor, worried.

“Your family ordered the hit,” Sofia said, the sorrow in her eyes broke Curtis’ heart.

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