Page 50 of Sinful Attraction

“And what happens when you walk out the door after murdering me, asshole? My family would kill you. Hell, even the idiot brother we took the money from would kill you!” I can hear the urgency and tension behind Maria’s words. She seems to understand that this man is unstable. “Besides, you’ll never get that quarter million if I’m dead.”

That seems to give him pause. I can hear him huffing in anger like a bull in the quiet. I keep my hand on the doorknob. I don’t trust him.

“It would almost be worth it, you’re such a cunt,” he grumbles.

“You know, I can really see now why nobody will hire you,” she claps back. “Now, you want that quarter mil? It will take a few days.”

I take a deep breath. I have my sister and her asshole crony dead to rights. I know in the back of my head that I should be recording this on my phone, taking that recording to my father, and ending this all as neatly as possible.

Instead, the booze wins.

I step back and kick the door right by the lock; the latch gives, and the door swings open. My sister shrieks in shock and anger and gets up from her seat at her computer, where the schlub who has been threatening her is leaning into her personal space.

He straightens, looking at me with a mixture of petulance and fear.

“I heard everything, you miserable, thieving fuckers!” I shout. “Every goddamned thing!”

My sister goes pale as milk, and the schlub starts sweating. “How dare you break in here!” Maria shrieks, but I’m not remotely impressed by her bullshit now.

“You stole $5 million from the family and then tried to make me look bad to cover your own ass!” I jab a finger at her, my voice breaking with anger and disgust.

“You’re drunk, Michael!” she yells back. “Get out of my room!”

Her accomplice is in a panic, shuffling back and forth, looking for a way past me and out of the room, a tiny whine in his breathing as he tries to figure out if he should make a break for it.

I hold my ground, ignoring him. “I came down here because this piece of shit was threatening to strangle you at the top of his lungs. And then, I find this out? What the fuck, Maria? What the hell were you thinking? Why did you do this?”

She stares at me with panic growing on her face, and I know that I have her dead to rights. I’m furious. Righteous anger is thrumming all through me, and as I stare down at her, I know that this time, she absolutely will not get away with it.

“Help!” she starts screaming at the top of her voice. “Help! Help! Michael’s drunk, and he’s gone crazy!”

Oh, hell no.

Right at that moment, her partner tries to bull his way past me, shoulder-checking me hard and grunting as his smelly dad bod thuds into mine. I take advantage, snaking my hand inside his trench coat and finding a thick leather square. I grab it and shove him back, quickly pocketing it.You are not getting away again.

“Stop fucking lying, Maria!” I yell as she continues screaming for help. Everything’s going to hell in a handbasket. I can hear running feet outside.

My head is foggy from all the whiskey, but I know I’m in the right.I’ve just heard the truth with my own two ears, and once I explain it to the rest of the family, I’ll finally be vindicated—

Hands grab me from behind, yanking me out of the room. I hear people yelling in confusion. Then, my father becomes one of them. His men have me by the shoulders and arms. I’m not fighting, only standing there confused as they surround me.

“Michael, what the hell did you do?” My father is in my face now, demanding the truth. I stare at him dizzily for a few beats before my brain kicks in.

He’s here. He’s asking. Good. Saves me time.

“Maria and her asshole hireling here did it, Dad. They stole that money. She has it hidden somewhere. Bitch is so greedy she didn’t even pay the guy his end.”

I’m so confident right now that I’m almost smug. It’s finally over.In 10 minutes, the whole story will be out, with a witness, and—

“Do not call your sister a bitch!” my father yells almost reflexively, shocking me partway sober.

Fuck. He’s not listening. Even now, he’s not listening. He’s too busy defending her.

“Dad, what the hell? I’m telling you, I just caught them talking about it!” The security guys loosen their grip, and I shrug free of them.

Maria is watching from the doorway. Her eyes are terrified, desperate, but not for the reasons that my father seems to think. There’s still something sly in her gaze. Just seeing her face right now makes me want to strangle her. Instead, I focus back on my father.

“Why were you listening at her door?” My father’s eyes are narrow with suspicion.

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