Page 17 of Twisted Contract

It’s been a week, and my arm still burns, but it’s nothing compared to the sting in my chest or the rage in my soul. I’ve always been the good girl, Daddy’s little princess. The governor’sdaughter who hid under the radar. Kept my mouth shut and my legs closed, but those days are over. Unfortunately, I don’t have a leg to stand on unless I find an ally. My enemy’s enemy is my friend, or if I get my way, my fiancé —

Chapter Eight

Connor

Letting her walk away had taken more willpower than I possessed. If she hadn’t stepped on my foot, I wouldn’t have let her escape my grasp. Then I spotted her asshole father and fiancé leaving the same area I saw her go into moments earlier. Where had she disappeared to?

“She’s in the ladies’ room, jerk,” Nora remarks.

“What? She’s the one who stepped on my foot.”

“Yes, when you physically accosted her after you insulted and accused her of things,” she huffs. “By the way, she was crying in there, or at least fighting off tears.”

“What?”

“Yeah, but whatever you do, don’t make a scene because their guards are all around and you know damn well they’d like nothing better than to find a reason to arrest you,” Nora says.

“Well, they mustn’t know that this is my property, my dear. If you need to get your little thing alone, I can make it happen,” my brother adds.

“I’d like that very much. In fact, I’ll be waiting in our private offices upstairs,” I say, making my way to the elevator and over to my office, which is set up next to my brother’s.

It’s not long before a message comes from Jack.Your little cupcake is on her way up.

There’s a light knock on my door a moment later. “Come in.”

The door opens slightly and then she comes in nervously, looking around. When she sees me behind the desk, she closes the door behind her. “Lock it,” I insist.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence, Miss Murphy?”

“I was asked to come see you, but as it happens, I wanted to discuss a matter with you.”

“And that would be?”

“We have an enemy in common.”

“Only one?” I question, tipping my gaze to her hand, wanting to know which one of the assholes she hated because she is still wearing that fucking rock on her finger.

“Well, then, I believe two is more like it. However, one has crossed the line and is unforgiveable.” She pauses, taking a deep breath, and says, “He orchestrated the hit on you.”

“Oh?” I stand and round the desk. Standing in front of her, I take her hands and sit her on the edge of my desk. “Tell me what happened.”

“My dad…he hacked my computer. He knew your brother and Nora would be there and didn’t care if I got caught in the crossfire. Although, he said that the guy was a marksman, so I wouldn’t have gotten shot if you didn’t force me to duck.”

“Fuck.” I stand back and then rub my hand over my face. I don’t know if I should tell her the truth. The fucker was caught on camera, and he’s no damn marksman. He is a lowlife thug who has a criminal record and bad aim. He’s up for two murders and out on bail. This is his ticket out of town. He failed, and they found his body in an alley in the territory of the rival gang he killed.

“I know you still blame me, but I swear I didn’t.”

I cup her cheek. “I don’t blame you, Claudia. Thank you for telling me.”

There’s a pounding on my door. “MacNamara, where is my daughter?” my father roars.

Her eyes widened. “Excuse me, Governor, but what are you doing up in the private offices? You don’t have any reason to be up here. This is a business space and not a part of the party area,” I hear my brother say.

“Another piece of scum. What are you doing here?”

“Scum, sir? This is my property. My brother and I invested in this property to help the city that we love. Now, if you’ll please rejoin the party, I’m sure your daughter is down there with her fiancé unless he was off chasing that redhead I saw him with before I came up here.”

“That’s just his former assistant.” Claudia’s eyes turn to slits, and she covers her mouth. She’s about to go to the door, but I slip my hand around her waist. I lean in and whisper in her ear, “Don’t you move an inch. Our conversation isn’t over, and if you walk out that door, you know he’ll keep close tabs on you.” My breath is so close to her skin it blows light strands of hair away from her neck and sends tiny shivers down her body.

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