Page 49 of Devious Secrets

We’re back to that now?

I stare up at him, at the fierceness in his eyes, the tight lock of his jaw. How did I think I could lie to him and get away with it?

“You didn’t find out when you went digging into my life?” I question him back. If he’s so powerful, how does he not already know?

“You’re going to tell me. I would like to know that you are at least capable of the truth.”

“I only lied to protect Mira,” I argue. Obviously, I’m not skilled in it.

“Tell me,” he orders as he reaches down and begins to unbutton my shirt. I grab at the ends, but he slaps my hand. “Talk.”

“What are you doing?”

“Preparing you.” He keeps unbuttoning the shirt until it’s all the way open.

“For what?”

“You’re not talking yet. Would you rather have this conversation in the pit?”

I hate the way he says that, like it’s a fun place for him to be. Maybe for him it is. He’s not the one who would be hanging from the metal hook like a side of beef.

“Please. Just let me deal with this on my own.”

His fingers trail along my collarbone.

“Why? What sort of trouble have you gotten yourself into? Tell me.” It’s the way his voice softens at the end that breaks my resolve. “I can’t fix it for you if I don’t know what it is.”

Tears threaten but I blink them back while turning away from him. The last six months have been nothing but stress and pressure, and here is man who could probably fix the whole thing if I just tell him.

But if I let him in, he could make things worse. It’s a gamble, trusting him. It’s a bigger gamble trusting myself around him. With his touch alone, he can set my soul ablaze. No matter the danger rolling off him, something inside my core says to tell him. To give over and trust him. But what if I’m wrong?

“Megan.” He cups my chin gently, drawing me back to him. “What is it?”

His brow is pulled together and there’s more than frustration now; there’s legitimate concern. I could be wrong, but what if I’m not?

I draw in a shaky breath.

“He wasn’t there to talk to me. He was there looking for Mira.” The words scratch my throat as they leave me. I’ve been holding back the truth of the nightmare for so long, it hurts to give it life.

“What about her? She moved away months ago.” Of course he would think that, but I doubt any sort of financial records he dug up would tell him why.

“She did. She had to.” I swallow. “Nico, that was her boyfriend at the time. He was doing stupid stuff. He started dealing for the DeAngelo family, but he messed up.”

Alexander’s hand drops from my chin. “He was a dealer?”

“Yes. But something happened. I’m not sure if he lost the drugs or they were stolen, but whatever it was, he ended up being short on the money he owed Marco. By a lot.”

“How much?”

I shake my head a little. “I don’t know for sure. But Nico couldn’t pay him and Marco—” I pause. “Marco blamed him and Mira for it. He killed Nico—right in front of her. He only let her go because she promised to get the money for him.”

“She was dealing too?”

“No! She would never do that. But Marco didn’t care about that. He just wanted his money.”

“How does Calloway play into this?”

“Nico’s body was found a few weeks later and the police started investigating. They tried talking to Mira, but she didn’t tell them anything.” I harden my voice as best I can. “And when she continued telling them nothing, that detective picked her up and brought her into the police department. Marco got wind of it. He didn’t believe her when she told him she hadn’t said a word.”

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