Page 47 of Ruthless Vengeance
Max whistles, and I tighten my hands on the steering wheel.
"That’s some tough luck. The school is packed."
"I don’t need luck. I need an interview.”
"So, you don’t want me to just get her in?" His voice pitches up as if he can’t really believe what he is hearing.
"No. She wouldn’t want that. She’d want to earn her spot."
"You’re soft for this girl.” His amusement is loud and clear.
When I don’t answer, he chuckles under his breath. "All right. I’ll see what I can do."
Liam is already waitingfor me when I arrive at Nox, seated in one of the back booths with a thick manila folder in front of him.
I take the seat across from him, and without a word, he slides the folder toward me.
“Is this the rest of the information on Ben?”
Liam shakes his head.
I frown as I glance down at the file.
When he called again asking to meet in person, I figured it was because there was more information that he didn’t want to risk saying over the phone. But it turns out I was wrong.
This is about Clara.
“This is everything you wanted to know.” He leans back, eyeing me carefully.
I let my fingers hover over the folder, hesitating.
I requested this background check on Clara beforewe settled things between us. At the time, I needed to know if she was hiding something, but now it feels like an invasion of privacy.
Liam doesn’t say anything as I flip the folder open.
The first few pages contain all the basic information on Clara, including her birth certificate, school records, and any hospital visits. This is nothing I don’t already know.
I glance further down the report, scanning her financial history and past addresses. Again, nothing stands out to me, nothing that ties her to organized crime or to Tommaso Conti.
A drink is set down in front of me as I reach the section labeledKnown Associates.
Ben Peterson.
I exhale slowly, my jaw tightening as I stare at his name, printed right there in black and white.
I know for a fact that Clara cut him off, but seeing his name next to hers when he’s been linked to both Cillian and Tommaso? It stirs something deep in my gut.
I could keep digging deeper into Clara’s past and find out every last detail about her life before me. But my chest tightens, and I find myself hesitating.
What am I doing?
I told Clara that I trusted her and if I really believe that, then I don’t need to go searching through her past like she’s some kind of suspect.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I snap the folder shut and slide it back across the table.
Liam raises an eyebrow at me as he looks at the folder. “Not what you were expecting?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ve got what I need.”
