Page 26 of Claim Me
“Your family used to be involved in highly illegal activities. Running drugs, weapons. Why the change?”
When he didn’t answer right away, I lifted my head. His shrug was nonchalant. “Because it was necessary. The life expectancy of a villain or a monster is usually cut short.”
“Understandable with all the heinous acts you perform.” While he wasn’t shouting, he was enunciating his words. I could tell he had questions about my hearing loss. He’d need to ask. I refused to supply him with any unnecessary information.
No matter what he’d said in the stairwell, there was no trust. How could there be? He’d spanked me, for God’s sake.
“You’re still insistent I’m a killer.”
“Well, aren’t you? I know what I read. You are mafia. I’m sorry. Bratva.” With my actions deliberate, I shifted my gaze from his lips to his eyes then blatantly down to his polished loafers as he’d done with me. When I looked into his eyes again, he lifted the glass of whatever liquor he’d raided from my cabinet.
“Yes, I’m Bratva and I’m capable of doing several things including keeping you safe.”
“So you say. So which is it? Are you the villain or the monster?”
“Aren’t they one and the same?” He moved closer, taking the phone from my hand. I kept my fingers opened as he pulled it away, finally clasping them as he glanced at the article I was reading. “Let’s just say I do what’s necessary to keep my businessand family protected. Anyone with a heart and soul would do the same.”
His words were meant to taunt me. I could feel it. I had no good response as it seemed he was being honest with me. Was that good or bad? The answer didn’t come easily.
“Who were you talking to outside Charlie’s room?”
He gritted his teeth. It would appear a sore subject. “The detective handling the case.”
“Why do I have a feeling you don’t think he’s handling his job very well?”
“Because he isn’t.”
I studied his changing expression. “You think he’s working for whoever killed my brother.”
His laugh sent chills down my spine. “Don’t make this more than it is.”
“And don’t try and keep information from me. I deserve to know.”
He nodded as if admitting it was true without saying anything. “Why don’t you sit down. You’re exhausted and starting to come down from a rush of adrenaline.”
“I think that ship left the port a long time ago.” He was right and suddenly I was only catching every other word. While I could piece together what he’d said, my brain was definitely shutting down. It was after midnight, maybe even later. I hadn’t bothered to check the time on my phone. What was the point? When I woke in the morning, the nightmare would still continue. Light, no light. It didn’t really matter.
I took his advice, easing onto the couch and immediately curling my legs under me. He slowly sat in the chair opposite me and I realized he’d removed his jacket, rolling his sleeves up past his elbows. I stared at his forearms, which appeared strong, every muscle surrounding by bulging tendons. As attractive as they were, even more so were the tattoos. In primal shades, they depicted a story, only I wasn’t certain what that could be.
But a tickling of music began inside my head, beautiful yet gothic notes forming, putting his pictures to an instrumental. It had been a very long time since I’d composed a piece of music. Something had continuously blocked me and I’d felt like something was missing for years.
Since my parents died. Huh. How odd that I could hear the music in my head. Powerful and strong. Just like him.
He was studying me as he’d done before, still on the edge of his seat leaning forward. With the way he was shifting his glass back and forth from one hand to the other, I could tell he was antsy.
Plus, he was dying to grill me about everything in my life. I simply wasn’t up for it.
With my hand shaking, I took a sip of the wine. While it was warm, the body full and rich, the taste was blander than usual.
“Just ask,” I suggested.
“What?”
When I offered a confused look since I didn’t hear him, he frowned. “What… do… you… want?—”
I threw my hand out. “I’m partially deaf, Kazimir. If you’re wondering why my voice sounds almost normal, the loss came when I was nine. I had a very serious illness and the doctorsthought I’d become totally deaf from a severe infection. I was lucky, although certain frequencies are impossible to hear. Even so, that doesn’t mean I don’t have the capacity to understand what you’re saying and I’m pretty damn good at reading lips. My hearing is about thirty percent, although the doctors fear it’s getting worse. I should wear my hearing aid, but I try and push myself. I don’t know if this is crazy, but I’ve always thought if you don’t exercise a muscle then you will definitely lose it. It’s just when I’m tired or overwrought, then the words seem to muddle together.”
The ache behind my eyes was more pronounced.
