Page 65 of Sinful Hearts

“Shut. Up.”

“I mean that literally!”

“She was adancer.”

“Who sucked cock for money.”

I know I could run a paternity test on Nora. In fact, I’ve almost done so, perhaps two dozen times. But I never go through with it. Sometimes, I wonder if it’s the fear of him being right, and what it would do to Nora’s and my relationship if it turned out that way.

But that’s ridiculous. Because even if Leo was right, or even if my mother straight upfound heron the streets, Nora would still be, and would always be, my sister.

I turn, flinching when I see her talking to Pascha back inside my office, unaware that she’s talking to a predator.

“What the hell do you want, Leo?” I snap coldly.

“I want to know where things are sitting with you getting us what we want.”

“I’m working on it.”

“Work harder.”

I glare at him. “I’m their attorney, not their confidante, Leo. And I’m not personally involved in whatever you think they’re involved with concerning Serj Mirzoyan.”

“Don’t bullshit me.”

“I’mnot,” I hiss. “At the last meeting I was at with them, they asked me and the other attorney present to leave the room when it was about to come up . I amnotinvolved. I know none of the details.”

“Then change that.”

I roll my eyes in exasperation. “That isn’t how it works. I’m alawyer, Leo,” I snap. “Not a mafia henchman.”

“Get close to them,” he growls. “Learn about their plans. I don’t know,fuckone of them if you have to. I hear that’s your thing now.”

I stare at him, wide-eyed.

“Youwilldo this, Elsa. It’s not a negotiation.”

“Get the hell out of my office—”

“You’ll get me what I fucking want, or we’ll move on to Nora and see what she can offer.”

Leo smiles coldly at me.

“Being that she’s…unsullied, unlike you.”

Sick surges in my stomach and threatens to rise up my throat.

“You won’t go fuckingnearher.”

“Won’t I?”

He turns his head. Shuddering, I follow his gaze inside the office. Instantly, I go cold. Inside, Pascha is showing Nora something on his phone. They laugh together at whatever they’re watching, and then he lays the phone down on my desk.

In horror, I watch Nora bend over, her elbows on the desk to get a better look as she laughs at the video. Pasha, meanwhile, stays standing. He slowly turns, letting his creepy gaze stab into mine through the glass between us. Then he turns back, his eyes dropping lasciviously to Nora’s ass.

I make for the door, a roar in my throat. But I’m stopped and the sound is abruptly cut off as Leo grabs me by the throat and shoves me back against the balcony railing.

“Get the fuck off—!”

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