Page 72 of Defy

“Don’t look so scared, Sophia. I’m not here in that capacity. You’re safe.” She smirked.

“So, what’s the point of your backstory?”

“You’ll understand soon enough.”

I watched her, still not sure if I could trust her.

“You had a role to fill in your family. It would have protected you and kept you safe in a little bubble. Why didn’t you do it?”

“What does this have to do with anything?”

“I’m curious?”

“Because I'd rather pave my own path than be under anyone's thumb.” I blew out a frustrated breath. “Seriously, Oliana, why are you stalking me? This is ridiculous.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s simple. I like to know everything about people in the lives of my family.”

“What family? I’m so lost right now.”

Oliana crossed her arms. “Let me put it this way. Nobody touches my family and lives to tell the tail. Too bad someone got to him before I could.”

Then it dawned on me what the hell she was talking about.

“You’re related to Alice Stansbury. But her family comes from the Midwest, not Russia.”

My heart ached as I remembered the devastation on poor sweet Alice’s face after I found the young model curled into a ball in a bathroom stall after a fashion show. Keith Randolph had cornered the teen, assaulted her, and threatened to destroy her career if she told anyone about it.

That bastard had taken away a huge part of her bright eyed innocence and shattered so many of her dreams. That situation had been a major catalyst for my visit to the jackass’s penthouse and the misfortune that took place to his new collection.

“As I said, I didn’t have a choice for my job. And neither did my sister.” With her next words, Oliana’s accent changed to pure American southern drawl. “We learn to blend in when necessary, especially when it means we can escape our pasts.”

I couldn’t help but gape at her. “You set that thing up in the precinct to gauge whether I killed Keith or not.”

“Oh, I knew you couldn’t have done it from the beginning. You Italians turn your nose up at the use of poison. In my book, if it gets the job done, who gives a shit.”

“Yes, it is well documented how those in your homeland use poison to eliminate enemies.”

“I prefer sharp objects.”

“Considering you stabbed your husband, I would never have guessed. Okay, enough with the runaround. Come clean so I can get to work.”

“You fascinate me, so I decided to snoop into your life. It is as simple as that. You didn’t ask for anything from Ali, and don’t use this place as your alibi.”

“You have way too much time on your hands if you think watching the drama of my life unfold is interesting.”

“You’re innocent and want to save the world. I find it sweet.”

“You are one of the strangest people I have ever met. Maybe you should have another kid, and then you’ll be too busy to snoop in other people’s lives.”

“It wouldn’t work. I can multitask. Here is some advice.” Her face grew serious. “Tell your man everything. He won’t betray your trust.”

“How do you know that I haven’t?”

“Lucky guess. Now, show me around.”

Chapter Fourteen

Damon

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