Page 17 of Coerced into Submission

"My father didn't care about anyone but himself."

"Wrong. Two weeks before he disappeared, he took out a hefty life insurance policy on himself. He also signed everything over to you: the property, the family business, anything he was working on. When Hoax found out, we knew they'd come looking for you next."

"You knew? But if he had all that money..."

"Nothing compared to what he owed the Colombian mafia."

"And what is that?"

"The Royal Bastards' land."

"So, what the hell do I have to do with any of that?"

"Nothing. They just want payback and to collect any debt he had with them."

"My father's dead," she uttered, her eyes meeting mine. "I can feel it in my gut. He's never disappeared for this long. I knew he was dead a long time ago."

"You can't be sure of that."

"I am," she stated firmly.

We sat quietly for a minute, and she continued her questioning.

"When did you enter my home?"

"Several times."

"Why?"

I finished the last swig of the beer and stood up. "I think we should go," I said, looking down at her.

But she wasn't having it. "Sit," she ordered, her arms crossed over her plump breasts. One eyebrow arched as she waited.

I hesitated for a moment, considering my options. I could easily drag her out of there or just leave her behind. But instead, I begrudgingly sat back down and braced myself for her reaction when I told her the truth.

Because I had to tell her. I had to. I wanted a reaction. I wanted her to feel afraid of me, so she'd want to stay away from me. Because in the end, we both knew I wasn't good enough for her.

"What do you want to know?" I asked, finally meeting her gaze.

"Everything," she replied simply.

I propped my elbows on the table and leaned in towards her. “I’m not a good man, Catalina. I’ve done some very bad things in my life, and you’re part of those bad things.”

She slowly slid her hands beneath her thighs as she leaned forward. “What kind of bad things?”

I stared at her lips, still contemplating what to say to her. “Very bad things, Catalina.”

“No secrets, Snare. I can’t trust you if you keep secrets.”

“You won’t trust me after what I’ve done.”

“What did you do?” She leaned in closer, our faces only a few inches from one another. I hesitated and she urged me.

“I want to know, Snare.”

“A want and a need are two different things, Catalina. I should know.”

“Then I need to know.” She was letting me off the hook.

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