Page 83 of Demanding Mob Boss

I've been stimming constantly since the police station and my fingertips are sore, but I can't make myself stop. Searching in the cabinets, I find some eucalyptus bath salts. They are probably good for after Cian has been in a physical altercation. I'm hoping the eucalyptus will make my skin feel clean again.

I pour a couple of handfuls of the bath salts into the water and then swirl them around with my hand. Once the bath is half-filled, I step into the hot water and sit down. The heat begins to seep into me and only then do I realize how cold I am. Shivers wrack me as the water rises. When it reaches a couple of inches below the tub rim, I sit up and turn off the taps.

Then, keeping my arms away from my body, I lay back in the water and float. I don't want any part of myself to touch another part and spread the grime from the detective's touch further. My breasts are not submerged. I will have to turn over for that, but not yet.

I let my head sink into the water until only my face is out of it like I used to do. My fingernails cannot click together in the water, so I can finally let my hands rest, splayed out and floating.

I savor the muffled silence the water creates around my head, the sense of being alone and safe. I am in Cian's home. No one can get me here.

My bookstore isn't safe anymore. Is anywhere outside of this building? What if those detectives come here? They can't get up to this floor without someone letting them. Without a warrant, they can't force it. Can they?

Cian won't let them. But he let them take me. Why?

That is the question my mind won't let go of. It is the reason I have to speak to him tonight.

Chapter 27

ANNA

I don't know how long I float in the tub, but eventually the sound of my name being called penetrates my bubble of isolation created by the water.

I sit up and Connor is there. In the bathroom. He's not looking at me though.

He's facing the wall opposite the tub I'm in. "Crap, Anna. You about gave me a heart attack. I guess you didn't hear me yelling your name with your head under the water like that. Is that safe? What if you fell asleep? You could drown." He makes a weird noise in his throat, like a laugh, but not. "I sound like my ma."

"Is she a good person?" I ask, surprised the words come almost easily.

"What?" He runs his hands through his hair. "Yeah. Ma is great."

"Then it's not bad to sound like her, is it?"

"No, I guess not."

"I don't want to get out of the water yet."

Connor steps backward and sits down with his back against the side of the tub enclosure. "Okay, but I don't think you should do that floating thing without someone in here to notice if you go under."

I almost smile. He's watching out for me and that feels good. I wonder if he would have let the detectives take me if he'd been there instead of Tommy and Arlo. So, I ask.

His hand messes with his hair again and he sighs. "It's protocol, right? To cooperate with the cops, and stay silent until the lawyer arrives."

"No lawyer came for me."

"He was on his way, but it was faster to get the captain involved. We don't like to do that when it's not necessary."

But it was necessary with me? Did they know that detective was grabby? If they did, why let him take me?

I'm not asking Connor these questions. I'll wait until I talk to Cian. Only he can tell me definitively whyhelet that happen. He's the boss. It's down to him.

Leaning forward, I allow the front of my body to submerge into the water. I still don't let any of my limbs rub against each other and I hold onto the rim with both hands shoulder width apart. "Do you think soap and water can wash away the touch of another human being?"

Connor's shoulders tense and he expels a long breath. "Who are you trying to wash away? Cian? Because I gotta tell you, lass, I don't think you'll ever get rid of my cousin." He rubs his face and mutters, "And I don't like the city of Chicago's chances if you do."

I'm not sure what he means, but I’m not trying to wash away Cian and say so.

"Good. Anyone in particular then?"

I don't want to answer, so I ask again, "Can it?"

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