Page 24 of Reckless Sinner
I shook my head. “You know more than almost anyone. I don’t really have friends.” I grimaced. “Which makes me sound pathetic. Like one of those annoying loner type teens in movies that the girl is supposed to fall in love with because he’s so deep and not like other guys.”
Delaney laughed, then sobered up. “This is going to make me sound like a stalker, and I’m not, but given that my father took you on… I couldn’t help but pay attention. You made such a splash, everyone was gossiping about you and they still do… so I noticed that you’re kind of… by yourself. I always thought it was your choice.”
“It became my choice.” I moved off the bed and picked up the clothes on the floor, needing something to do, some mindless task to help keep me from instinctively wanting to run away from opening myself up. “I realized pretty quickly that people either didn’t like me and thought I was a stooge for my father, or that they would use me to get to my family somehow. They thought I’d be dirty either way—either that was a problem or an asset.
“So I just… kept a distance. I didn’t invite friendliness. I was polite but nothing more. I think for some people that just enforced the idea that I’m secretly dirty, but I wasn’t going to let anyone use me. So I haven’t really… gotten close, to anyone, in years.”
Delaney looked at me for a long moment. I put the clothes in the hamper—I could put hers in with my laundry as well, no problem. Unless she wanted to leave, but I didn’t think that she did.
“That’s very sad,” she said. “And I don’t mean—I don’t pity you. I think you’d hate me if I pitied you. Or if anyone pitied you. I don’t really have friends, either, is the thing. And I know how lonely it is, just my father and me. I’m so lucky to have him. But you don’t even have your family anymore. And that’s… that’s sad. I’m sorry that you have to go through this.”
She sounded sincere, and like she understood. And she was right. I wouldn’t accept pity. I wasn’t a Russo in a lot of ways but I was a Russo through and through in that. Nobody was allowed to pity me or look down on me in any way, even if it was out of sympathy. I’d accomplished a fuckton of good work in my life, I’d made partner, I was rich and successful… there was nothing topityabout me.
But to have someone who understood… that was different.
I walked back over to her and Delaney looked up at me with a soft smile. “When I say you’re a good person, I mean that, because I know my father’s firm and I know his employees, and I’ve watched you. And I think that people need to give you more credit. And I don’t think… liking to be in control and pinning me down sometimes during sex is going to erase any of that. That’s not what will make you a good or a bad person. It was with my consent—myenthusiasticconsent—so unless you’ve got another secret like eating puppies or something, I think you’re doing okay.”
She winked at me and I couldn’t help myself. I leaned down and kissed her. She was so soft and sweet, but with that hint of spice that I was enjoying far too much.
She’s dangerous. She could break your heart.
The warning voice in the back of my head was alive and well. But I thought maybe… I should do something for myself, for once. I had worked so hard all this time to prove that I wasn’t my father’s son, all the while in the profession my father chose for me and waiting for the day he’d show up to demand his due.
Maybe now—
My phone rang. The ringtone told me who it was immediately: Vincent, my oldest brother.
I frowned and pulled away, grabbing the call. “Vincent? Do you have any idea what time it is?”
Of course he knew what time it was. Vincent wouldn’t be calling me this late just to chit-chat. Especially since we’d seen each other at the wedding just a few weeks ago, that was probably more than enough contact for him.
My heart thundered behind my ribs. Was this it? The moment I would have to make that dreaded choice?
“Marco’s girl was an undercover agent.” Vincent never minced words. “She’s just been shot by the Petrovs while meeting her handler.”
My legs went numb and I found myself sitting down on the bed without even realizing I was headed that way. Delaney frowned—with her kitten mouth it looked almost like a pout. “Dante? Are you okay?”
“Who’s with you?” Vincent’s voice grew sharp.
“My girlfriend, dickhead,” I snapped, suddenly a teenager angry at his older brother again instead of the high-powered attorney I was the rest of the time.
“You have a girlfriend? Since when?”
“What, did that not come up on your radar the last time you had Toby look into my movements, my life, my financials?” I snapped irritably.
“I’m already dealing with Marco and his mess,” Vincent said, his tone pointedly calm. “I don’t have the time to deal with yours, too.”
“Why are you calling me about this? I don’t know anything about it.”
“Because people will ask you about it,” Vincent replied. “I don’t want you to worry, I’m handling it. So is Marco. He’s stepping up to the plate—for once.”
Figured that the moment my middle brother finally got his shit together it would be over a girl. “Anything I can do?”
“No. The less you know the better for your position.”
I dragged my fingers through my hair. “Then you shouldn’t even be telling me this much.”
“And let you be blindsided by reporters? Colleagues? I don’t think so.” Vincent lowered his voice. I was sure it wasn’t for the benefit of anyone on his end, but just in case Delaney could hear him on mine. “She was being set up as a patsy—her death was supposed to frame Marco for murder. The D.A. is involved. Watch your back.”
