Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
I gritted my teeth, but I could tell it would be futile to push Lorcan. He wouldn’t allow me to go to Laurence alone. If I at least had his address, maybe I could maybe sneak away.
“All right,” I said softly and leaned over to kiss him. Surprise crossed Lorcan’s face as I pressed my lips to his, my hand rubbing circles on his chest.
Lorcan growled and snatched up my other hand that had been trying to extract the piece of paper from his pocket. His grip was tight, and his eyes held warning. “Careful. Don’t push me too far.”
He released me and nodded toward the house on my right. Maeve stood in the doorway.
“Time for tea.”
I climbed out of the car and headed for Maeve. Lorcan waited until I reached her before he drove off. Maeve gripped my arm and pulled me inside and toward their small but cozy living room. They lived in a two-bedroom townhouse with a miniature garden. I took a seat on the leather couch.
“Are you okay?”
Shaking my head, I took the cup of tea Maeve offered. It was blistering hot, so I blew on it for a while. “I found information about my sister but it leads to the Russian mob.”
We only knew that my sister had let Laurence, who had connections to the Russians—take her photos, but that didn’t mean she had connections to them as well. But who paid for the photos? I wasn’t an expert but I bet portfolio photos cost several thousand dollars.
“Do you know a Laurence?”
“No. He sounds French.”
I took out my phone and googled photographers with the first name Laurence. I found two in New York, but only one was close to the Bronx. He was mixed race, skin like coffee with way too much milk and eyes that had a slightly exotic edge—maybe Chinese or Japanese, I wasn’t sure, but he was very pretty. His studio was about thirty minutes away from here if I took an Uber.
I didn’t have a credit card so I couldn’t use the app. But I had some cash from the unspeakable event in Sodom, so I could call a cab.
“I can’t let you leave,” Maeve said with an embarrassed smile. “Seamus told me to keep you here until Lorcan picks you up. We’ll both get in trouble if you leave.”
“Damn, that arse. He knew I didn’t care if I got in trouble, but with you in the mix I’m forced to stay put.”
“I’m sorry,” Maeve whispered, and her hand moved to her belly.
“You’re pregnant?”
She pulled her hand away with a sheepish smile. “Only ten weeks along.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you. And you?”
“I’m not pregnant!”
“I mean, are you trying to get pregnant?”
“No, it’s too soon.”
Maeve nodded. After that she told me about her younger sisters, stories of mischief that had me laughing out loud, but every so often my mind returned to Laurence and what he knew. If Lorcan didn’t take me to him tomorrow, I’d go alone. I didn’t care if that made him furious. I wasn’t here to make him happy.
Lorcan picked me up around six. “I’m glad you obeyed.”
I didn’t react. “So tomorrow we’ll go to Laurence?”
Lorcan sent me an annoyed look. “If it gets you off my back. But I’m telling you, everything I’ve heard so far makes me believe your sister doesn’t want to be saved. She found a rich guy who pays for everything, and she figured it’s better than working her pretty ass off as a model.”
I shook my head. “It was her dream. Becoming a model was all she ever wanted. The only reason why she’d be with a rich guy was to get closer to that goal.”
“She uses men for her own gain. Seems to run in the family.”
My eyes grew wide with indignation.
“Don’t give me that look. Your mother seduced your father so he’d impregnate her and she could evade a marriage. You married me so I’d help you find your sister. And your sister uses men for money and their connections.”
My cheeks burned. He made it sound as if it were true. Was it? Were we Killeen women manipulative? “You blackmailed me into marrying you.”
“And now you’re using me to get what you want.”
“I doubt you’re suffering.”
“I’m not.”
On the way home, Lorcan grabbed burgers and fries for us but once we were home, they turned cold. The first thing Lorcan did was push me against the mirror in the hallway of his apartment. He shoved my panties aside and fingered me hard. I supported myself against the mirror, my face twisted with lust, my skin red from pleasure and embarrassment.
Lorcan slammed two fingers into me and fucked me viciously with them. I watched them pistol into me, and then his hot breath fanned over my ass cheeks and his tongue slid over my back entrance.