Page 44 of My Craving

“What’s going on, Alessia?” Duncan asks.

“Ronan looked into Nash the same way he does whenever someone becomes involved with this family.” She gestures toward the couch. “Why don’t we sit?”

“No, thank you.” I turn toward the door. “Dinner was great, but I think I’m done with the Murphy family experience for tonight.”

“Bruce Davis.” Kieran doesn’t raise his voice. He doesn’t need to.

I stop. “Who?”

“Bruce worked for Murphy Enterprises before he disappeared a couple of months ago. His information was in the apartment.”

Of course. That’s what this is about. One of their employees disappears, they find his information among my things, and suddenly the Murphys give a shit. I turn back to Kieran. “Were you planning to give him a raise? Maybe name him employee of the year?”

His expression doesn’t change.

“Bruce Davis lured young men who didn’t have anyone powerful enough to protect them. He drugged them, raped them, and tortured them because he knew exactly who to choose—the ones people wouldn’t believe if they ever managed to tell someone what he did.” Anger burns through the fear that hit me when Alessia mentioned the apartment. “So if you dragged me into this room because you’re worried about what happened to one of your employees, you might want to spend a little more time worrying about what he did to everyone else.”

Kieran watches me with the same unnerving calm. “Did you kill him?”

I stare at him. Not a flicker of emotion crosses his face.

“No body, no crime.” I shrug. “Sounds like a problem for the police.”

Chapter 23 Duncan

I look from Kieran to Alessia, trying to understand how the hell we went from dinner to them accusing Nash of making Bruce Davis disappear. Whatever they found in that apartment is serious enough that Nash is ready to bolt, and I’m about two minutes away from taking him out of here myself.

“We aren’t judging you, Nash,” Alessia says.

He gives her a disbelieving look. “You found a secret apartment full of evidence that could probably put me in prison, locked me in a room with a door thick enough to survive a fucking bomb and started naming missing men. You can see how I might be getting mixed signals.”

“I assure you, no one here intends to turn you in.” Alessia gestures toward the couch. “Please sit so we can explain.”

She takes the chair beside Kieran, whose hand moves automatically to her leg. I put mine on Nash’s shoulder and guide him toward the couch. He comes with me, although every muscle beneath my palm stays tight.

Alessia waits until we’re seated. “Do you remember when I told you in Duncan’s office that Justin Mills was on my radar? I said we would have that conversation later.”

Nash looks at her expectantly. “Yeah, so?”

Kieran leans forward. “And watch your tone with my wife. I don’t give a fuck what you are to my brother. You disrespect Alessia, and I’ll kill you where you sit.”

Nash turns his head toward him, but I’m already moving. My arm locks around his waist, dragging him against my side as I stare across at my brother.

“You threaten him again, and I’ll put you through this fucking table.”

Kieran’s expression hardens. “Duncan.”

“No.” My grip tightens around Nash. “You don’t get to threaten his life and then say my fucking name like I’m the one who needs to calm down. You won’t fucking touch him. You’d come through me first, and you know exactly how that would end.”

“Jesus Christ,” Nash mutters beside me.

Alessia sighs. “Would both of you stop measuring your dicks long enough for me to finish?”

Kieran sits back, but I keep Nash tucked against me.

“He’s mine, Kieran. Don’t fucking threaten him again.”

“I’m not trying to disrespect anyone,” Nash says with considerably less bite than before. “But you people broke into an apartment no one was supposed to know existed and apparently found enough to connect me to Bruce Davis. I’d really like to know why I’m still sitting here instead of being arrested.”