Page 26 of Liberated By Sin
Her expression twitched as if she fought to hold her smile.
“Twenty-one.” The bravado from moments ago was gone.
“I’m only going to ask you once more. And if you’re lying, there will be consequences.”
Tears welled over her blue contact lenses, and she began to fidget, looking away and probably regretting her decision to speak to me.
“Nineteen,” she murmured.
“I gave you one chance.”
When I reached into my pocket and retrieved my cell, she grabbed at my arm in a panic. “Okay, please. Don’t call anyone. I can’t go back home.”
“Age,” I demanded, not moved in the least by her begging.
“Six…sixteen.”
“Get the fuck out of my club.”
The girl flinched and shuffled backward before turning and running as fast as her ridiculous heels would permit.
A fucking child.
Luca was a son of a bitch. I wouldn’t deny the fact that some of my faction had dealings involving the trafficking of women and young girls, but I always kept my distance and never received a dime of those profits.
Maybe because I had three younger sisters.
“I always knew she was hiding something.”
I whirled around at Amara’s voice, my mood instantly shifting when I took her in as she watched me, leaning casually against the door frame.
“I don’t employ children.”
A hint of a smile moved over her lips as she nodded in understanding. “I have a feeling Luca was aware,” she said, still holding my gaze.
“If I knew my cousin, I’d wager you’re right.”
Amara said nothing more on the subject and pushed off the wall. I followed like a goddamn puppy.
“I’m sorry to make you come in early tonight. I promise I won’t be long.”
“Oh, so it’s one of those could-have-been-an-email type meetings?”
A joke? Had she just cracked a joke?
“Maybe,” I said with a laugh. “But the last time I was here, this place was just a foreclosed building by the beach. I signed the paperwork and flew back to Naples the next day.”
“I’m assuming you mean Italy.”
“Correct.” Our steps had become synchronized, and the fact she wasn’t running off like she had last night was progress. “It would be goodto touch base with everyone and cull the staff if need be.”
She nodded once before stopping in front of her dressing room and facing me. A woman’s lips had always been my biggest draw, but as enticing as hers were, I couldn’t pull my gaze away from her unique eyes even if I wanted to. The left was a warm shade of honey, and the right was primarily bright blue, apart from a sliver of brown bleeding from the pupil to the edge of her iris.
I’d gone home last night and googled the condition.
Heterochromia.
“I’m going to drop off my things and be in the lounge in a moment.”