Page 51 of Shattered Hearts
“He’s a psychopath.” I focus on my jeans, the only clean pair I could find after changing out of my ruined work clothes. “Who knows why he targeted you? He hurts lots of people…”
“So why were you with him?”
My gaze snaps to Finn’s pointed, accusatory expression.
Understanding dawns. “Finn…you don’t know who this is, do you?”
I just assumed he knew. Not that Troy’s resemblance to his family is obvious right now, given the mess Finn’s made of his face…
Finn tilts his head. “Should I?”
“This is TroySullivan.” I exhale. “Heir to the Red Hill Mob.”
His eyebrows rise again, and his eyes widen. It’s another few moments until comprehension melts over him and his face returns to normal.
“Thisis Darragh’s brat?”
I nod.
“You…” His expression clears and then pulls together into a scowl. “You were engaged to marry this prick.”
My throat dries. “Without my knowledge or consent. Yes.”
Finn’s eyes flash to mine, like I’ve just said something shocking. “What the hell are you talking about?”
My heart throbs, and my vision becomes a little fuzzy. A panic attack hovers on the outskirts of my mind.
Breathe, Riley. This asshole isn’t going to hurt you again…not while Finn’s here.
“Three years ago,” I exhale another shaky breath, “my father sold me to Red Hill in exchange for the Philadelphia expansion deal.”
“It wasn’t an arranged marriage?”
I shake my head. “Troy and I were seeing each other at the time, but I had no idea what was going on behind the scenes.”
“Fuck.” He releases a low whistle. “You didn’t know about the Philly plans?”
“No. No one told me. I thought it was a happy coincidence that Troy’s family wanted to do business with us.” Looking back, I realize my naivety.
Finn sets his jaw. “How did you find out?”
My throat tightens, as though forbidding me from telling Finn any more of my sordid history with the unconscious asshole restrained across from me.
“Troy told me himself. We got into a huge fight, and he…hurt me.”
A short silence follows. “He’s dead meat.”
My ears ring, and my vision starts to blur. I need to wrap up this explanation and get the hell out of here before I lose my shit. “I went to my dad about it. He told me it was true. You can imagine the rest.” I hop to my feet. “Excuse me.”
I wobble a little, and Finn grabs my forearm to steady me. “You all right?”
Murder battles concern in his eyes. His proximity cuts through my panic-induced fog, but not enough to save me from what’s coming.
“I-I’m fine. Just need the bathroom.”
With what little strength I have left, I flee to the only room in my house untouched by tonight’s chaos. I climb into my empty bathtub, the way I’ve done during so many other anxiety-filled nights and pull my knees to my chest. Squeezing my eyes shut,I let the cold porcelain numb my body as memories pass me by like cars in traffic.
The whole despicable truth unfolds behind my eyes. The deep, calming breaths aren’t working.