Read Online REMEDY: A Mafia Romance (Return to Us Trilogy Book 3) by M.K. Gilher - Free Book Online Page B

difficult for him. "The money is laundered so many times, it's squeaky clean when it comes out and no one can trace it, which is why I'm not worried about the FBI. Everything's legit on paper. For me, anyway."
    He adjusts his chair so he's facing me and our knees touch. He takes my hands in his and doesn't blink as he stares at me. I'm adrift in the angular peaks of his thick lashes.
    "Was Viktor in the organization when I was with him?"
    "Yeah. He was three years my senior, but I outranked him within five years. He had you stealing cars, the moron. Bernard wanted him to keep you away from the heat, but Viktor didn't follow orders and threw you right into the fire. Viktor was on Boothby's crew. The FBI is questioning Gerry about the corpses we left behind."
    "Who's Raymond?"
    "Ray Carillo is Helen's father and head of the council. Judge Conroy is acting boss while Ray is recovering from a stroke in an assisted living facility."
    He squeezes my hands and rubs his thumbs over my knuckles. The trace of his touch reassures me.
    "Why did Uncle Bernie want to keep me away?"
    "Well, I've always believed he cared for your well-being like I did. But Viktor said some fucked-up shit at the farmhouse that makes me question the agenda Bernard has been spouting all these years. You overheard me confronting him."
    "You asked him if I was a commodity. Viktor said I was valuable and he would turn me over to his side."
    "Yeah. Bernard has history with Boothby that involves you, but he denied it. I have a feeling I can get the truth out of Helen. We'll meet with her tomorrow. Take today to rest and absorb what I've told you so far. I have to go to a council meeting this afternoon. Shane will stay with you."
    "Okay."
    "Okay." He presses his lips to mine in a whisper of a kiss.
    "I like that you're trusting me."
    "I trust you."
    ***
    Jacade
     
    The last time I came through this entrance, I propped the door open for Ivy and Helen with a brick. Back then, Ivy was still blissfully unaware, outside the glass dome of my torrid life. But in my egocentric desire for her, I opened this metal door in an alley and let her in.
    I walk into the room and glance at the kitchenette. Today she's not peering through the crack of the door swallowing truths about her man and her uncle no woman should ever have to imbibe.
    Today she's at my penthouse digesting the whole awful truth as she recovers from a gunshot to her abdomen.
    A week ago, I carried a pink cardboard box for her for the second time in her life. If only a pink box could spare her this time. No. This time it's going to be a lot more complex and dangerous to save her from me.
    I take the second chair from the head, not acknowledging Bernard in the seat to my right. I take a deep breath and put on my game face. I can't lose my cool today or I'll ruin everything.
    I nod at the nine men to my left on our side of the table and scan the faces of the eleven men sitting across from me. Boothby sits in the first chair opposite Bernard. Mahoney attempts to make eye contact, but I skim over him like he's invisible. The fifth seat remains empty. Viktor won't be attending today's meeting.
    Tap - tap - tap .
    I drum my fingers on the arm of my chair and wait for the show to begin.
    Judge Conroy stands at the head of the table and clears his throat. "Gentleman, thank you for coming today. Everyone's cell phones secured elsewhere?"
    No one ever answers his stupid question.
    "Excellent. We're meeting today to discuss the events that occurred last week. For those who haven't heard, Viktor kidnapped Trip and held him captive at a property outside the city. The years of rivalry between them boiled over and erupted in violence. In the end, Trip walked away and Viktor is gone. Two low-level grunts and Viktor's sister were killed too. Hopefully, this marks the end of the Karson-Jordan vendetta and tension between the two sides will ease now."
    He crosses his arms as his punitive eyes scan the room. Man, he's ugly.
    "The