Free Mafia Stepbrother Boxed Set by Jessi Talbot Page B

Dani,” Cole said. “It’s just business. It’ll get worked out.”
    “Is his first name William?”
    Cole leaned forward. “Yeah. How did you know that?”
    “He goes by Billy.”
    Cole shrugged. “A lot of guys named William do.”
    “You met him recently.”
    Cole wasn’t an idiot. He made the connection immediately. “Fuck,” he whispered.
    “And I know what happened to him.”
    Cole tilted his head, curiosity in his eyes.
    At first I didn’t know how to tell him but then it all came pouring out in a rush of words; everything from the knock on the door to Jasper calling the people he knew to come clean up the mess. Cole leaned back in the couch, rubbing his hand down his face.
    “I’m sorry,” I whispered, unable to hold back the tears any longer.
    “Dani,” Cole said, his voice filled with worry. He reached out to me and this time I didn’t pull back. His arms encircled me and pulled me close. I buried my face in his chest, crying uncontrollably. “It’s not your fault,” Cole said softly, holding me tight.
    “What happens when Sonny finds out I’m the one who messed up things with the police chief?” I sobbed. “What will he do to you?”
    Cole chuckled. “Sonny isn’t going to do anything to me because a low-life prick was killed. If he found out the guy was attacking you, he’d probably dig up the body just to shoot him again.”
    “He was the police chief’s nephew. You said he’s pissed.”
    Cole shrugged. “He can get unpissed… one way or another.”
    I sat up and looked at Cole. “No, you can’t do anything to him.”
    Cole sighed. “Dani, it’s the business. Sometimes, certain unpleasant things have to be done.”
    I shook my head. “No, Cole. If you do anything to him, it’ll be because of me, because of what I did. I’ll be responsible for two deaths.”
    Cole laughed softly. “My sweet Rugrat. The chief isn’t some noble cop like the ones you see on TV. He beat confessions out of guys as a dirty patrolman. He backstabbed his way up the ranks. And he’s looked the other way numerous times just to put some extra money in his pockets.”
    An idea popped into my head. “Then blackmail him. Threaten to expose all of that stuff if he doesn’t do what you want.”
    Cole shook his head. “Old news, and he doesn’t care. He’s dirty but he’s not stupid. Socked away a lot of his extra cash. He didn’t even mind sharing that bit of info, saying he had various offshore accounts. Said if we torpedoed his career, he’d just take off with his wife and kids to some tropical destination and live like a king.” He got a thoughtful expression on his face. Slowly, a smile appeared; the same lopsided grin that used to infuriate me. “I think there’s still a way to make the guy squirm, though.”
     

Chapter 14
    I crossed my legs carefully, making sure the slit in the long skirt showed off my legs to their best advantage. I sat back in the plush leather chair, looking across the wide, luxurious room. Men in expensive suits sat in elegant chairs or clustered together in groups in front of fancy fireplaces or elegant bookcases. I had never been in a cigar bar before and had to resist the urge to gawk at all the wealth on display. Cole’s home wasn’t exactly a hovel but he was slumming it compared to this place. Money practically dripped from the walls.
    “Well, hello there.”
    I turned and saw a tall, thin man in an immaculate suit standing before me. He combed his fingers through his greying red hair, smiling down at me. Chester Wainright, chief of police. Not in this city, of course. Cole knew all of Wainright’s dirty little secrets, including the one about him travelling a hundred miles away once a month to play rich man daddy to some not-so-innocent girl hired through a very discreet escort service; an escort service that happened to have Cole as a recent silent partner. “Hello,” I replied, looking up at him and smiling.
    “What’s a pretty young thing like