Bitter Truths (The Denton Family Legacy 3)

“Are you asking me if I was abused? Raped?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“No on all accounts. I told you, I was training from the moment I found his body. Anyone tried anything, and I wasn’t afraid to use my fists, or my knife.”

He released a breath and frowned. “So someone tried it.”

“They tried, and ended up in the hospital for it. Believe me, I don’t take threats like that without being willing to dole out some serious punishment. Nope, I’m still a virgin over here.” She gasped and slapped her hand across her mouth.

“You’re a virgin?”

“Shit, just forget I said anything, okay. I really don’t want to deal with this, and it was a mistake saying anything.”

“You’re a virgin?” he asked again.

She remained silent, and when he looked over at her again, he saw she was sucking in her lips.

“You are. I won’t tell anyone. I’m just amazed that someone as beautiful as you hasn’t been snapped up yet.”

Oliver could have groaned.

When did he get all sappy with sweet words and shit? Fuck. She was going to think he was a total loser, which was exactly what he didn’t want.

“You think I’m beautiful?”

He looked toward her, seeing her smile. “I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

“I bet you say that to all of the women.”

“No. I don’t. Really. Ask all of them. I’m a total asshole, and I have no regard for anyone’s feelings.”

“I know. A lot I talked with a lot of the women you’ve been with. Other than to say how good you are in bed, they don’t have anything nice to say at all.”

“I know,” he said, pleased that she’d talked with his old women. It meant he didn’t have to hide anything from her.

She sighed, rubbing her head.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Didn’t you sleep well?”

“Actually, I slept really well. It’s just everything else I’m having a hard time dealing with. I’m not really used to being out of my depth with this.”

“You’ve got us. We’re your family now, and you’re not alone or out of your depth.”

“Do you think the men that killed my family are still alive?”

“I don’t know. We were never able to make solid connections. Lionel often worked in secret. It’s what made him so good at finding rats.”

“You think he found a rat.”

“Had to. It’s the reason he ended up dead.”

She sighed again. “It still hurts, you know.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen Lou when she’s alone. The pain lessens, but it never goes away. She lost her brother two, no, I think it’s three years now. She named her son after him.”

“Riley was a good guy,” she said. “After the fight I got into that resulted in the broken ribs, he helped me. He helped me get out of there before I was killed by the damn crowd. They were thirsty for blood, and sometimes the Moores wouldn’t allow a fight to end unless someone wasn’t breathing.”

“I know.” The Dentons had dealt with the Moores, and in doing so had learned of the Coltons’ return.