Owned by a Sinner (Sinners 2)

Liam stares at me for a moment longer, then asks, “How was your first month here?”

Amazing until Friday.

Do you know what your brother is doing?

“Good,” I murmur with zero excitement in my tone. “I’ve learned a lot.”

He nods, his eyes narrowing on me. “You don’t look well. I’d rather have you go home if you’re sick.”

Sitting up straighter, I shake my head. “I’m much better. It was just something I ate.”

Liam glances at Will and Denise, and when the internal line rings, I startle, and Liam’s head snaps back to me. With his eyes on me, it feels like the ground’s going to give way beneath my feet as I press the answer button with a trembling finger.

“Kiara speaking.”

“My office. Now.”

Oh, God.

“Yes, sir,” I breathe, fear trembling through me.

The second I end the call, Liam asks, “Who was that?”

“Your brother.”

His left eyebrow lifts. “What did he want?”

“He wants me to go to his office.”

Liam locks eyes with me, and it feels as if he’s trying to pry all my secrets from me. “Stay and do your work.”

But…

Cautiously, I nod, then watch as Liam walks to the elevators.

Shit. Who do I listen to?

Should I call Finn and tell him I can’t come to his office?

By the time Denise comes back with two steaming mugs of coffee, I can’t even bring myself to drink the beverage.

A cold sweat breaks out over my skin, and I feel weak from all the worry.

“Aren’t you going to ask?” Denise’s voice pulls me from the fear-induced trance I keep slipping into.

“Ask what?” Did she say something I didn’t hear?

“About Will and me,” she chuckles, the sound light and free.

“Oh. Of course.” I wipe my hand over my forehead. “Has he asked you out yet?”

Denise begins to nod, excitement shining from her. “We’re going to dinner on Saturday night, which means I have to buy a new dress.” She reaches for an envelope, and opening it, her face lights up again. “Oh, happy first payday.”

Right. I didn’t even check my bank account.

“Thanks.” I do my best to smile. “Congrats on your date.”

Denise beams again, then she starts to ramble about Will and every detail she likes about him. I only listen with half an ear, trying to get some work done while worrying my butt off about Finn.

Chapter 9

Liam

Shoving Finn’s door open, I walk into his office. “Not the person you expected?” I mutter.

Lifting his eyebrows, he asks, “To what do I owe the honor so early in the morning?”

“Kiara is employed as a receptionist for the lobby. Stop calling her up to your office and do your own fucking work. Last warning.”

Finn stares at me for a moment, then snidely answers, “Yes, sir.” Just as I’m about to turn around, he asks, “When will you let me into the mafia?”

A chuckle bursts over my lips. “Never.” The mafia will fucking chew him up and spit him out.

“Do you expect me to be happy with the scraps you throw my way forever?”

The corner of my mouth lifts. “Yes.” I gesture around the office. “This is all you’ll ever get from me.”

Finn darts up but catches himself in time from losing his temper. “I deserve more.”

Taking a step closer, I lock eyes with him. “You deserve nothing. Just because your mother married my father doesn’t mean shit to me. You might have the last name, but you’re not a Byrne.”

It looks like Finn’s about to choke on his tongue, then he threatens, “I’ll tell our parents.”

I shake my head at the level of this man’s stupidity. “Finn, when will you realize they have no power over me? This company belongs to me. The mafia belongs to me. I fucking own everything.”

Frustration tightens his features. “This isn’t fair.”

Narrowing my eyes, my temper starts to spike. “I don’t have time for your tantrums. If you want a better income, there’s the door.”

Done with this conversation, I stalk out of the office and head to my own. The second I shut my door behind me, Will grins at me from where he’s perched on the corner of my desk. “Denise said yes.”

I shake my head, and letting the tension roll off my shoulders, I joke with my friend, “Only because you kept groveling.”

“You’re okay with me taking her out on a date?” he checks with me again.

“She’s an adult and can make her own decisions,” I mutter while taking a seat behind my desk. Glancing at Will, I ask, “Are you going to tell her what you really do for a living?”

“I don’t think she’d be impressed hearing how I kiss your ass,” he jokes but then shakes his head. “Not until things are serious between us.”

“Make sure you can trust her,” I mention. Opening my laptop, I check my schedule for the day. “Only two meetings.” Just then, the page updates, and I glare at the screen. “Make that six meetings.”