Sinfully Yours, Sir (Doms of Decadence 4)

“That was different.”

Much as he’d love to take Tilly back upstairs and fuck her, they had more pressing issues. The most important thing right now was making sure Tilly was safe.

He set her back on the stool. “What were you saying, a mhuirnín?” He sat next to her.

“Hmm?” She gazed at him in puzzlement for a moment.

“About Cabeza?” Rogan asked. His voice was calm, but Dylan saw the glint of anger in his gaze.

“Oh, I was relieved when he wasn’t around because at least he wasn’t picking on me. I could never please him. He was so controlling. He had a real estate business. I thought that was where the money came from. I feel sick knowing the truth.

“None of this is an excuse. I should have known he was up to something sketchy. I just figured he was having an affair and that was why he was out so late and acted so cagey. I should have done something more.”

Dylan glared at Aedan. He better damn well handle this right or they would be having more than words later on.

“Stop,” Aedan told her. “I was wrong. You were a victim too. Tilly, I should be the one apologizing. None of what Cabeza did was your fault and I shouldn’t have blamed you.”

“But at least I’m alive, not like those other poor people. I wasn’t strong enough to leave him, even though I longed to. I was scared of him. If I hadn’t overheard him talking about how he had to shift some drugs he had hidden on Daddy’s ranch I might still be under his control.”

Dylan stiffened. “So you helped put him away?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Did you testify?” Dylan asked her.

“No. I went to my brother Dare and told him what I’d overheard. I felt really bad about bringing him into my mess, but I didn’t know what to do and I knew Dare would. Dare didn’t want me to go to the police. He was worried that it would put a target on my back. Instead, he followed Javier to the place where he’d stashed the drugs. He took some photos as evidence before he called a friend who is a deputy sheriff.”

She took a sip of juice. “They caught him. I was investigated and cleared. I didn’t even have to testify.”

“So Cabeza never knew it was you who discovered what he was doing?” Rogan asked.

“No. I didn’t stick around after he was arrested. I packed up my personal belongings and moved to Austin. I just don’t get why Javier would lie and tell the Vipers that I had the money.”

Dylan pulled her back against his chest. “You’re certain you have no idea what he’s talking about?”

“No,” she said. “None. I never had access to any of his accounts. He used to give me cash to buy groceries and there was never much left over.”

“Did he ever mention off-shore bank accounts?” Rogan asked.

“He never spoke to me about money, other than to complain when I asked him for some.” Her cheeks grew red. It must have been humiliating, begging him for cash to buy food. Dylan hugged her tight.

She leaned against his chest gratefully. “This is all so crazy. I can’t believe this is happening. I can hardly wrap my brain around the idea that Miller would betray me, let alone the fact that a dangerous gang now thinks I have their money. I wish I’d never met Javier Cabeza. I was so stupid to fall for his lies.”

“No, you’re sweet and innocent,” Aedan said. “Think you’re the first person to be fooled by someone who pretends to love them? It happens to most of us. You’ve just got to pick yourself up and carry on.” He frowned, falling silent. “You know, maybe Javier wasn’t lying.”

“But I don’t have the money,” she said with frustration.

“Or you don’t know you do,” he countered.

“Kind of hard to hide a million dollars,” Dylan replied.

“Just humor me. What if Cabeza was telling the truth? If you were him and you had some cash you didn’t want anyone to know about, what would you do with it?” Aedan asked them.

“Put it in an overseas bank account?” she guessed.

“Stuff it in a mattress?” Dylan added.

“Hide it somewhere no one would suspect,” Rogan said.