On The Ropes (Tapped Out 3)

He could, if he pushed me away. That day could come at any time.

Slater crossed his arms. “You’re screwing the guy who nearly killed Fox.”

Even expecting something less than sweet, I winced. Slater never used words like screwing. He rarely even swore. He was like the sanitized, more PC version of Fox, without the killer instinct that had made Fox so good in the ring.

This Slater was a whole new animal.

“He didn’t nearly kill Fox,” I muttered.

“He put him in the hospital. The guy was in agony for a long time.”

That judgmental tone coming from him of all people sent me over the edge. “Yeah, well, I guess he’s forgiven him, because he’s sure as hell had no problem sitting Gio at the dinner table in the spot that used to be yours.”

The moment the words were out, I wanted to snatch them back. But it was too late. Slater’s brows drew down and in, closing off his expression until I barely recognized him anymore.

“I’m sorry,” I said miserably. “It’s not like that. I know he misses you.”

“Oh, yeah, he misses me. That’s why he came over here to rip my balls off over some new thing Olivia supposedly did to his precious Mia yesterday. Something she couldn’t have done, because she’s not even in the fucking state!”

“Where is she?”

“Back home in fucking Georgia, with her mother.”

“Back in our hometown.” I didn’t wait for his nod before pacing away to place my hands on the counter that separated the kitchen from the living room. “She left you? When?”

“She left me, the state, and the whole situation with Mia and those bastards that attacked her behind.”

The back of my neck cooled as if someone had rubbed an ice cube down my spine. “What bastards? Tell me, please. It’s important.”

“They preyed on her, got close to her, took advantage of her raw emotions because she wanted money for her mother. Mia’s settlement cleaned them out and changed their entire lifestyle.” He held up a hand when I would’ve spoken. “No, don’t say it. I know what happened wasn’t Mia’s fault, but it wasn’t Olivia’s either. She adored her father. She didn’t know what he’d done.”

I whirled on him. “He was a monster. Do you know what he did to my sister? How he raped her repeatedly, and held her hostage—”

“I know.” Slater paled under his tan. “I know. And I agree with you. But Olivia wasn’t to blame for any of that. She was twelve when he took Mia. Twelve, Carly. Just about the same damn age you were when your sister was taken. Did you really understand any of what was happening back then?”

“I understood enough to know he was a horrible person. I’m sorry he was her father, and I’d say I was sorry she got hurt, if she hadn’t turned around and tried to fuck with my sister. She was an innocent victim in all of this.”

“She didn’t.” He shoved his hands through his hair. “All she did was make some phone calls and follow Mia and Fox a few times. She was curious, and not in a good way. And she hated Mia for ripping apart her family, because she didn’t know how to do anything but blame someone who wasn’t her father. But that was all she did, and she probably wouldn’t have done even if that if Lorenzo Donato hadn’t sought her out in the first place.”

I leaned against the counter, needing the support. “Why?”

“Because he wanted something to use against Mia, and Olivia was a handy target. She was already in New York, sniffing around things she shouldn’t have been, trying to understand. She was fascinated by Mia, just like people can’t stop rubbernecking at car accidents

. It wasn’t right, and I’m not excusing it, but in some ways, she’s still a confused little girl inside. They took advantage of her confusion and her pain, just like her father took advantage of Mia.”

My mind was reeling. Too much information, and I didn’t know what any of it meant. Nothing was as straightforward as it seemed on the surface. “If you think those two things are the same, you’re wrong.”

“Lorenzo threatened Olivia, wanted her to do their dirty work and hurt Mia because she disrespected and defied them. Olivia refused, which is why he had his minions rough her up. She’s terrified of them. She stayed with me for a couple weeks, then her fear won out. She’s in hiding now with her mother. They’re both terrified.” He moved forward and gripped my shoulders. “And you’re sleeping with one of those bastards. Olivia said Giovanni is one of their trusted associates. How long until he turns on you and you end up in hiding too—or worse?”

I fought back a shiver. “It’s not like that.”

“No, then you tell me what it’s like. I did my research and found out Giovanni is from one of the biggest organized crime families in power today.”

“How did you find that out?”

Was it part of a simple Google search? Had I been a willful idiot all along?

Yes. Yes, I had.