I meet his gaze with no deference in my expression whatsoever. Regardless of what Paulie said, I am my own man when it matters. And I won’t let anyone touch Memphis.
I pitch my voice low but make sure every fucking word comes out clear. “If anything happens to her on your orders, I’ll retire you myself.”
Something sparks in Dom’s gaze, and there’s a chance it’s murderous rage. Or it could be respect. Right now, I don’t fucking care about anything but letting him know that Memphis is off-limits.
“She’s hooked you good.” His hand lands on my shoulder, much the same way Paulie’s did, but Dom squeezes hard to get his point across. “Don’t ever fucking talk to me like that again or you’ll pay the price,son.”
22
Memphis
“Adead one.”
My eyes, the color of which I’ve never seen on another person, are a perfect match for those a retired mob hit man remembers on a woman who died twenty-five years ago.
The revelation sends me reeling.
For my entire life, I’ve wondered how my brown-eyed father could have had a daughter without brown eyes, but I always chalked it up to my mysterious biological mother. The one I’ve never searched for due to my father’s wishes, despite my intense curiosity. But what if ...
No. That’s impossible.Still, the reporter in me needs more information.
“What ... what was her name?”
Benny sips his whiskey while he studies my face, looking for answers of his own. “Why do you want to know?”
I shift casually on my seat, not wanting to give too much away, and lift my glass to my lips. “Wouldn’t you want to know if a tall, dark, and handsome man told you’d he’d only seen eyes like yours on one woman?” Flattery might not get me everywhere, but hopefully it will afford me more than I have now, which is only unanswered questions.
“Fair enough, but only because a beautiful woman is asking. Her name was Regina, and she was a knockout. Long black hair, piercing turquoise eyes. If you dyed your hair dark and ditched those contacts, you could be sisters. Granted, she didn’t live much longer than however old you are now. Real sad story.”
If I dyed my hair dark ...
Blood roars in my ears at his statement. I should be happy that he hasn’t caught on to the fact that I’m wearing a wig, but my fingers itch to rip it off so he can see the real me. The me who has never known my biological mother.
But my father has always kept an apartment in New York.
This is too little to go on, but it’s more than I’ve ever had before. A million questions rush through my brain, but I only ask one.
“How did she die?”
Benny coughs and wipes his mouth again with his handkerchief. He doesn’t answer until he’s refolded it and tucked it away. “She was murdered.”
My heart hammers harder than ever before, each beat slamming into my chest like a bare-knuckle punch. I open my mouth to reply but Greer’s cheerful voice stops me, and I don’t know if I’m grateful or pissed.
“Drew! I wondered where you’d disappeared to. There’s someone I would love to introduce you to.”
I break Benny’s stare and glance at Greer, but her face doesn’t match her voice. Her expression is lined with concern, and I wonder if she’s trying to rescue me.Do I want to be rescued?
Her bright gaze bounces from me to Benny. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“It’s all right, sweetheart. We’re just talking about ancient history. I’m sure she’d rather meet your talented sister-in-law. I’m just gonna say, if Ms. Superstar doesn’t sing ‘Happy Birthday’to Dom, we’re all gonna be mighty disappointed.” He sips at his liquor like it truly does go down easier than water.
I turn to see Holly Wix, one of country music’s hottest stars, standing beside Greer.
How the hell didn’t I notice her before?Oh, right, I was having a meltdown and wondering if Benny knows who my biological mother is, andoh, just maybe she might have been some woman who was murdered.
Using compartmentalization skills I’ve honed since childhood, I tuck my questions away in a box, pop off the bar stool, and hold out my hand to the gorgeous brunette who came into the restaurant with Creighton Karas.
“It’s a pleasure. I’m a huge fan of your music. I saw you perform once at a concert in LA. You were incredible.” I’m thankful my words come out sounding coherent rather than discombobulated, like I feel.