“Is that a threat, Gallagher?”
“That’s a fact. Though I understand you not recognizing one, seeing as you’ve spent the past ten years of your life swallowing lies.”
I flinch visibly. That might be the meanest thing anyone’s ever said to me… but it’s also the most honest. Which is probably why it stings so damn much.
“Forgive me if I’m hesitant to trustfactsfrom a man who dragged me in here like a common criminal when he led me to believe he was helping me.”
“Not acommoncriminal.” He shrugs. “White collar. Much classier.”
I glower. “Was that supposed to be funny?”
He doesn’t answer. “Hunt, you can hate me all you want, glare at me till your face turns blue… you’re not going anywhere until we get some shit sorted.”
“Am I under arrest? Because last I checked, it’s illegal to hold a civilian in custody without charging them with a crime. Not to mention interrogate them without reading them their rights or allowing them to contact an attorney.”
He whistles. “Yoga instructors are really up on their law, these days.”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve watched every episode ofLaw and Order: SVUever made.” My eyes narrow. “You know, in my spare time, when I’m not helping launder money on behalf of Russian mobsters.”
His lips twist. “Can I consider that your full confession?”
I start clapping. “Bravo! Case closed! Someone give this man a gold star and a promotion!”
Conor stares at me, attempting to keep a straight face, but I can tell he’s at least slightly amused. “You aren’t under arrest. That doesn’t mean you’re safe.”
“Safe?” I snort. “Safe is the least of my worries. I’m hangry. I’m sleep deprived. My contact lenses are starting to chafe my eyeballs. I want to go home.”
His expression flattens into that familiar blank mask. “You can’t go home.”
“And why not?”
“Firstly, because we still need you to go through the books and try to identify the men who attacked you from a group of Petrov’s known affiliates.”
“I’m guessing there’s asecondly?”
“It’s not secure. Plain and simple.”
“I have a state-of-the-art security system.”
“That did you a hell of a lot of good yesterday. Or have you forgotten what happened already?”
“The system wasn’t armed yesterday,” I admit in a small voice.
“What?” he growls.
“I forgot to activate it when I left for yoga! So… when Righty and Lefty forced their way inside… they just used the keys in my purse.”
His face contorts with rage and disbelief. “Hunt.”
I wince in anticipation of the coming lecture.
“You’re a woman who lives alone in a modern metropolitan area with half the damn Bratva out for her blood — not to mention all the everyday psychos who live on your particular block — and you’re telling me you don’t bother to arm your fucking security system when you leave the house?” Conor looks like his head is about to explode. “Christ. You’re smarter than that.”
My attention snags on a minor detail. “Wait. What psychos live on my block?”
“Not my point.”
“Come on, Gallagher. You can’t just drop a juicy tidbit like that and not fill me in.”