The Mafia Boss Thought His Secretary Betrayed Him — Until He Found Her Scrubbing Diner Floors To Pay A Debt His Empire Created

PART 4

Outside, Owen had brought the sedan to the entrance. Wren climbed into the rear seat without speaking. Weston poured a small measure of scotch and offered it to her.

“I don’t drink.”

“Tonight you do.”

She obeyed, wincing.

“The authorization is handled,” Weston said. “I used the secondary protocol.”

“Then you did not need to come looking for me.”

“No.”

“Why did you?”

“We are not discussing my motives until you explain yours.”

She stared into the scotch. “My father died eight months ago. He had a gambling problem. He borrowed from a street lender.”

“How much?”

“Eighty thousand. They came to the funeral. Two thousand dollars every week. If I missed a payment, the principal grew.”

“That is not repayment. It is indefinite interest.”

“I know.”

“Who holds the debt?”

“Marcus Voss.”

The name emptied the air from the car.

Weston went still. Marcus Voss operated sports books and street loans near the northern freight district. He answered to Silas Bram, who oversaw several crews. Silas answered to Weston.

For six months, Weston had paid Wren a salary for her extraordinary loyalty. His own men had taken most of it back through a debt designed never to disappear.

“He works for me,” Weston said.

Wren stopped breathing. “What?”

“He reports to Silas. Silas reports to me.”

Her face crumpled, but she fought it. “You knew?”

“I learned thirty seconds ago.”

“Pull the car over.”

“It is raining.”

“I do not care.”