“We need to talk,” she said.
Chapter 17
Sydney
I had to know what was going on.
“Yeah we do,” he admitted. “What did you hear?”
“Enough.”
He didn’t respond so I pressed further, what was he really doing in the club that night?
I learned that Owen had known one of the investors of the club for over ten years, and wasn’t especially proud of that period of his life. Apparently, Lawson was bad news.
“Then why did you give him so much money?”
“For what?”
“For me.”
“It’s good for business. He might be an asshole, but judging by the clientele I saw the other night, the club makes money hand-over-fist. What I did, was for you.”
“That’s a lie. What you paid for me was a power play. What were you trying to prove?”
I didn’t want him to treat me like some dumb blonde, I knew something deeper was going on.
He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “I need to just be here with you right now, okay? We both have our shit. It happens.”
I sat up straighter, “Owen what’s going on? Why did we come here?”
He shook his head. “It’s out of the country.”
“Shit. What did you do?”
“Nothing! And technically this place is owned by a United States company, it’s an asset. So if they wanted to come get me, they could.”
“For what?”
“The DA thinks I’m involved in money laundering. I was at the club to take a picture of him.”
“Wait you’re blackmailing the district attorney of Chicago?”
This wasn’t happening.
“Sydney, it’s not like that.”
“Like hell it isn’t. So what was the money for? What you paid for me?”
“A show of power. I wanted the DA, and Lawson, to know I hold the power.”
“Great, I’m a pawn. Why ask me to stay? Why include Declan in this m
ess?”
His eyes became soft. “I am not fucking with your brother. I promise Sydney. I am doing that for him, for you. What I paid for you might have been a move, but getting you here, having you to myself? That’s because I want you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I want to go back to the house,” I said grabbing my clothes and going into another room to change.