I twirled my finger against his pec, making tiny circles. “You don’t understand how I grew up.”

As he stroked the side of my arm, he inched his body closer, resting his chin on top of my head. “Tell me, then.”

“It’s so boring.”

“I don’t think anything you say is boring.”

“Fine,” I whispered as I caressed his skin. “My mother was a total religious prude.”

“Was?” he asked, squeezing my shoulder.

“She’s alive. Don’t worry. We haven’t spoken in years though.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. She was a nightmare after my father died. She had always been religious, but after he passed, she became a fanatic.”

“She’s one of those people. Sorry, kid.” He kissed my hair before adjusting our bodies. He slid downward, making us face each other.

Fucking hell.

It was easier to confess stuff to him when I didn’t have to look him in the eyes.

“She was ashamed of me. I could never do anything right in her eyes anymore. Every day, she’d tell me I was going to hell for something or other. I had enough of it after I left for college. I haven’t spoken to her since the day I stepped on campus.”

He brushed his fingers against my cheek. “Do you regret it?” he asked as his face softened.

I shook my head. “Not at all. I’d rather be alone than listen to her tell me I’m not good enough every day.”

“Is that why your work is so important to you?”

I nodded and wished it weren’t true. “It’s all I have. My family has fallen apart. Some of it is my fault, but I’ve committed myself to my work. I’m good at it, and I want to make a name for myself.”

“You will,” he said as he touched me tenderly.

“If we get the tape back,” I whispered.

“There’s no we, and it’ll all be over tomorrow,” he said. “About that.” He removed his hand from my face.

“What?” I asked as my stomach dropped.

“I found a current connection between you and Tyler O’Shea.”

“Oh my God, tell me.”

“His wife works at your company.” He winced after he spoke. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

“Who is she?” I demanded, now going through everyone I knew from work. “I don’t know anyone with the last name O’Shea.”

“She never took his name when they married. I found it when I was searching through his records.”

“Fuck,” I said, grabbing my cheeks and dragging my hands down my face. “Are you going to tell me who it is?”

“Nope,” he replied as he shook his head.

I glared at him. “Why the fuck not?”

“Race,” he said in a soft tone, scooting forward in the bed, “I will not allow you to put yourself in danger. If I tell you who she is, you’ll go after her.”

“I would not. And what’s with the ‘you won’t allow me’ bullshit?” I asked, feeling my jaw tense. Who in the fuck did this man think he was?

“You hired me to do a job, and I’m going to do it.”

“You’re fired.”

“No, I’m not,” he said. “Remember, I’ll tie you up before I let you put yourself at risk.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me, princess.” He smirked.

I gnawed on the inside of my lip, debating my next words. “Can I help, at least?”

“No. Absolutely not.”

I sighed, letting my shoulders sag. “But if I don’t go, I’ll never get the tape back.” I toyed with the sheet near my feet and refused to look at him.

“Hey,” he whispered, touching my chin.

“What?” I asked, trying to figure out how to get the tape back myself.

“Remember when you said you trusted me?”

“Yes,” I mumbled, staring at his lips.

“You have to trust me now, Race.” He brought my eyes to his.

“I do, but so much can go wrong.”

“Nothing will go wrong. You have an entire team of men behind you.”

“Do they have an opening for a businesswoman? Because when that tape gets released, I’ll be blackballed.”

“You’re so dramatic,” he said, rolling his eyes.

I straightened my back, squaring my shoulders. “Since I’m the one paying, I should be able to help out in any way I see fit.”

“Baby,” he murmured as he leaned forward to kiss me.

I weaved, avoiding the contact. “Don’t ‘baby’ me.”

He hovered over my lips, staring me straight in the eyes. “I’ll talk to the guys and ask them if they think it’s okay. All right?”

I glared at him, knowing he was just pacifying me. “Fine.” I was going to find a way to be there when the shit went down.

I didn’t have a choice. It was my life hanging in the balance, and no one would look out for me like I would.

No one.

I was the only person I could rely on in my life. It was how it’d been for years. I was okay with it. I had grown used to it. I couldn’t just hand my future over to a man. That was how I’d gotten into this mess to begin with.

My father had taught me to trust my instincts.