Chapter 3 #3
I wipe at the wetness on my cheeks, not even aware that I’ve started crying. “No, you’re not. You’re not sorry, so don’t fucking lie to me.”
“I am sorry that it happened that way, and if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit you know that I mean it.”
“Is that supposed to absolve you? Do you really think sorry is going to cut it?”
“No.” He watches me with pity. Fucking pity. “Nothing I can do or say will bring her back.”
“You got what you wanted.” I blink through my tears. “You killed them, you ruined me, and you took over my father’s territory. What more do you want?”
He rounds the desk and comes to stand in front of me. “Your father gave the order, but he’s not the one who used his fists. He never did get his hands dirty. Do you know who delivered those punches while three men held Lee down and four pinned my face to the ground, making me watch?”
I want to slam my hands over my ears to block out the brutal murder he’s describing, but I simply stand there, frozen, listening to his tale because something like that, something so vile and painful, deserves a worthy listener.
He comes closer. “Do you want to know how he dealt the deathblow? He broke Lee’s windpipe, crunched it under the heel of his fancy Italian shoe.”
A violent shiver runs through me.
“He looked me straight in the eyes and laughed as I watched my brother choke on his own blood. He was still laughing when he wiped the blood on his sole off on my shirt. I never forgot those handmade shoes. To this day, your brother still wears them.”
I step away and almost stumble over my own feet. “Leander?”
Why doesn’t that surprise me? Leander has always had a mean streak. Already at a young age, he liked to hurt people and animals, especially helpless people and animals. He killed my cat just because he was jealous that my father gave it to me.
I backtrack farther, not wanting to be in Dante’s personal space anymore. “Yet he’s alive.”
A muscle ticks in Dante’s jaw. “Death is too easy for him. I want him to suffer, to lose everything he’s ever cared about.” The savage light that brightens his eyes is scary. “I want him to die starving, cold, and alone.” Hatred fills his voice. “Painfully and slowly.”
The truth hits me like a bucket of ice water in the face. That’s why I’m here. I work it out for myself at the same time as Dante says, “I’m going to destroy him, and you’re going to help me.”
It’s the past all over again where I’m the pawn and cruel, selfish men think they have the right to use me.
I lift my chin. “What makes you think I’ll agree?”
His expression is cold and empty, devoid of any feeling. “I’m not asking you, Tatiana.”
I nod, bitterness bubbling over into my chuckle. “Just like old times. I see you haven’t changed.”
“You were young. If I weren’t open about my intentions, it was because I tried to spare you the nastiness of the business.”
“No, Dante. You kept me in the dark so that you could use me.”
“Oh, darling.” He smiles that dangerous, dimpled smile and cups my cheek. “You have no idea how people look when I’ve used them. There would’ve been nothing left of you.”
I pull away from that scorching touch. “What are your plans for us?”
“For starters, we’re leaving for New York.”
“I can’t.” Grasping at straws, I hurry to say, “I have a job here. I’m in the middle of one. I’m not going to just walk out on my client.”
He tilts his head. “Is the job important to you?”
Actually… “Yes.”
I’m proud of the work I do.
He considers me. “How long do you need?”
“A week.”
“Then we’ll leave next week.”
Just like that. I expected him to deny me. “I have other clients.”
“You don’t.”
“I always get referrals.”
“One week, Tatiana.”
“And then?”
“And then we worry about the rest.”
“Noah needs stability. He’s starting school next year. I’m trying to make a home for him here.”
“You’ll make a home for him in New York City.”
“It’s not safe for us there.”
“You’re under my protection. No one is going touch you or Noah.”
Raising my voice, I make my point. “You’re going to war with my brother.”
He clicks his tongue and shakes his head as if he thinks I’m stupid. “The war is long since over, darling. All that remains is delivering the deathblow.”
He says it so heartlessly that another shiver works its way through me. “You’re a monster.”
“Not entirely.” He takes something from his pocket and hands it to me. “Or I wouldn’t have gotten you this.”
I look at the packet on my palm. It’s the morning-after pill.
Heat pushes up my neck and face. “You didn’t just run out and get this, did you?”
I want to ask if I’ve been such a foregone conclusion—again—but he spares me by saying, “I dispatched one of my men to a twenty-four hour-pharmacy. He sent the parcel up with the food.”
“Great.” My cheeks burn hotter. “Why not tell everyone what happened last night?”
“My man is discreet. He won’t say a word. As for the hotel staff, the purchase came in a non-transparent pharmacy bag.”
My reply is sarcastic. “Isn’t that a relief?”
“As we’re on the subject… Condoms or an oral contraceptive? I’ll let you choose.”
“Neither.” I lock eyes with him. “What happened last night isn’t going to happen again.”
“Then you better be prepared to give Noah a brother or a sister.” He lowers his head and brushes his lips over my ear. “Because you can count on it happening again.”
Leaving me with that promise, he walks from the room.