CHAPTER NINETEEN
KAGE
Fuck.
She’s definitely going to stab me, and probably try to run away. Of course, I’ll chase her to the ends of the goddamn earth, but I’d rather her stay willingly, like this. I should tell her and get it over with. Rip the band-aid off, so to speak, but I think I’d prefer to deal with that fallout after my brother’s bullshit. One raging fire at a time, please.
“We have to go see my brother tomorrow. I probably need to get you some clothes.”
She bats her eyelashes like she’s trying to butter me up.
“My friend could bring me some. Please, Lorenzo. I promise I’ll be obedient like you want me to be. I just want to see Casey.”
I chuckle while I reach up and pinch her nipple.
“You know how to behave?”
Raina yelps before giggling softly.
“Only when I’m getting what I want.”
The green in her eyes lightens as she smiles, and it makes my black heart come to life slightly. She does something to me that fucks with my head. It’s uncomfortable, but I know I’ll do just about anything to see her smile again.
“Your friend can bring you clothes, and you can spend time with her, but I’m trusting you, Firecracker. Don’t do something to break it, because you may never get it back again. I won’t be here, but my security team will be.”
She throws her arms around my neck.
“Thank you, Lorenzo, thank you. I’ll be on my best behavior, I promise.”
I arch an eyebrow and say, “That’ll sure be entertaining to see.”
When she laughs again, I know I’m in trouble. I’m addicted to everything Raina. Her laugh, her smile, and her sweet pussy. Raina Abruzzo is a one person wrecking crew. I wanted to ruin her. Destroy her, and then end her life, but the tables have turned. I’m going to lose my family, when I tell my brother she’s to stay alive. And when I tell her I killed her mother, somehow I’ll lose her. I may physically keep her with me, but the way she is looking at me right now will come to an end.
Her stomach rumbles, and I arch an eyebrow.
“Time for you to get some food.”
I get out of bed and throw some sweatpants on.
Pulling her off the bed, I do up her robe, because I wasn’t kidding when I said any man that sees her naked dies. And it’d be a shame to lose any of my men.
“I’ll heat up some lasagna for you.”
She takes my offered hand and looks at me with surprise.
“You can cook?”
I chuckle as I shake my head.
“I said heat up. I did not say cook. My chef made it.”
We walk into the kitchen, and I motion for her to take a seat at the island.
“Do I need to be worried about Bones?”
Here comes lie number one.
“No, of course not.”
“Why is his name Bones?” She asks as I turn the oven on.
I sigh audibly, a little nervous about scaring her more than I’m sure she already is.
“We all deal with enemies differently. Bones breaks bones, Reaper kills people, for something to do, and Psycho enjoys using a knife. Blood is a thrill for him.”
“And you?” She asks, as I set a wine glass in front of her.
I pour myself a glass as I consider whether or not I should tell her the truth.
“You don’t want to know, Raina. Don’t ask questions, if you aren’t prepared to deal with the answers.”
She lifts her gaze to mine, and her expression is serious.
“I want to know. I’ve probably seen worse. I’m prepared for the truth.”
I walk away and put the lasagna in the oven. Taking a big gulp of my drink, I set it on the table and begin to tell my story.
“When we were kids, we got drafted into the family business at an early age. Too early, probably. I quickly found that I enjoyed watching someone in a cage. A person in a cage generally goes through stages. The first is freaking out. They search for any way to get free. Their eyes get wide as the panic sets in. You can almost see their hearts beating so fast they could have a heart attack.”
She listens attentively, so I continue against my better judgement.
“Over time, it changes from crying, until they eventually act resigned. They know they’ll die there. The hope vanishes. I enjoy seeing that process. The evolution of hope to hopelessness.”
“That’s how they die?”
I nod slowly.
“It’s not always how I do it, but when I have time, I do. I enjoy the suffering.”
She tilts her head to the side with, not horror, but curiosity.
“Is that what you were going to do to me?”
I shrug my shoulders and tell her the truth.
“I didn’t know. I knew I wanted you in my cage, but I hadn’t thought through how it would end.”
Raina places her hands on her lap and speaks quietly.
“If you have to kill me, please don’t do it like that. It takes weeks to starve to death, which is how I assume they die. Or days to die from dehydration. I’d prefer a bullet from a functioning gun.”
I move closer to her, and take her face in my hands.
“I have no intention of killing you. Will you end up with the shock collar on again? Maybe. Will I spank you? Also a possibility. I’m not interested in losing you. I don’t know what the fuck this is, but I like having you with me, in my bed, in my house, and I’m not prepared to let you go.”
She smiles at me, with a sparkle in her eyes, but her next words cause my heart to pound.
“Can I see my mom again soon?”
I keep my expression stoic, the way my father trained all of us, and here comes lie number two.
“Maybe. You’re seeing your friend tomorrow. I’m not a kind man, Firecracker. Don’t try to take advantage of my affection for your pussy. This is not a love affair. I kept you alive because I don’t fuck corpses. I will tell you when you can see her again. Until then, I don’t want to hear another word about it. Also, she’s been moved further away from our end of the house, so tomorrow, when I’m trusting you here alone, don’t look for her.”
She quickly turns her head and avoids my gaze.
“I understand.”