Page 42 of Cruel Secrets

Did she think that sex is how she can manipulate me?

Gia gets out of bed, pulling the shirt back over her head. “I know you don’t trust me, but maybe you should. Don’t you want to bring an end to all this bullshit? We have a daughter, Royce. I may like living the life we lead, but I’m not going to if it means I have to worry about family taking her from me.”

I whirl around, invading her space and looming over her. “I thought you came with me because you know I’ll keep her safe.”

“I did.”

“Then trust that I will, and maybe whenyouearn my trust, I’ll tell you what’s going on.” I haul the bedroom door open as Bianca starts crying in the other room. “Until then, you’re on an information diet.”

Gia scowls, stepping forward, the stubborn set to her jaw suggesting that she isn’t going to let this rest. However, she needs to learn that when I say the conversation is over, it’s over. And this conversation isdone.

“I mean it, Gia.” I pause, hand gripping the doorknob until my knuckles ache. “Drop this. Now.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then there will be consequences.”

“Fine,” she snaps, the words more of a growl as she crosses her arms over her chest.

We’ll work on the attitude later.

I leave the room, shutting the door behind me, though I could still feel the daggers Gia glared into my back. As I head down the hall to Bianca, I’m unable to shake the feeling that Gia won’t accept staying in the dark for long.

I shouldn’t be surprised, considering how far she’s willing to go, but if she tests my boundaries on this, it could put us all in a lot of danger.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

ROYCE

Fuck.

As the second ring comes through, Aiden’s name flashing on my phone, I tug the curtain to the side, peering out at the long driveway that runs in front of the safe house. All is quiet, no light flashing across the bottom, no car parking out front. He isn’t here.

Yet.

The thought of him catching sight of Bianca is enough to send panic coursing through my veins as I slide my thumb across the screen. “Yeah?”

“Well, good fucking day,” Aiden says, his tone sharp. “What the hell took you so long to answer?”

Avoiding you.

Hoping you aren’t storming in here to see my daughter.

Wishing that I didn’t have to worry about one half of my family killing the other.

I step back and allow the curtain to flutter shut, dropping down onto the chair. “Believe it or not, I don’t sit around all day waiting for your call. I have other things to do with my time.”

“Those other things better be getting ready. We’re coming over soon.”

I don’t need him here. Every time he risks seeing Bianca, I feel like I’m going to be sick.

Something in the background of the call slams and one of my sisters starts shouting. “You know, if I didn’t think they would all end up dead, I would’ve kicked them out by now.”

“I thinkthey’ll do just fine without you.” I rub my eyes, glaring at the time on my computer. “It’s almost noon. Why the hell do you think you need to come out here now? It’s going to take nearly three hours to get here.”

“Don’t want to risk talking about things over the phone.”

“And what if you’re being followed?” I don’t know how Aiden will react when he finds out about Bianca, but I do know that I’m going to delay it for as long as possible. “You think coming out here is any better?”

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