Page 12 of Redemption

Kilian glances over at the large man in the doorway. “Good. Send someone to retrieve her.”

“Don’t you dare put your hands on my daughter,” I yell.

He lets go of my thighs and stands tall, then takes one hand and wraps it around my throat, pushing my head back into an uncomfortable position. “Then tell me where Ezio is?”

“I don’t know,” I hiss. “But my daughter has nothing to do with this.”

“I’m not here to play games, Bella. And no harm will come to you or your daughter if you answer my questions.”

“Then take your hand off my throat.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Because if you kill me, I can guarantee you’ll be just as dead as I am.”

He leans into me. “Who are you?”

I glance at the man at the door. “Don’t go near my daughter and I’ll tell you.”

“Deal,” he says but doesn’t take his hand off my throat, his grip tightens.

“Only you,” I gasp.

“You know everyone will find out anyway.” He steps between my legs, his knee coming close to my center.

“Maybe I have more secrets that I don’t want the others to hear.”

His eyes take in my body once more. He leans over and whispers in my ear. “I know you liked it rough, Bella. Dirty and raw. But I don’t think I once tied you to a chair and fucked you until you blacked out.”

I swallow down the lust as he whispers those words in my ear. “Get your men to leave and maybe you’ll get your chance,” I lie.

He chuckles into my ear then bites hard on the lobe, causing a muffled scream. “You only wish.”

I meet his gaze and I can see the lust in his eyes. He turns to the man at the door. “Leave. Get everyone out. I have this under control.”

“Are you sure? We can wait—”

“Leave,” he commands, power ebbing through his words.

I glance to the side, see the man nod and leave the kitchen. Kilian’s grip drops from my neck and I gasp in deep breaths.

This is not the man I remember. No this man is like my brother, my cousins. Cruel. Ruthless. Heartless. I don’t know how I ever fell for him. I didn’t even know the lie he was living until the day I left Dublin.

“Who are you?”

I snarl at him. “I thought you wanted to know where my brother was.”

He pulls another chair from the kitchen table and sits across from me. “What is your brother’s name?”

I sigh. “Ezio. I’ve already told you that.”

He pulls his phone out of his pocket and shows me a picture. “Is this your brother?”

I could play dumb and pretend it’s not him. But it is. An older picture from when I used to see him more often. He’s clean-shaven and handsome. He looks like the son of a don. Unlike now, where he looks like he has been living in shambles, hiding out.

“I played by your rules, Bella, and I let my men go. Answer the question.”

I close my eyes. I don’t have much of a choice. If I don’t talk, I know he will kill me or one of his men will. And then what will happen to Aria? I’m sure my uncle will take her and bring her up in the family. The exact opposite of what I want. “Yes, that’s him.”

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