Page 138 of Ruthless Redemption

He gives me a wolfish grin. “Bella, I’m an old man and far too tired to chase you if you decide to run back outside.” He pats his jacket pocket. “This ensures those boys get the time they need with their father.”

Maybe I should feel threatened. Confined.

I don’t.

His smile is genuine. His eyes kind.

“Coffee?” He makes his way to the kitchen. “Juice?”

“No, thank you.” I can barely stomach breathing, let alone liquids.

I remain before the wall of glass, scrutinizing the meeting outside. Lorenzo’s guards followed us to the house and remain at attention outside the doors, their guns palmed at their sides, their expressions blank.

“Watching them won’t make the situation resolve itself any quicker.” He opens a cupboard and pulls out a mug. “Sit. Relax. Let them converse without scrutiny.”

“I think we both know Matthew has more than conversation on his mind.”

“I understand.” He moves to the coffee machine, pressing buttons until it gurgles and splutters.

I turn to him. “You understand? Does that mean you approve?”

He has his back to me, his focus on the filling mug.

“Lorenzo?” I step closer, placing the gun on the dining table as I pass. “After all these years denying him what he wanted, are you now okay with it?”

He twists, leaning his hip against the counter as he meets my gaze. “I wasn’t denying him. I wasdelayinghim.” His accent is thick, his words slowly articulated. “After all these years, I think he might finally be ready.”

He shows no sign of the hostility he harbored when we arrived. No temperamental concern or demand to respect authority.

“You look at me in confusion,bella, but I assure you my intent was quite clear. I forbade Emmanuel’s murder because up until now, I was certain Matthew couldn’t handle the repercussions of killing his own flesh and blood. He already harbors a heavy burden of regret. I didn’t want him to take action then spend the rest of his life punishing himself for it.”

“You did it out of protection?”

He inclines his head. “Sì. And I never regretted it.” His lips curve in an apologetic smile. “At least, not until I met you and discovered what you mean to him. I’m sorry my decision took so much from you,mia cara.”

I breathe through the emotion beginning to fester beneath my ribs, refusing to show weakness. “Your decision didn’t take anything from me. Emmanuel did.”

He nods. Solemn.

“Tell me what changed?” I take another step closer, chancing a glance over my shoulder to make sure the situation outside hasn’t devolved into chaos. “Why do you think Matthew is capable of this now and not before?”

“Because a ship in a storm needs a tether. And now he has you.”

“Is that what it’s always been about? You’ve wanted someone by his side before he took action?”

“I already ensured he had someone by his side. But a brother wasn’t enough. The darkness still haunted him.”

I take another step. “Bishop?”

He grabs the filled mug of coffee from the machine. “Yes.”

“Youensuredit?” I shake my head, not sure I want confirmation on the assumption whispering through my mind.

“Don’t look at me like that,bella. Bishop has not betrayed Matthew and neither have I. He was paid to protect the fiercest soldier I ever had because I hoped Matthew would one day return to take over.”

“You paid him to stay at Matthew’s side?”

He sips his coffee, eying me over the rim of the mug. “Bishop never would’ve left otherwise. This lifestyle is in his blood, but Matthew needed a companion. A brother. So I made a compromise—he would work for me from afar and return when he was ready.”

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