Page 17 of Ruthless Redemption

I’d treasured him. With all my heart, I’dlovedhim.

“You’ve owned me from the first night we met.” He holds my stare, those dark eyes exuding sincerity I refuse to believe. “I knew it wasn’t a coincidence that this beautiful woman walked into Perfezione not once, but twice, to spy on the same man I despise.”

“Yourfather,” I correct.

“Bishop approached you at my request.” He ignores my strike with ease. “I needed to know what you were up to. Who you were. Where the hell you came from. But you looked at him in fear, and the sight sickened me.”

“It mustn’t sicken you now, because you certainly haven’t lost your appetite.”

“You don’t fear me. A scared woman would never choose to walk out here the way you did. Instead, I’d place a substantial wager that you’ve enjoyed triggering my desire. And then there’s that sharp tongue of yours.” He rakes his teeth over his lower lip as his gaze devours me. “I don’t like that I’ve earned your spite, but I’ll be honest in admitting how fucking hard it makes me.”

“If you ever talk to me about being hard again, I’ll make sure your body can no longer facilitate the function.” I struggle to regain my synthetic smile. To pretend I’m unfazed. Dauntless.

He grins, calling my bluff. His composure spits in the face of my tumultuous pulse. “If the task involves placing your hands around my dick, it might just be worth it.”

I increase the brittle curve of my lips and grab my fork in a clenched fist. “Then get it out, big guy. Let me take a stab.”

He takes a sip of wine. “I don’t think your viciousness is having the effect you want it to.”

I know it’s not, and it’s fucking killing me. He needs to take me seriously. To be scared of me.

“Give it time,amore mio. I’m certain I’ll earn your forgiveness.”

“And I’m certain I’d prefer to see you dead.”

His brows pinch. “You don’t mean that.”

I know. But I wish I did.

I’d give anything to be able to treat him with the same callous disregard he gave me while I was falling for him.

“You had me mugged.” I speak through clenched teeth. “Tell me, Matthew, what would’ve happened if I didn’t give up my purse? Would you have had me beaten instead of shoved into a wall? Did my attacker have permission to rape as well as ransack?”

He raises his chin, his eyes hardening. “He was never meant to lay a hand on you.”

“But he did. My face was bruised—”

“And he paid for his mistake. I know that doesn’t improve the situation, but the lengths he went to were neither planned nor excused.”

Curiosity twists my stomach. I shouldn’t ask, yet the words escape my lips without consent. “What did you do to him?”

He doesn’t look away. Doesn’t flinch or waver under the question. “What do you think a man like me would do?”

A chill sinks under my skin.

“A man who was already irrevocably obsessed with you, Layla.Enslavedby you.”

I swallow over my drying throat, hating the idiotic thrill that sweeps through me at the stupid thought of him taking vengeance against a man he contracted in the first place. “Forget it. I don’t want to know.”

“Are you sure? I thought you’d want the truth.Honesty. To learn therealme.” He leans back in his chair. “I made him understand your worth. Your significance. I used the knives and blades that had once been my calling card to ensure—”

“That’s enough.” I drop my fork, the silverware clattering to the table.

“I disagree. You need clarity for us to get back to where we once were.”

“When have I given you the impression there was even the slightest possibility of going back?”

“Wewillget back to where we were,amore mio.” His voice becomes a threatening growl. “I won’t accept any other outcome.”

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