Page 3 of Ruthless Redemption

Cole stares down at me, devoid of empathy. Bishop remains silent in the front seat. And Matthew—the man who stole my heart through deception and fraud—watches with his traitorous lips set in a thin line.

I clench my teeth as I glare through my heartache.

I want him to suffer. But more than anything, I want to wake from the nightmare of the last twenty-four hours and not be the victim of his lies.

“Listen to me.” Cole leans closer to my window. “You need to understand the situation you’re in—”

“I understand,” I plead. “I know the mistakes I’ve made.”

“Like always, you have no clue. The men you’ve spent your time with—”

“The men you’re threatening to leave me with,” I shriek.

His nostrils flare. “It’s not a threat, Layla. This is happening. You’re pulling yourself out of this on your own. What you need to be aware of is who will be by your side while you do it.”

“I already know who they are.” My eyes burn from the overwhelming frustration. “I’m well aware Matthew and Bishop used to be Italian mafia. I’ve met Lorenzo Cappelletti.”

Cole gives a placating smile. “Then I’ll assume you know the role they played in increasing Lorenzo’s empire and the lengths they went in an effort to achieve success. And I’ll guess that you’re also aware these men are the reason Baltimore is now under the control of the Italians.”

The chill digs deeper, sinking into my bones, freezing my marrow.

No, I wasn’t aware. This insight is yet another notch to add to the tally of things Matthew kept from me.

“If you think I’m a monster,” Cole murmurs, “then you’ll find yourself in good company, because the atrocities instigated by the Butcher Boys of Baltimore far outweigh my own.”

The moniker rips through me. Shreds.

“No.” I shake my head, my stomach revolting.

I’ve heard tales. Myths. None of those horror-filled stories could be about the man I’ve fallen for.

“Yes, Layla.” Cole straightens and steps back. “You found your way into the devil’s bed. Now it’s up to you to get yourself out of it.”

2

MATTHEW

My jaw aches.My cheek, too. But nothing hurts more than having to witness the devastation tightening her beautiful features.

I’d warned her I wasn’t a good man. I never claimed to have a soul.

Her mistake was thinking my crimes would be comparable to those of her people. That the wrongdoings of a small underworld crime family in Portland would be somehow similar to the monstrosities I committed to gain Lorenzo unfathomable power.

The shock in her eyes lets me know she now understands.

“Cole.” Her voice is pure fragility. “Please don’t do this. Even if you don’t want to take me home, just let me out. Don’t leave me a prisoner.”

“You’re a prisoner of your own making. One that will no longer be funded by family money.” Her brother takes another retreating step. “You can pay for your mistakes from now on.”

I clench my teeth, almost regretting the deal we made.

Almost.

“Please.” Tears glisten in her eyes, but not a drop spills free. “You can’t do this to me.”

Movement shifts in my periphery. The shadow of a body enters the open hotel window Layla and I had previously climbed out of.

“Salvatore,” I state in warning to those around me, finding my brother’s gun already aimed in our direction. “Get down.” I haul Cole across my body, using myself as his shield.

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