Page 75 of Ruthless Redemption

“Herwhat?” My legs weaken. My pulse trembles.

“Interrogation,” he repeats. “She came at me with a million questions all while wielding a goddamn fucking knife,amore mio. She said she has copies of birth records and school yearbooks. She knows the family I was born into, and exactly why you’re angry with me… Well, part of it, anyway.” He stares at me in concern. Infear. His features tight, his lips thin.

Oh, God. He’s not lying.

I raise a shaky hand to my mouth, my head suddenly light, my limbs heavy.

“Hey.” He drops the board and grabs my upper arms. “Shit… don’t pass out on me.”

I sway, unable to blink away the encroaching darkness.

“Amore mio,it’s okay. I’m sure it’s just normal crazy kid stuff. I bet they all do it.”

He’s willing to bet all kids instigate a dangerous search on the people who abducted them?

No, this is insane.

I can’t breathe. I can’t get enough air.

“Forgive me.” He smashes his cold mouth to mine. Harsh lips. Dominating hands.

He consumes me in an instant, the sizzle jolting through me like lightning to snap me out of my daze.

“Get off me.” I shove at his chest.

“You’re welcome.” He steps back, smug. “Color is already returning to your cheeks.”

I bet it is. The heat of unwanted lust races through me in a rush of wildfire.

“You’re a son of a bitch.” I swipe the tingling remnants of his kiss from my lips with a rough hand.

“I know, but sometimes it’s nice to get a second opinion.”

He’s distracting me. Attempting to divert my attention from Stella’s complete and utter lunacy. What the hell was she thinking snooping on the Costas? What if they caught her? What would they have done?

Matthew clears his throat, regaining my attention. “You should get someone to track what she does on her cell. Or any other device, for that matter. Tobias, too. Keeping an eye on what they’re searching online and who they’re contacting might be enough to keep them safe.”

And if it’s not? What then?

I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to stem the forming headache. This can’t be happening. I sent her away in the hopes she’d be better protected. But space didn’t help. I still failed by sheltering her so much that she went in search of her own truth.

“Do you want me to organize it for you?” Matthew asks. “I can make a few calls—”

“Was she scared of you?” I drop my hand to my side. “Is that why she had the knife?”

“The knife wasn’t for protection,amore mio. Personally, I think it was because she’s a bad-ass like her mom.”

“Are you trying to be funny?” I snip.

“No. I’m trying to be honest. Like I said, she knew who I was from the moment she arrived and not once has she acted in fear. Even in front of you—am I right? I think she sees me as an ally against Emmanuel.”

I shake my head. “It’s not like her to act this way, though. It’s so far out of left field, I’m struggling to believe it.”

“Kids do stupid shit. I’m sure it’s only natural.”

“Coming at you with a knife isn’t natural, Matthew. As hard as it might be to believe, I never brought her up to be violent.”

“And she wasn’t. She was confident. Determined. Some might say a chip off the old block.”

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