Page 154 of Arturo's Temptation

“You know nothin’, old man. I love your daughter, and she loves me. And nothin’ you can do will change that,” I let my bruised and bloodied face break into a manic grin, knowing his inability to shake me must really be pissing him off.

“Wow… You just don’t know when to quit, do you, boy? You just keep pushing and pushing. Well, let me tell you something… You’re scum. You’ve always been scum. It’s the reason I pulled you out of your shitty little life and used your skills to make my daughter ruthless.” I looked at the ground bored. He wasn’t the first to call me that and wouldn’t be the last. “I heard all about England, you know… The betrayal against your first boss. How you killed him in cold blood. I knew… You’re the worst of theworst, Arturo. And before I kill you, I’ll make sure my daughter knows exactly what kind of traitorous bastard you really are.”

Well that was disappointing.

I sighed at this. A part of me had hoped that my past had remained in the past, but do enough digging and poking around and someone’s bound to talk. Thankfully I knew she would understand. I’d told her some of the worst parts about me and she hadn’t run. I could trust her with my darkest demons.

“Kill me, will ya?” I laughed. “Do that and you lose your daughter, mate. What do you think she’s goin’ to do when she hears her old man murdered her boyfriend, eh? Make you a cup of tea.”

“Shut your fucking mouth!” he yelled, kicking me in the shins. Pain licked up my legs to my chest and twisted to hold off my need to retaliate. “My daughter deserves more than you, and you know it. So do yourself a favour and call it off. Tell her it was a mistake and will never happen again. Do that and I might just let you live.”

“You know fuck all about what your daughter wants. And trust me, you old git, there is no one else better suited to her than me.” His face twitched as my words sank in. “She’s an incredible, beautiful fuckin’ human and not one of you has let her shine. Always got to control her and tell her what she needs. Nobody knows that girl like I do. She’s the other half of my very dark soul, and I ain’t going nowhere. I’ll spend the rest of my life protectin’ her even if it costs me my own.” I relaxed back in the chair, knowing he wouldn’t be able to take much more.

After a few more punches to the face, he pulled out his blade, a sinister smile plastered on his smug fucking face.

“Go on, give me one reason I shouldn’t slit your fucking throat open… Just one good fucking reason, Arturo Ramos!” he hissed, trailing his blade over my Adam’s apple.

“Sorry, old man. I ain’t got one for you.” I scoffed, as Lorenzo fisted my hair. “Not my place to convince you not to do this.”

“You think this is a joke, don’t you?” His grip tightened with each word. “My daughter will not be tied to some fucked up, orphaned assassin who got his own mother killed. I’d rather see her dead.”

“Bloody hell. You’ve changed your tune. One minute you applaud me for the things I’ve taught her and the next I ain’t good enough? Make up your mind.”

“Boss, I think he’s had enough.” Emmet spoke up from the side.

“You, shut the fuck up. This has nothing to do with you. I say when it’s enough and it won’t be until I slit this cunt’s throat.” I felt blood trickle down my neck as he pressed the blade a little deeper.

“I love you too.” I winked, I knew it was stupid but I said I’d die for Bella, and I meant it. Even if it meant I had to die at the hands of her father.

Could he really do that to his daughter?

After everything she’d gone through?

“I’ll ask you again, tell me why I shouldn’t kill you?”

“Because I love your daughter, and I know you don’t have it in you to hurt her like that. Not after everythin’ she’s been through. So go on… beat me if it makes you feel better. But I ain’t scared of you.” With a steel gaze, I leaned forward and pressed my neck against his blade. When my eyes met his he threw his blade to the floor. He couldn’t kill me, he knew he’d lose his only daughter if he did.

I lost track of time as he landed punch after punch. He was starting to get tired. You could see from the way he kept staggering and heaving in deep breaths. Licking my dry, busted lip, I spat more blood to the floor and sighed.

“Is that it? That all you got?” Lorenzo’s eyes flashed as his fist collided again with my ribs. “That’s it, give it to me, you fucked up tosser.” I laughed, feeling a brief sense of relief.

50

“I’m so sorry, Bells,”Luca sighed from the seat beside me.

“It’s okay, Luc.” I stared out the window at the passing nature.

“I wasn’t talking about Tyler.”

“I know you weren’t.” I turned to face him, the leather crunching beneath me. “The things you said hurt me.”

“I know but… you need to know I didn’t mean a thing I said. You’ve done so much for me and Theo and I was wrong, so fucking wrong. I wish I could take them back..” He dropped his gaze for a moment.“I love you so much, Bells. You’re not just my sister, you’re my twin. We used to be able to finish each other’s sentences… and I got to thinking about when I’d lost sight of that. Can you forgive me for acting like an absolute asshole?”

“I love you too, Luc,” I managed a smile. “And yes, I forgive you. Life’s too short, you know… to hold grudges.” He nodded in understanding and gripped my hand. I didn’t want to carry on living with regrets, Tyler wouldn’t want me to either. I was incredibly lucky I got the chance to call him one of my best friends.

As we pulled into the garage, something felt off. It was quiet… too quiet.

“Where’s your father? I thought he would have been here to meet us,” she tutted as she opened my door.

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