Page 20 of Dark Wolf Soul
“I’m sorry, did you just say mafia?”
“I did.”
So, the rumors are true? The mafia is real? And this asshole thinks I’m related to them?
“That’s insane. Truly. I mean, I knew you were crazy for kidnapping me, but this story is just… I think you need to check your sources. I don’t even have a family. I grew up in foster care. My parents were killed when I—”
“Was three months old,” he finishes for me.
I scowl. “Anyone could have looked up that detail.”
“You’re right. It’s in your social services file. What’s not in that file is the cause of death.”
“Actually, it is. They died in a car accident, wise-ass,” I shoot back.
“It does say that. And it’s true that they died in the car. But what the file left out was the cause of death being a gunshot wound to the chest. For both of them.”
I stare at him in stunned silence.
Four years ago, just before I aged out of the system, my social worker caved and showed me my file. The first and only thing I looked at was the little bit of information they had on my parents, including cause of death. It’s the only reason I know the story Grey just gave me is real.
“How do you know that?” I manage to ask.
My stomach twists with the idea that he might be telling the truth. But that’s crazy.
“My sources,” he said, way too damn smugly, “don’t lie.”
“Well, I want to talk to these sources,” I demand. “Now.”
“Not happening. As far as you’re concerned, I’m your source for everything.”
“You’re holding me hostage,” I realize. “Or ransom or whatever. Using me against this Franco guy.” Grey doesn’t answer. “Wait,” I say when he starts to leave. “Does he… does Franco know I exist?”
His hard gaze softens ever so slightly. “Yeah,” he says quietly. “He’s known all along.”
“I see.”
Hot tears burn my eyes, but I blink them back, refusing to let myself fully believe his story. If I do, it means believing in a grandfather who’s known about me all along—and didn’t give a shit about what I went through to survive.
The pain hardens into resolve. Fuck him and his resources, which are apparently extensive, given the fact that he runs this town.
Pack, Lexi. He runs a pack of wolves in a secret city in the mountains.
Ugh.
“In that case, what can I do to help?” I ask.
Grey’s expression flickers with genuine surprise, and I can see he never considered I’d do this willingly. Now that I’ve offered, the wheels are clearly turning.
In the end, though, he shakes his head. “You think you want to help, but you don’t know what you’re agreeing to.”
“I know this Franco asshole let me go through a lot of bullshit when he could have saved me from it,” I say. “Whatever he did to you, it’s not worse than what he did to me.”
“Look, it’s not really about him,” he says warily. “You’re the heir to the ruling family in this city. And my family is the only one with enough power and clout to stand a chance against yours.”
“Your family wants to take control.”
“My family wants to take everything from Franco,” he says, that same fury flashing in his eyes.
