Page 50 of Secret Betrayals
Maybe Brick knows more than he’s ever let on. Interesting.
“What the fuck is going on?” Axel spits out, rage brewing.
Valentina lifts her head from Brick’s chest. Her face—twisted with fury. Her eyes—blazing.
“You did this.”She spits voice dripping with venom.
I stare her down, unmoved. She willnotput this on me. I’ve already bled for this family. I willnotcarry their sins. I almost lost my mother because of this woman’s ghosts, because of her silence.
Her cowardice and her lies.
Not today, Satan’s mistress.
Not. Today.
“No, Valentina. I didn’t.”
My voice is calm, controlled, but every word’s dipped in steel.
“My family has protected you. My family has protectedthem. We aligned our business interests because it was mutually beneficial. But I didn’t do this.You did.Or have you forgotten those phone calls? Hmm?”
I raise a brow, daring her to deny it. She won’t. She can’t. She got sloppy. She got comfortable. And now? She’s beenfound. The Mastersons stare at me—some with rage, others with confusion. They don’t have a damn clue what’s going on. I don’t care. Their feelings don’t concern me. If they want to survive, they better get their shit together. Fast.
I turn and walk to Malikai, who’s already watching me closely. My youngest boy, the quiet one. The thinker, always listening, always calculating. He doesn’t say anything, but I can feel his thoughts spinning. He’s wondering why I started here and came at Valentina so hard. He’ll understand soon enough. It’s all connected.
In the corner, Sebastian and Armand are in deep conversation, low voices filled with tension. Security risks,defensive strategies—I know they’re plotting contingencies for my safety. I appreciate it. But I can handle myself.
And right on cue—
“STOP!” someone yells behind me.
I turn slowly. Valentina. Shaky hands. Wild eyes. A gun. Pointedat me,and all I could do was stare at her.
Pathetic.
She thinks that little pea shooter’s going to make me flinch? Make me take the blame?Admitto something I didn’t do? Not in this lifetime. I don’t even blink. Just shake my head at her, like a disappointed parent watching a child throw a tantrum.
“You think this changes anything?” I murmur.
She doesn’t answer. Just stands there, trembling. She’s an idiot. An idiot who thought,Hey, let me call my long-lost family in New York.And surprise—Don Salvatore traced the call. Found her. Coincidence or not, he’s here now. And he hasreachandmotive.
“It is your fault. If you didn’t… If you hadn’t…” she stammers, hands still shaking.
I narrow my eyes.
“Oh, sweetheart. You’re blamingme? For your son being shot? For the Salvatores hunting your family becauseyoukilled their Don? For what they did to your sister? Or maybe becauseyouwere stupid enough to make a call you never should have made?”
I take a step closer. She doesn’t move.
“You fucked up, Valentina. You knew no amount of time would be enough. The mafia doesn’t forget. My father gave you protection. He passed that promise to Sam and me. You are the reason my mother and I were sent here—to keep you safe.Wehonored our side. So you tell me—”
I growl now.
“WHY THEEVER-LOVING FUCKWOULD I DO THIS?”
The room is dead silent. Every word echoes. And she knows. She knows I’m right. But it doesn’t stop her. She’s too deep in her delusions. We stare at each other. She knows the truth. But she’ll never say it.
Not Valentina Tomasi.
