Page 70 of A Touch of Dark
And I spotted at least three watching over me. “Oh, congratulations!” I clap my hands. Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. “Give the man a medal! If you want to throw your money in my face, then fine. I’ll send you a check to cover the expenses—”
“I don’t expend my resources or time on people or things that hold no value to me.” His tone resonates unlike any I’ve heard from him before now. Cold. Ice. Soulless. “You’d do best to remember that. I’ve taken an interest in your welfare, whether you like it or not.”
“AndIalways honor my debts.” Though I pray to any deity who will listen for the strength to forsake my pride now. “So ask your final question, Mr. Villa. I’m waiting.”
From the set of his jaw, I know it will be devastating. Simon? Or something far more taboo, like the meaning behind that yearly bottle of wine? I feel every muscle in my body tense in anticipation.
I’m ready.
“I…” He sits forward, his head cocked. Then he stiffens. “Get out.”
“W-what?”
He rises to his feet and advances toward me without warning. “Go.”
“What are you—”
“Now!”
“Con permiso, brother.” The voice of another man drifts through the glass walls of the greenhouse.
I turn and find a figure strolling down the main aisle, tall like Damien, with the same incredible bone structure. Only this man’s eyes are fully intact, a haunting shade of amber, and his hair is closely cropped to his scalp. He’s leaner as well, wearing a black shirt and jeans. Despite the casual attire, he holds himself with an air that rivals even Damien’s swagger.
“I thought I should join you tonight and introduce myself.” He turns that chilling gaze on me and smiles in a wicked display of white teeth. “Buenas noches,Juliana Thorne. I wondered when you would pay your respects.”
“Mateo.” Damien pushes past me and nearly trips over the discarded pizza slice in his haste.
I’ve seen him angry, but never like this. His mouth flattens into a harsh line, stripped of emotion. It’s how Daddy used to look whenever Danger, his prized mutt, ran out of the house off his leash.
“Whatever you want, we can discuss it later.”
“There’s nothing to discuss.” Mateo shares the same light accent as his brother, but where Damien’s words fall like haunting music, Mateo’s are all sharp, thundering notes. He smiles and lowers his hand over his brother’s shoulder, hard enough to jar his balance. “I merely wished to join you. I’m so lucky to have made it to dinner in time.” His tone conceals a hard note that I sense is solely directed at Damien.
A warning.
“Pizza tonight?” He eyes the offering on the table and shrugs. “Lo siento.I’m being rude.” He cuts his gaze to me: dark, cold eyes. “Ladies first.”
“She’s leaving,” Damien warns. “Goodnight, Ms. Thorne—”
“Ah, but we have so much to discuss, Juliana and I.” Mateo grabs my vacated chair by the back and deliberately angles it toward me. “Have a seat.”
“Mateo,” Damien warns through gritted teeth. Blind or not, his voice rings with an authority few men would ignore.
His brother laughs. “Oh, but I was so looking forward to our conversation,” he says softly. “Sí. Who better to understand our recent troubles than another so-called murderer?”
Silence. It falls so thick that I can hear my heartbeat surging wildly beneath my skin. Like a tune composed of one haunting lyric: Murderer. Murderer. Murderer.
“Let’s play a game. The life game.” Smiling wide, Simon glanced from me to Leslie and back. “Who matters more?”
“Sí,” Mateo says, sounding miles away. “If anyone could understand my predicament, it’s this woman. A killer at the age of eight, self-professed, even—”
“Mateo!” Damien slams his hand against the table so hard that he knocks it off its axis.
I’m in the present again, stunned as what’s left of the pizza lands on the floor.
Grinning, Mateo stoops for a piece and takes a bite. “It’s no wonder she came calling,” he adds after swallowing, “Did you want to know what it’s like, hmm? To actually be punished for a crime?” He laughs and nods toward the half-eaten slice in his hand. “It’s good. Much better than what they serve in prison. Plus, I don’t have to stab apendejoin the back for it—”
“Enough.”
