Page 28 of Taken By the Mafia King
Of course he can,I thought sharply.He wants this. He loves it.
“Tell Emma to stop trying to find me. You both need to stop.”
“No, Sera!” Jim grabbed my arm, but I pulled away from him.
“No. Do you not understand me? I’m saying you need to leave. I don’t want you. I don’t need you, Jim. I’m fine. I’ve been fine.”
“He hired a private investigator to find you.” Killian began to pace around us. “He must love you,tesoro.”
He was taunting me, trying to push me as far as I could go to convince Jim to stay out of this. To lie to his face while I told him words I never wanted to speak.
“I don’t like you the same way you like me,” I said, and the shock on Jim’s face cut me to the core. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Leave,” I said, shaking as I scooted away from him. “Get out.”
“Sera,” Jim rasped. “I can’t leave you here.”
I couldn’t tell him the truth no matter how much it broke me. No one from my school knew who I really was. What I’d been made to do for thefamily. What had been taken from me, and why I’d left when I did.
Only to fall back into it and slowly drown.
Blood dripped down his face. He sat up, swaying a bit and flushing of all color. I flinched but resisted the urge to reach out and touch him, knowing it would be the last time I’d ever see him.
“I’m sorry,” I mouthed just as Killian shouted and snapped his fingers.
Tommaso hurried into the room and grabbed Jim, but Jim fought against his grip.
I closed my eyes, squeezing them shut until red blotches appeared. Jim let out a hoarse laugh and quieted before scoffing. “I went through hell to get here, Sera. For you.”
With nothing to say in response, I waited to open my eyes until the sound of footsteps retreating ceased and the door snapped shut behind what could have been, what should have been, the man I was going to fall in love with one day. My happily ever after.
And now I was left with only the Mano Della Morte. The Devil himself.
“Get up,” Killian ordered, but I didn’t move.
“You didn’t have to do that.” I fought back my tears, afraid to cry in front of him. He didn’t need to know he terrified me to the core.
Killian shrugged. “You’re right. But it wasfun.”
CHAPTER 23
SERA
“Try me, Sera.”
I stood on shaking legs, balling my hands into fists. He stood so casual, almost bored. He smirked, the stupid mouth of his curving into a smile that sent both heat and despair ripping down my spine.
“You’re a monster,” I whispered. “Why did you make me do that?”
“Do what?” He took a menacing step toward me. “Give you a chance to save that asshole’s life? Oh, I am so, so sorry.”
“You didn’t have to be so mean,” I hissed. “Whatever it is you want from me is between me and you. Not my friends.”
“Oh,cara mia. You involved them the second you made that phone call.”
“You were baiting me on purpose.”
