Page 239 of The Devil's Fire

“Let’s be real for a second. You wouldn’t have gotten that information if you went to talk to him about my mom. And to be honest, you would probably have tried to kill each other because he said Russians and Italians don’t fuck with each other.” I pointed out to him, and he knew I was right about that.

“Can’t you hear how damn reckless you are? What if he killed you after you were done talking?” Damiano got up and paced the floor in anger.

“He had no intention of killing me.” That was until I revealed my identity to him, but I wasn’t going to tell him that part. Damiano would start a war if he knew I was held at gunpoint. “Besides, he set me up by sending me up to the room you were staying in. He wanted you to find me.”

“You didn’t know that after he let you go! You had no idea what you were getting yourself into. You do whatever the hell you want without thinking of the potential danger you could have been in. And don’t get me started on that fucking gun. Are you asking to get killed?” He yelled. I stayed quiet, letting him get his anger and frustrations out.

He was right, and I had nothing to say to argue his point. I acted recklessly because I was desperate for answers, and no one was going to give them to me if I didn’t seek them out myself.

“I know -”

“No, you don’t! I’m trying to keep you safe, Althaia. I’m doing everything I can to protect you because…” Damiano’s breathing was heavy as he looked at me with a pained expression. “I don’t want to watch you die like I watched Sienna die.”

seventy-nine

Damiano

Althaia raised her brows in surprise and recognition of the name, making me wonder just how much she actually knew about Sienna.

I took a seat in front of her, rubbing my jaw in frustration while my gaze fixated on the floor.

“Sienna was your fiancée…” She stated, almost carefully. I nodded, my gaze returning to her.

“Who told you about her?”

“Mr. Roberts’ wife, Elena. She was taken aback when you showed up with a date. She mentioned you had come a few times with someone else, but she wasn’t certain about the engagement until she saw the ring on Sienna’s finger.” Althaia explained, having me raise a brow.

“Why didn’t you ask me about her?” My eyes narrowed slightly. Althaia was a curious woman, too curious for her own sake, and it surprised me she hadn’t asked me about Sienna the minute she learned about her.

“I just figured you would tell me whenever you felt ready to talk about her.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I mean, it’s not like I’m itching to hear who you have been with.”

The corner of my mouth twitched slightly upward as I observed her scowl, witnessing the unmistakable surge of jealousy in her eyes. I enjoyed it when she got jealous; it revealed a possessive side I found alluring, and I enjoyed teasing her with it.

“Now that I think of it, I don’t believe you would have mentioned her even if I had asked. That day, when my mom returned early from her trip, she was talking about Sienna, wasn’t she?”

“Yes.” I kept my gaze on her, noting the way she looked down at her lap, biting down on her lip; a nervous habit of hers.

“Do you… still care about her?” Althaia asked. I understood the reason behind her question, considering my reaction that day.

“Not in the way you might be thinking.” I observed her as her brows furrowed ever so slightly before she met my gaze.

“What does that mean?”

“Come here.” I extended my hand, inviting her to take it. She rose from her seat, placing her hand in mine, and I grabbed her waist, pulling her down onto my lap.

For weeks, I have been feeling a void inside of me because she wasn’t near, and it almost felt surreal that I could hold her now.

Her green eyes, the ones I cherished, gazed at me, patiently awaiting the words I needed to share. It was time to tell her about that part of my life. I had moved on, and there was no woman I desired more than her.

“I’ve been groomed to take over from my father, shadowing him as he taught me everything. At eighteen, I took on a partial leadership role, working tirelessly to boost profits, expand territories, and invest wisely. By the age of twenty, my father saw the results and reputation I had built. He stepped down, passing the family legacy to me.” I looked at her, her eyes gleaming with curiosity, evoking a subtle smile from me.

Always so curious.

“I formed alliances with a family that would benefit us, and to strengthen those ties, my father suggested I marry their daughter. At twenty-three, I eventually agreed, and we got engaged. It wasn’t out of love; it was arranged purely for business purposes because, at the time, that was all that mattered to me.” I continued.

“You kind of sound like a dick.” Althaia blurted.

“You think?” I raised a brow in amusement as she gave me a half-shrug, smiling.

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