Page 48 of Killer Love

Fox Fitzpatrick. He’ll prove his usefulness, but that’s as far as I’ll let this go. I don’t know what to think of Snake Eyes nor do I know where to even start with dealing with them. The only thing I know is that I must keep this problem contained. He already knows more than anyone ever should.

Viktor Lutrova was right.

Never let a snake loose in Moscow.

“Then, let’s go,” I say.

Chapter 16

Sofia

My heart stops as Gio’s breath grazes my ear. “That’s not—”

He raises his palm and holds it near my face to silence me. “I don’t want to hear another lie from you, Sofia. The next words out of your mouth will be the truth.”

Rosalie sobs quietly in the chair across the study, pained and tortured. My heart aches. I didn’t want this for her. I didn’t want this for either of us.

Gio grabs my chin and forces me to look at him instead. “Say it,” he growls.

Tears fall down my cheeks, spilling onto his fingertips. “Yes,” I whimper.

“Yes, what?”

“Lucian. He is his...”

Gio releases me and wipes his tear-stained hand on my sleeve before stepping back. “Luka and Lucian. Did you think you were being clever?”

I shake my head.

“Why would you do this?” he asks, his voice cold as ice. “Did you want to hurt me? My family gave you everything. We brought you in, we gave you a home, we gave you—”

“I never asked for—”

He lashes out, slapping my bruised cheek. I fall to my knees and Rosalie cries out in horror. As cruel as Gio can be, he’s never showed his worst side in front of her. I’d hoped she’d never have to see it.

Gio turns away from me and kneels in front of her.

“Rosalie…” He reaches out and she flinches as he wipes the tears from her cheeks with his thumb. “I want to thank you once again for informing me of what you saw.”

She nods, gazing down at him with respect.

“You’ve been…” he offers a kind smile, “a worthy member of the Zappia family.”

“Thank you,” she whispers.

“But we have rules,” he says. “You know them well. Don’t you, Rosalie?”

She tilts her head and an even greater fear enters her eyes.

He stands and lingers over her shoulder as his hand enters his pocket.

“Gio…” I whisper.

His fist slides out and my blood runs cold. He palms a short, glistening blade and points it in my direction.

“We have rules,” he repeats. “This is what happens when you break the rules.”

He rests the blade against Rosalie’s neck.

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