Page 71 of Promise to Break

"By fate. Not because of you."

"Well, he didn't see it like that. Diego Fernandez was a man who lost his love. He needed a victim, and that victim was me. And Serena, when she tried to protect me."

"How often did she try?"

"As much as she could." I don't add a thing about those days. It will stay between my sister and me.

"So you see Franco as you remember your father?"

"Franco is bigger, stronger, more powerful, certainly, and each time he smiles, I want to run," I admit.

"You're a good judge of character. He's a true monster. You should run.

"I've seen…" I start, knowing I shouldn't divulge this information, but I trust Killian, if not with my heart, with the truth. "I've seen the actual face of your brother. The week after he met Serena, I wanted to know why a rich man like him would be interested in a girl from the slums, so I followed him."

"And?"

"He killed a boy. He accused the boy of stealing from him. It was fast, and the boy fell after I heard the gunshot."

"You didn't run?"

"I'm used to the sound. When I was a kid, police officers often took their kids to shooting practice with them. It was a way for them to look cool, especially if they had boys. I shot a gun once. Serena was too scared, so I took her turn." He hugs me to his bare chest, and I let him. I let the heat of his skin penetrate my shirt.

"You liked the power," he says as if it's a fact, and it is.

I nod. "I wanted to kill him. I was only eight, but I wanted to kill him. Holding the gun in my hand, I missed my target four times that day, but I was confident I wouldn't miss when aiming for his heart.

"And this is why you think you're a bad person?"

"I was eight," I repeat, annoyed now.

"And he was your abuser. He made you believe you were a murderer. Death is familiar to me, murder as well. I've seen it, and I've taken life."

My position on his chest ensures that he cannot see my face, and I wonder what he would see in my eyes.

"Did you think my hands were clean? Little Girl, they're as dirty as they come."

"And you're telling me this because…?"

"Because I know you won't tell a soul, and not because of Serena. Well, not only because of her. You're not like that. Without a doubt, I know that to be true."

A smile stretches my lips. "I would never tell anyone that Killian Fierro is part of the mafia. And besides, even if I did, no one would believe me."

"Sure they would. People need to see corruption in success because that makes them feel better about themselves. It's a solace of sorts. If they aren't as successful, it's not because they're bad at what they do or because they choose to settle for what they have. It's because all the rich are corrupt."

"You're corrupt." He chuckles with my face pressed to his chest, and I think it's the first time in my life I've truly felt at peace. Hearing a man like Killian sound carefree and happy makes me feel as though I could do anything. I know that even if the world were to split open under me at this very moment, I would have achieved something worthwhile. I've attained peace with the help of a monster I never knew I needed.

"I am. Most of us are, and those who aren't are too scared of people like Franco, my brother and me."

I take his hand in mine and hold onto it for dear life. A vibration in his pants under my naked flesh has me pausing and remembering where I am and what I'm doing here. The nerves return in full force. What if something's wrong?

"Relax, and let me answer the call." I try to do as he says as I roll off his legs and stand. His black pants have a stain on them from my arousal. Fuck my life. He looks at the stain and smiles. The appearance of those rarely seen dimples causes my heart to skip a beat or two, or maybe a hundred, but who's counting? Not me.

"Put it on speaker." I don't know if I'll be able to wait for the bad news. I need to hear whatever it is now.

"Hey, Raven. Is everything airtight?"

I don't think I can hear this.

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