Page 95 of Promise to Break

Here he is. My bully of two years. He hasn't changed.

"Maricela," he calls, but I don't stop. Fuck him.

Chapter thirty-five

Killian

I fucked up. An evening that should have been wonderful became a nightmare. The way Maricela smiled at him, the way she danced with Franco, had me seeing red. The venom came out just like that. I called her a whore, just like before.

"Son, can I please talk to you?"

Fuck. Fuck. He saw us. Of course, he did.

I smile as he expects and nod with the indication that I'll wait for him in his office. This is going to be hell.

I leave the party, ignoring the stares of the people around me. Most of them have seen my bruises at one time or another, but nobody did a thing to stop it. They know what he does to me, to my mother, and what do they do? Jack shit. Knowing I have the time, I scan the space for Maricela, hearing the people around me rave over the desserts she made. She did an outstanding job this evening. She should be standing here, showing herself off to everyone. But I ruined it for her, and all with a few chosen words.

I'm a fucking moron.

I take one of the macaroons from a server who passes by, letting the decadent cookie melt in my mouth. It's just as sweet as she is.

"Where is Maricela?" Raven appears out of nowhere, looking flushed.

"Mad at me."

"What did you do?"

"Fucked up."

Raven sighs. "Explain." She takes my hand in hers, just like when we were kids.

"I called her a whore because she spoke to Maverick."

"Killian."

"I know. I just couldn't stand seeing her talking to him, all smiles. And then she danced with Franco."

Raven's frown tells me exactly what she thinks of my stupidity. "Mari will not fuck your dad, or Maverick, for that matter. You know that."

Raven is the only one who knows about the real capo of the Italian mafia. She was eleven when I came to her with a bullet wound. She cleaned it and asked to know everything. My beautiful, sweet cousin was the first one to ask.

Since then, she knows everything.

"He won't let her be mine."

"Demand her as your reward after Italia."

"She doesn't even want to talk to me now. I don't think she'll approve of that."

"Little bro, there are things she doesn't need to know. Grovel in front of her and ask her to be your reward. He can't say no to that. Those rules are stronger than even him."

I don't even scold her for calling me little. She's right. I will endure my punishment, go to Italy next week, and then take her as mine. She is mine.

"What are you two morons doing over here?" Liam asks, sounding bored. A bored Liam is a dangerous one. Before I can respond, he says, "The capo called."

"Does he want you two to witness my punishment again?"

"Fuck, Killian. What now?" it's Kai this time. I haven't heard him speak for a week.

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