Page 60 of Seduce & Destroy

“That makes no sense, all this time, I thought it was my heart that you hated most.”

He looked at the floor, ashamed. “The heart is dangerous.”

“Why?” I breathed, but he didn’t answer.

We kept walking.

No woodland walk could be prettier yet more haunted. The ground gently rose and fell, covered in beautiful woods, free from the formality of artificial planting and pruning. The uneven ground often led us off course, causing the path to wind around the sides of hollows and hills, creating endless scenic views.

Then, the blackened brick of the Karstein house came into view.

“Because the heart rarely listens to reason.”

I was confused.

“I’ve made mistakes, Laney. This is perhaps my greatest one (is that redundant?).”

I leaned closer to him. “What?”

As a child, I knew our family was tainted by something. I always hoped that one day, I would be worthy of knowing the reason.

“When I was seventeen, I was angry at the world, three sheets to the wind, and so in love with your mother, that reason left my brain. I don’t remember it clearly. It’s like looking up from the bottom of the ocean; things are there, solidly but not clear. The heat of the match, though, I can still feel to this day. It felt heavier than it should’ve. I’d locked every door and window before I did it, except one, the library. I threw the match in there, easy fuel. It was windy that night. The Karstein house burned quick.”

“It was you.” My fist clenched.

That’s why he’s the black sheep of the family. Pity didn’t enter my body. Not for him. Only sorrow for Kenna and her family. I was taught to hate them, but perhaps their blame was justified. We’re the bad guys.

“I’m the heir?”

“That’s the reason. No one trusted me again.”

“After your mother passed away, I was left with an infant and reinvigorated anger issues at our loss. My father took pity. And took you in, me only by extension. I was a spoiled bastard. Hot-tempered. Reckless. It’s why I lost everything, Laney. I wanted to protect you from it all. You’re nothing like me. Grandfather wanted it to be yours.” He lifted his hands.

“I don’t want it,” I said quickly. Not with that history. Jesus.

He chuckled a second and lightly shook his head. “Foolish girl. I know that. I’ve changed the organisational structure so that you’ll no longer need to worry about that. Your Grandfather dying was a blessing.” His hands clamped onto each shoulder in a way I thought that he might think was affection. “I’ll rule. It’s going great so far.”

My mouth pitched open.

Rounding one of these bends, we saw the burned Karnstein mansion come into view, and I recoiled. The blackened brick was haunting. And to think I was living next to it, the site of my father’s demise—his regret.

I shivered. As I looked to my side, it wasn’t regret that washed over his features, but pride. Bile burned at the top of my throat. Maybe I could do it? I want this. If only for it not to be him.

I was so focused on the house that I hadn’t noticed our old friend, Aldo Novelli, sitting behind the tinted glass of his Audi R8.

He got out of the car as we approached. After the usual greetings, his tight smile morphed into a mask of resentment. Bleeding hurt and anger into a turbulent expression, he incessantly tapped his finger on the side of his thigh.

A beam of light shone through the dense trees, illuminating a scabbed wound on his face.

“Oh God.” My jaw fell open.

“It’s a long story,” he said, “Buckle in.”

Chapter 22

KENNA

Ihaven’t seen Laney all day.

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