Page 81 of Malevolent Secrets

Whatever it takes to keep her here, whatever it takes to make sure she’s safe. There’s no chance in hell that I’ll let her leave with Massimo still alive.

“You’re not leaving. Interpret that however you want.”

She scoffs and shakes her head.

“You’re not going to get away with this, you know. Even if you kill me, I’m not working alone. He will make sure that everything about what you’ve done gets out into the world.”

I think it pisses me off more that there is another man in her life that I know nothing about rather than the fact that she’s been siphoning information to him. Information that could ruin me.

“I’m shaking in my boots.”

My tone is dry and unamused and I know my words have stung when she flinches.

“Get out.”

I nod and turn away. This day is not going the way I thought it would at all, after she’d hugged me the way she did, held on to me the way she did, looked at me the way she did, I thought…I thought.

“Dinner will be ready by seven.”

“Stay here and I’ll tell you all the places you can shove your food into.”

With one final sigh, I exit the room, closing the door carefully behind me.

Renee is in front of me and she has her arms crossed across her body.

“That went well.”

“Not fucking right now,” I say, walking past her. She falls into step beside me.

“Man, I’m almost scared to go talk to her now. She probably hates me even more than she hates you.”

“That’s a small comfort,” I say and she hits my arm.

“Hey! Well, at least she’s safe. We can’t blame her for her reaction.”

“I don’t. Can you save your berating and sarcasm for another day? Today has been long and there’s a lot of work waiting for me.”

She stops walking, and I stop to turn toward her.

“Will you ever not see the worst in me and everything I do?”

“I’m thinking I will when you stop showing me the worst.”

Something flickers in her eyes, something that looks like hurt, and I instantly feel guilty. It’s been a long, shitty day, but still. Then she smiles a Cheshire cat smile.

“Well, brother, if I can’t show you the worst of me, who can I show it to?”

She winks and walks away.

I go into my study and shut the door. My phone pings and I pull it out of my pocket.

Bruno.

“Your son crossed a line today, Bruno.”

The old man sighs, and I can feel his weariness, not like I give two fucks about it right now.

“I would apologize on his behalf, but I, of all people, know how useless that is.”

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