Page 52 of Twisted Obsession

A child I’ll never get to see or hold.

A child who will grow up without a father, and likely without even as much as a memory of me, since Roisin and I have had so little time to make any.

Perhaps it’s better that way. Would I want my child to know they were conceived while I held their mother hostage?

Callum circles me like a shark, his eyes cold and predatory, while Ciaran leans against the far wall, arms crossed, watching impassively. They're taking their time, savoring the moment.

Ciaran steps forward suddenly, his eyes calculating. He's always been the more level-headed of the two brothers, but that doesn't make him any less dangerous. If anything, it makes him worse.

"I thought better of you, Dominic," he says conversationally. “Did you really think you'd get away with stalking our sister and it going unnoticed?"

I stay silent, meeting his gaze steadily. No point in begging or trying to explain. They won't believe me anyway. There's nothing I can say that will change what's about to happen.

Callum paces behind his brother, a predatory gleam in his eye. He's the hothead, the one who enjoys getting his hands dirty.

Ciaran sighs, as if disappointed by my lack of response. "Well then, shall we begin?"

He nods to Callum, who approaches with a wicked-looking knife. "I say we start with his fingers," Callum growls. "One by one. Nice and slow. So he never lays a hand on Roisin again. "

A chill runs down my spine, but I force myself to remain impassive. Show no fear. That's what they want. I close myeyes and brace myself. Resigned. Whatever pain is coming, I've earned it. I know I never should have touched Roisin, no matter how she begged me to. Let alone taken her virginity. She might have wanted it, but I knew it was wrong.

Fuck! They don’t even know aboutthat.

A heavy hand clamping down on my injured shoulder brings me out of my reverie with a jolt of agony as a thumb is ground into my wound. My eyes snap open to find Callum leering at me, his face inches from mine. I grit my teeth against the pain radiating from my shoulder, but that’s not good enough for the Irish bastard, and he digs in until I can’t hold out any longer and I howl with pain, much to his twisted amusement.

My vision blurs and I’m left panting, beads of perspiration dotting my forehead. Ciaran steps closer, his voice deceptively calm. "So, Dominic. Tell us why you were following our sister. What were your intentions?"

I weigh my options. The truth would only make things worse, but lying seems pointless at this stage. Before I can decide, Callum's fist connects with my jaw, snapping my head to the side.

"Answer him!" he roars.

I spit blood onto the concrete floor. "I’ve never done anything but protect Roisin," I mutter, for all the good it’ll do me. They’re not really interested in hearing any of this. But it’s the truth. Even when I bedded her, it was because I truly believed I was protecting her from a worse experience. Although I doubt her brothers will see it that way.

Callum scoffs. "Protecting her? From what?"

And what the hell do I say to that?

Whatever I might have said, the words are stolen from me with a winding punch to the gut that almost topples both me and the chair I’m tied to. Would have done, if Ciaran hadn’t been holding it steady for maximum impact.

I wheeze and choke, struggling to draw breath. Callum's fist comes at me again, this time connecting with my ribs. I hear a sickening crack and a fresh wave of pain washes over me.

"Vito was making his own play," I finally manage to gasp out between labored breaths. “It wasn’t sanctioned. I did my best to keep her safe from him, but after everything that happened, Mika wanted eyes on you all to judge whether there would be any reprisals.”

Ciaran's eyes narrow at my words, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. Callum, however, doesn't miss a beat.

"Bullshit," he snarls, backhanding me across the face. My head flies back, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. "You expect us to believe Mika sent you to spy on us?"

I spit out a mouthful of blood, my vision swimming. "Believe what you want. It's the truth."

Ciaran holds up a hand, silencing his brother before he can strike again. "Let's say, for argument's sake, that's true. Why didn't you approach us directly? Why the secrecy?"

I laugh bitterly, wincing as pain lances through my ribs and wondering if my shortness of breath is because they’ve punctured a lung. "Would you have believed me? After everything that happened with Vito?"

The brothers exchange a glance, and I see a moment of uncertainty pass between them. It's fleeting, but it's there.

Callum recovers first, his face twisting into a sneer. "Even if that's true, it doesn't explain why you've been getting so... close to our sister."

My heart sinks. So, they know about that.

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