Page 53 of Savage Rule

“Since New Orleans,” I admit, my voice lower than I want it to be. “Gideon.”

He lifts a hand. “The problem you ran into in New Orleans, was his dick?”

“No. It wasn’t exactly like that. Yes,” I admit. Then, partly to change the subject, and partly because it’s been bothering the hell out of me, I ask, “Is it true that your father murdered Sergio Ramos’s wife?”

There’s an almost imperceptible narrowing of his eyes and a tilt to his head. Anyone else that doesn’t know him as well as I do would have missed it. It’s one of his tells.

He knew.

“Who told you this?” he demands.

“Sergio did.”

Another tell, the tick over his left brow. “You spoke with him?”

“What you sent me to do… It was cold blooded murder, Gideon.”

“It’s your job, Scarlet. It’s what you do.”

“What Idois trust that you’re not going to have me kill an innocent man!” I scream. Angry tears threaten to escape the confines of my eyelids and I wipe at them. “I’m not a murderer.”

Gideon runs his hand down his face and stares at me with frustration. Then, something happens, his gaze softens in a way I rarely see. “No, Scar. You’re not a murderer. And I’m not turning you into one. Anyone thatison that list, is there for a reason. There are no innocents.

“My father did kill Sergio’s wife. But Sergio didn’t kill him out of some romantic revenge. In fact, she was collateral damage from a deal gone bad with a rival cartel. She’d been fucking theirleader for years and just happened to be there when it all went down.

“Sergio didn’t even do anything about it at the time. It wasn’t until my father was able to get a contract that took over fifty percent of his profits right from under him that he decided it was time for revenge. So, you didn’t kill an innocent man, Scarlet. What you did was let his words make you question your loyalty to me, when I’ve proven with actions that I deserve it.”

Shame fills me to the core and I feel myself shrink to the size of the fifteen-year-old girl I was when he first took me in. Back when he hid me in his room like the little bird I was, and fed me and kept me safe. When he promised not let the police lock me away.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, my voice small.

Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he scrutinizes me. He searches my face as if he’s looking forme, as if the person he’s known all these years has disappeared.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I say.

“Like what?”

“Like I’ve let you down.” I swallow hard, wishing I could take it all back.

“You have.” Those two little words are harsher than any lashing I could have received.

I turn away from him, unable to take the scolding in his eyes. “I didn’t mean to.”

“You questioned me on Sergio. Now you know he didn’t deserve your pity. Gunn Sinclair is just as much a criminal as Sergio was.”

It takes me forever to reply, because he’s right. I’m fully aware that Gunn has as much blood on his hands as I do on mine. He’s no innocent. “I know.”

“Do you love him?”

“What?” I flick my gaze at him. “No, of course not. We just have fun.”

“Good. That means you can still do what you must.”

“I don’t want to.” I might sound like a petulant child, but it’s the truth. I don’t want to kill Gunn.

“Take him out, Scar. That’s an order.”

“Why, Gideon? He’s not in the line of succession from the original six. Why take him out?”

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