Page 34 of Pure Vengeance

“I’m not the only Mr. DeMarci.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Claire

“Anton, your brother?” I look to Vince and Dimitri still standing at the doorway. Their expressions are blank, I can’t get a read on them.

Anton’s jaw tenses.

“Is he around today?” Anton asks.

“He is,” Vince answers. “I saw him in the gym this morning.”

Anton’s eyes go dark.

“Get him.”

“Anton.” I step toward him. “Maybe he doesn’t have anything to do with this. Don’t get angry until you know for sure.”

Anton turns his darkness on me.

“He’s involved. I can feel it.” He moves behind his desk. “You should go upstairs.”

“No.” I shake my head. “If you’re going to question him about my brother, I want to be here.”

He takes a deep breath. “Stubborn woman.”

“Yes. I am.” I stand at the front of his desk. “When it comes to those I love, I am.”

His expression softens, sending a warm current through my body.

“I don’t want you to do anything that you’re going to regret.”

“If he killed your brother?”

I’m taken back. A week ago, I was ready to kill Anton thinking he was responsible. Why would I think any different now if it’s his brother?

“Do you think both of us losing a brother will make my pain better?” I ask, raising my chin. “I don’t want you to feel this sort of loss.”

He’s silent.

We stare at each other in some sort of standoff and I’m not sure which of us is winning.

The throbbing in my head that had been manageable an hour ago is quickly becoming nearly blinding. After this is done I’m going to need a long nap in the darkest room I can find in this massive estate.

The door swings open and a man looking nearly identical to Anton, only with a smaller stature saunters in.

“You wanted me?” He stops a few steps in when he sees me and his features harden. “What’s going on?”

“Marco, this is Claire Montecelli.” Anton gestures toward me.

Marco’s jaw slacks but he recovers quickly.

“This is the woman you’ve been holding here?”

“Do you recognize her name?” Anton pushes forward. He’s not one to beat around the bush, especially if he can just set it on fire.

“No. Should I?”

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