Page 7 of Pure Vengeance

“Yes.” I give a stiff nod. “I don’t know any Joseph Fanelli. What does he have to do with my brother?”

He wipes a hand across his mouth, like he’s getting annoyed with this conversation.

I’m not having a good time either.

“Are you going to keep me here or are you going to…” I can’t say it, I don’t want to think it.

“Your brother?” His eyes narrow again.

I roll my eyes; this isn’t getting us anywhere. “Yes, Michael Montecelli, my brother. You killed him.” Anger rolls through me, and I step toward him. “A bullet in his stomach, and then another to his face.” I take another step until the toes of my ballet flats press against the toes of his shoes. “I couldn’t even have an open casket at his funeral.”

Stabbing pains rip through my stomach at the memory. Having to identify him by the tattoo on his left ankle. I have an identical one my right ankle. A heart broken in two with our parent’s initials on each side. We’d gotten them after they died.

“You tried to kill me because you think I killed your brother?” He has to look down at me now because I’m so closer to him. Close enough to scratch his eyes out.

“You’ve killed so many people you can’t be bothered to remember their names.” Venom slides from my words. I wish it were real, and I could end this monster standing before me.

But now that I’m so close, I can see how big he really is. My head barely touches his chin. His arms are stacked with muscles, and through the shirt I can make out even more of them. He could crush me in a single move.

His lips part, and he runs his tongue over his perfectly straight, white teeth, then laughs.

“I don’t know your brother. Never heard of him.”

“He worked for your casino. He dealt cards.” I try to jog his memory. Michael worked at Billiards Royale for a year, saving up money to pay for medical school.

He’d already been accepted. If he hadn’t been murdered by this monster, he’d be in his second year right now.

He only shakes his head. “You think I give a fuck about the dealers at my casino?”

“I know you…” I can’t stomach to say it again. “You killed him. I know it was you.”

“Well, Claire Montecelli. You’re wrong.” He reaches his hand up to my face, running his fingertips over my cheek. I pull away when it stings.

“Don’t touch me.” I try to step away, but he grabs my arm, pulling me right back where I was and grabs my chin. He’s too strong to fight, and he pushes my head until he’s able to see my cheek again.

“You got cut in those fucking bushes.” He sounds angry about it. He lets go of my face but brings my hands up for his inspection. “And you’ve fucked up your knuckles too.”

“There’s also a cut on my foot, if you want to get angry about that one, too.” I yank, but he only tightens his hold. “Let me go.”

He brings his eyes back to mine, and another shiver runs through me. I wonder if anyone has ever successfully told this man no before.

“For a woman who is a whole hell of a lot of trouble, you have real mouth on you.” His gaze moves to my lips.

“Are you going to let me go?” It’s a stupid question, but I need to know what I’m working with here.

“Are you going to try to kill me again?”

I stare at him.

His mouth kicks up to the right. “I didn’t kill your brother.”

“You’re a liar.” I yank back again, and this time he lets me go. I stumble back from the force and fall ass first onto the cot.

He’s over me in an instant. His hot breath washes over my face as he continues to glare down at me with uncertainty.

“Fuck off.” I look away from him, unable to stand the darkness lurking behind his eyes. They pull at me in a way that makes my insides twist, but my heart warm.

I’m hoisted up from the cot and shoved up against the wall. His knee jams between my legs, pressing upward into my sex.Heat rises to my cheeks as his hand sinks into my hair and he wrenches my head back far enough that he’s looking down right into my soul.

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