Page 25 of Savage Little Queen

“We are,” Anson said.

“And my father. . .brother. . . wants me dead so you can be the legitimate heir?”

“He does,” Anson answered.

“And he wants to use Bianca for revenge? On her father and to hurt me?”

I nodded. “He wants to do to her what Carmine did to him. He took everything from him. His true love. His potential love with your mother. Essentially, Matteo’s entire life and potential happiness were taken by your real father, Carmine. Matteo raised you like you were his because Carmine threatened to take it all away if he hurt you or fucked up. Matteo blames you for everything, even though it was never your fault. And if you die, you can’t take Matteo’s place. His real sons would be in line to be heirs. With you alive and being Carmine’s remaining known heir, everything would fall to you.”

“Fuck.” Dom tugged at his hair, his leg bouncing. “What the fuck?”

We were all quiet while we let him absorb the information.

“And. . . are you here to fucking put a bullet in my head?” Dom demanded, glaring at Anson. “I’m standing in the way of you having it all.”

“I’m here to put a bullet into the head of whoever the fuck killed my mother and our sister,” Anson said. “I don’t have any interest in becoming an heir. Nor does Trent.”

“I don’t,” Trent said with a shrug. “I mean, I will if you two assholes die, but I’d really rather just live my life. Maybe learn to surf or some shit.”

Dom said nothing. He got to his feet, a frown on his face.

“He seriously wants me dead? My fath-brother?”

I nodded sadly. “Sorry, man. He’s working on it. Wants it to look like an accident. Or overdose. Or. . . suicide.” I winced.

Dom let out a snarl and stormed from the room without a word.

We sat in silence.

“That went well,” Anson finally said.

“Could have been worse,” Enzo agreed.

“So what now?” Trent looked at each of us. “Should we go after him?”

“The last thing you should do is follow him,” I muttered. “Let him cool off.”

“He has a lot to think about,” Enzo said, sighing. “A lot of decisions to make.”

I nodded, my heart in my throat. I didn’t like delivering information like that, but he deserved to know.

Now, we had to wait.

I’d done my job. The rest was in Dominic’s hands.

CHAPTER 9

Dominic

I burstinto the bedroom I shared with Bianca and closed the door behind me. Fallon sat up and stared at me, his eyes wide.

Pacing the room, I tugged at my hair, so many emotions rushing through me that I didn’t even know which one I felt the most.

Pain, perhaps. Betrayal. Anguish.

I knew my father never liked me. I never knew why. It was clear now. I was the reminder of what he’d had to do when he’d lost what he’d wanted. I was the ugly stain in his life. Fuck, I wasn’t evenhis.

“Dom?” Fallon called out. “What’s wrong?”