Page 97 of Tainted Ties

Shouting erupted along with the black smoke that spread faster than I anticipated.

Squinting my eyes, I scanned the expanse of the warehouse, searching for curly black hair.

Death would come to her when I decided and only then would I deliver it myself.

Waving an arm through the cloudy air, the first person who appeared was Ricardo, coming straight for me. I shook my head, immediately shouting an order. “Fucking find her and take her back to the manor.”

He nodded, going back in the direction he came from.

The fumes of the smoke invaded my lungs, making it hard to breathe, but I would suffer through it until I did what I should have done a decade ago.

Put a bullet in Angelo Bianchi’s skull.

“Let go!”

My head snapped at the recognizable voice coming from my left.

Swiftly, I stepped in that direction, pointing my gun in front of me.

“Don’t!”

The thunderous beat of my heart was steady, roaring in my ears rhythmically.

Through the foggy air, I made out two silhouettes. A glimpse of curly hair appeared before it disappeared through the haze.

Snarling through clenched teeth, I walked straight through the smoke, finding myself right between Raphael and Aurora.

I aimed the end of the barrel to the side of my brother’s head, my finger on the trigger. “Take your hands off her.”

His breathing was harsh, eyes flashing with cold hatred.

When had my own flesh and blood begun to loathe me so deeply, he plotted my downfall with my enemy?

I pressed the gun firmer, emphasizing the seriousness of my words.

He relented, releasing a trembling Aurora.

It physically hurt to look at her, the one who had crushed my soul within the palm of her hands.

Icouldn’tset my gaze upon her.

“Go,Aurora,” I ordered, holding Raphael’s stare.

She didn’t listen.

It was getting harder to breathe with each passing second. “Go!”

“Where?” she cried, her voice cracking.

Fuck.She didn’t know where we stood and despite wanting to leave her alone in her misery, I couldn’t.

Fits of coughing echoed nearby before Ricardo appeared, covering his mouth with his arm.

“Get her out of here, Ric.”

Enduring a small piece of torture, I snuck a glance at Aurora.

My head of security pulled her in the opposite direction, but her emerald eyes were trained on me, eyebrows drawn in an anguished expression.

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