Page 87 of The Shadows We Keep

Harkin’s hand raises to silence whatever, Domenico was about to share. “Let’s get one thing straight, I am not my father. I don’t know what he did for your family, but I will not be following suit. My skills are no longer available for hire to your organization.”

Domenico scoffs at the interruption. I wouldn’t be surprised if the last person who did that is hidden on this property somewhere. He’s being tolerant of him.

“Harkin, right?” he asks—like he doesn’t already know. “I’m sure we could have a mutually beneficial understanding if you listen to what I have to offer you.”

“You have nothing of interest to me.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” he taunts. His tone, grates on my nerves. A knot forms in my stomach at the possibilities. My mind is already reeling from all the secrets that have come out in the last few hours. I might lose my shit if he drops another bomb.

Harkin waits, probably weighing his options. I haven’t pieced together how we’re getting out of here, but that’s why I’ve stayed quite, observing my surroundings. Our best option is to play Domenico’s game, find out what he wants and go from there.

Domenico ignores Harkin’s silence and continues, “We all have a piece to play here. You, me, my girls. You can make it easy, agree to my proposal. I’ll even let you leave here breathing with your choice of sister.”

My eyes swing to said sister in question. She doesn’t look offended. Instead, her eyes are filled with joy and excitement. She has no doubts that he’ll choose her. Well fuck this shit, I’m not a pawn in whatever game Daddy Dearest is playing.

“The fuck he will.” The words tumble from my mouth, before my brain can process my sentiment.

Three sets of eyes swing in my direction at the back of the room. My feet pull me into the mix before I slam my hands on Domenico’s desk.

“Alina, might play your little puppet, Domenico, but I never needed a man to keep me. If you want my help, you might want to ask me nicely instead of threatening the man I’ve shacked up with since your men tried to kill us,” I spit out.

A rough hand seizes me around the waist and pulls me backward. I lose balance and stumble into a hard chest before my ass meets his lap.

His warm breath caresses my ear as he quietly whispers, “Ahh, there’s my girl. I was wondering when she was coming out to play.” I elbow him hard in the side, but he doesn’t release me. He just chuckles at my attempt to fight him.

“One,” He whispers again against my skin and I still. He’s got to be fucking kidding me. But I can’t deny that single word pulls at my core, even in the middle of everything going on around us.

His hand continues sliding possessively around my waist to my stomach. His thumb moves rhythmically against the thin fabric of the hideous dress, calming my agitation, but lighting something lower aflame.

Now we have Alina’s attention. She now understands he isn’t hers to pick up like discarded trash on the side of the freeway. She lost her chance, and I wormed my way right into the black hole she left behind. My little green goddess laughs manically in triumph.

“Well, I think you heard the lady Domenico. It’s not up to me to choose. This one here might cut off my balls if I even tried. You’ve sorely miscalculated this scheme if that was your plan to entice me.”

“Let’s cut the bullshit, Domenico. Tell us what you really need from us.” I break their intense stare off. Men and their macho bullshit attitudes always impeding on the resolution to problems.

Domenico huffs. “You know, I might not have raised you but you’re certainly my daughter.”

His opinion stings. I’m this way because of the fucked-up childhood my situation forced me into because of his family. Any traits he sees of himself in me are from years of abuse and neglect burned into my psyche. From fighting to survive in a world that doesn’t give two shits about little girls who lose their only parent in a drive by shooting. We’re nothing alike and fuck him for trying to claim that deranged part of me.

Harkin’s fingers pinch the sensitive flesh on the inside of my thigh, the sting calms my mind from completely imploding with rage. He knows. We’re not even facing each other, and he can gauge my mood. I draw in a deep breath, settling further into his body, relaxing into the powerful force behind me. We’ve got this.

THIRTY-SEVEN

HARKIN

Give – Sleep Token

The operation to retrieve Kiera has been a clusterfuck. I expected us to come in, possibly drop a few bodies, find her, and get out. I never could have imagined that the ghost of girlfriends past would strut into the same room, like the last few years hadn’t passed. She’s been acting as if my entire world didn’t crumble after the accident because I was under the impression, she’d died that day.

It’s clear she hasn’t changed. There isn’t an ounce of her that shows she cares to know what I’ve been through. No, but there is that sparkle in her eye that she used to get the moment a plan formed in her mind. When she wants something even though it’s not hers to take. Too bad for her, I’m not the same man she knew. Not even close. And the only way she’s getting in between Keira and I, is with a bullet.

Keira shifts in my lap, relaxing into me while remaining focused on her father behind his desk. She became ridged from the moment Alina exposed herself. I could tell she was anxious about my reaction and what that would mean for her. As calm and collected as she may have tried to portray for the room, behind her mask sits an inner child that expects to be abandoned.

When my rough hands gripped her sides and set her in her proper place, that worry dissipated. She needs reassurance. Even in the middle of this fucked up scene, my little one is at the surface begging to be taken care of, no matter how much she tries denying the need for it.

Domenico watches us, observing every shift of our bodies that feeds silently off each other’s touch. He may have overestimated Alina’s draw for me, but he can see clear as day that there’s still another piece on the board. Too bad for him, he sees her as another pawn to be sacrificed for his kingdom. When in reality, she sits on my side coated in black, a crown on her head. He’ll never be able to use her against me and vice versa.

He stands from his chair, walking around to the front of his desk, where he can loom over us. He’s trying to reassert the dominance that’s slipping through his fingers. He puffs out his chest, leaning back lazily and steeples his fingers against his lap.

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