Page 67 of Untouchable

When his eyes move from the back of Seth’s head to my face, his expressions softens a bit. It’s a little hard to see from here but it looks like he mouths, “It’s gonna be okay.”

I give him a stiff nod as a tear drops down my face. He looks at me solemnly, and for a moment I see fear flash across his face. I don’t know if it is fear for him or fear for me. Maybe both.

Alessandro opens the door slowly and I hold my breath in anticipation. I don’t think I am prepared for what I am about to see. Quickly, two men with leather vests and tattoos on their necks take Alessandro. One hitting him across the face before the other hits him in the back of the head with the butt of his gun. I let out a yelp but quickly hold it in when Seth’s grip on me becomes painful.

“Stay quiet,” he grits, not meeting my eyes.

Alessandro slumps to the ground and the men make quick work of tying his wrists together. He looks to be conscious, but only just.

“Alessandro?” Uncle Gio questions frantically.

My eyes dart around the room and realize that our families are all in here, all sitting on the ground with their hands tied in front of them. The twins look to be doing their best to shield Emilio while Mateo is sitting slightly in front of them. Uncle Gio and Aunt Tasha are sitting next to each other with Antonio on their other side next to my mother and father.

In the franticness of everything, it didn’t really occur to me that both Uncle Gio and Aunt Tasha thought that Alessandro and I were dead. So did my own mother. My eyes find her and what looks like relief mixed with fear swims in her gaze.

“I love you,” I mouth to her.

“So much,” she mouths back.

My father is sitting slightly in front like he is ready to take a bullet for her. I give him a sad smile, but he won’t look at me, his eyes are lasered in on Seth. I peak a glance to see that Seth is staring back at him, the look on his face doesn’t appear to be one of a traitor. It looks to be one of a man who felt he had no options. One who was backed into a corner and hates himself for what survival costs. For what love costs.

“Seraphina?” Aiden balks, looking completely shell shocked to see me. “How? How are you here. You are dead. You burned to death. I saw pictures of your body!”

My stomach rolls with disgust that the man Ibrieflyconsidered spending my life with is seemingly pissed that the charred body he saw wasn’t mine. Alessandro was right. He is a fucking prick.

“Don’t look too disappointed,” I sneer, obviously not knowingstillwhen to keep my damn mouth shut.

Seth yanks on my arm roughly which has me quickly quieting but it is enough to get Nicholas’s attention. He turns to me with a sick grin as him and another man in a leather vest look at me. I see Bethany standing meekly behind them, a gun in her hand that I doubt she even knows how to use correctly.

“Ah, Seraphina. Seth here told me that you had survived. I must say I am impressed. Your resilience is quite astounding.”

“You knew? Why didn’t you tell me?” Aiden snaps at his father.

“For this reason. You are a fucking fool who fell in love with the job. The less you knew, the better.”

Aiden scoffs like the idea is ridiculous, yet his eyes briefly flick over to me. His scowl is still in place, but he seems to be scanning me for injuries before he turns away in indifference. Okay, so maybe all of it wasn’t a complete lie but his dad just called me the job, so I have to think at least 95% of it was bullshit.

“How could you do this to me Aiden?” I ask.

He slowly walks towards me before stopping only a foot in front of me. He brushes a piece of hair out of my face and though the act would have typically felt kind and loving, it only feels cold and malicious now.

“It’s just business, baby. I did like you, a lot. Probably more than I should have.”

“Was it all a lie?” I ask, doing my best to summon my best acting skills, my eyes beginning to water on command as my lower lip wobbles.

Something passes across Aiden’s face, something softer than the previous scowl he was wearing.

“No, Seraphina. It wasn’t. I did love you.”

I flex my cheeks softly so that it causes a tear to escape and drop down my cheek. Aiden’s eyes track the path carefully.

“Did? As in, not anymore?” I ask, my voice shaking.

I think Alessandro is still unconscious. If anyone can get us out of this, it is him. But maybe I can buy us some time if I distract Aiden long enough.

He is silent for a few moments as he runs his thumb across my lower lip gently. A touch that used to send an exciting thrill through me leaves me feeling absolutely nothing. Now that I know what it is like to be touched by the man meant for me, nothing else compares. But I do a damn good job of sinking into his touch.

“Did he touch you? Did you let him?” He asks softly, what sounds like emotion clogging his voice.

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