Page 75 of Twisted Knight

I turned toward him. “Because you’re a psycho only caring about your own interests.”

“Inaccurate and also you’re my blood… you’re my interest.”

“This is—” I leaned back on my bed. “I need some time, alone.”

“Fine, but once you’re better, we’ll need to discuss why you hid all the threatening messages you got,” Matteo started, his hands on the handle. “And before you insult me, or him by saying you have no idea what we’re talking about, we saw the texts in the flip phone that was in the consignment box.”

I turned to Luca who looked more disappointed and hurt than angry which somehow hurt me a lot more.

“Luca…” I started, not sure how to make it better with my best friend. “I just— You were worried about Cassie and the babies and—”

“You’re my family too, Domenico; losing you would hurt me.”

“Oh, my heart…” Matteo wiped fake tears from under his eyes. “This is so beautiful.”

“Vaffanculo!” I barked.

Matteo arched his eyebrows. “Remember your place, Domenico. I’m not just anyone.”

“No,” I agreed. “But the same Genovese blood that runs in your veins, runs in mine too… Remember that.” I smirk. Because the secret brother of our king was bound to be fun.

“Being related won’t save you.” He was suddenly so serious. “Betray me and you’ll die.”

That sobered me up. “I’ll never betray the famiglia.”

“I know that; you’re infuriatingly loyal.”

“Why is loyalty infuriating? I thought you craved it.”

“I am, but your loyalty is not to me.” He looked at Luca. “And I can’t figure out why.”

I looked at him with my eyebrows arched. Had he just missed the part about Luca selling his freedom to save me?

I sighed and winced again as the pain in my side really started to act up.

Luca looked at my untouched tray of food and the bottle of painkillers. “Eat and rest, Dom. We’ll talk about all that later.”

I nodded gratefully; it was too many secrets revealed all at once. I really needed time to process it all.

I was not the son of the monster. Well, at least not that type of monster, not the worst kind of them and that changed so many things. I didn't have this twisted evilness running in my veins. Maybe I did have a chance at redemption. Maybe I could be happy, and I was smart and humble enough to know India was that chance.

I just had to be brave enough to show her all the sides of me and let her walk in with her eyes open.

Please, India, be the strength I need to save myself.

Chapter Sixteen

DOM

Three days. That’s how long I waited for India to come back and see me. Matteo left the day I woke up with a promise or a threat to get me to the city for more rat sniffing.

Cassie came with the babies a couple of times, but I couldn't get India out of my mind and how dismissive I’d been of her.

Was she mad at me? Did she finally realize the sacrifices it meant to be with me?

The evening of the third night I decided it was enough. The pain in my side was much better even if the stitches still pulled like a bitch every time I moved. Going to the bathroom was a challenge but it was far from being the worst pain I ever experienced, and right now the pain of not seeing India or knowing where she stood with us was much more painful and unsettling. I loved that woman and if she was done with us, I had to know.

When I was done waiting for her, I got out of bed and dragged my shirtless ass out of the room and down the corridor to her room and I opened her door without knocking… Mad for mad.

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