Page 106 of Yours

Before Marco could respond, the door opened again, and Victor stepped inside.

“Gentlemen,” Victor said, his tone carrying the air of authority as he sat down between us. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Let’s,” Marco said as he leaned back in his chair. “After all, I’m dying to hear what O’Malley has to say.”

He tilted his head, his smirk widening as his gaze shifted to Kiera, who sat beside me, her back straight and her chin lifted. “And Kiera. Nice to see you again…”

Kiera stiffened, but she held her ground.

“I remember you,” Marco continued, his tone light, but laced with malice. “You’ve got quite the temper. Throwing drinks in people’s faces, mouthing off like you’ve got nothing to lose. Rather brave move, sweetheart.”

“Don’t call her that,” I said abruptly.

Marco ignored me, his dark eyes still locked on Kiera.

“You’re lucky you had him to bail you out,” he said, his smirk turning into something colder. “But you won’t always be so lucky.”

My vision went red.

The words were barely out of his mouth before I stood, the chair scraping loudly against the floor as I leaned forward, my hands braced on the table. I clenched my jaw as I locked eyes with him.

“Say another word,” I growled, my voice low and deadly, “and I’ll make sure you don’t leave this room alive.”

Victor’s hand shot up, his tone firm. “Ronan, sit down. Now.”

I didn’t move, my gaze locked on Marco, who didn’t flinch. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his smirk returning. “Touchy, aren’t we? Protecting your woman’s honor? How sweet.”

The mocking tone only fueled the fire burning in my chest.

“You don’t get to talk about her,” I snarled.

Marco’s smirk faltered for the briefest moment, and I saw the flicker of challenge in his eyes.

“She doesn’t matter. I’m not here for her. I’m here for you, Ronan. You think I don’t know what you did? You killed my father,” he snapped.

“That’s bullshit, and you know it,” I said, my voice rising. “I had nothing to do with Lorenzo’s death. But if you keep pushing me, Marco, you’ll wish I had.”

Victor stood, his palms flat on the table as he glared at both of us.

“Enough,” he barked, his voice echoing in the tense silence. “This isn’t the time or place for this. You’re here to talk, not to kill each other.”

I clenched my jaw, my gaze still locked on Marco as my fists tightened at my sides. His smug face made me want to wrap my hands around his throat and squeeze the life out of him.

But then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught Kiera’s gaze.

Her green eyes were steady, pleading without saying a word.

If you go in there and provoke him, you might start another war. This doesn’t have to end in a fight.

I took a slow breath, the fire in my chest dimming just enough for me to sit back down. My knuckles ached from clenching, but I forced myself to loosen my grip and focus on the bigger picture.

Marco leaned forward slightly, sneering again. “That’s more like it,” he said, his tone dripping with smug satisfaction.

“Enough,” Victor said, his voice cutting through the silence. “Marco, I told you this before we even set this meeting up—Ronan didn’t kill Lorenzo.”

Marco scoffed, leaning back in his chair again, his arms crossed. “And I’m just supposed to take your word for it? Please.”

“You don’t have to,” Victor said coolly. “Because we have proof.”

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