Page 86 of Fight Me Little Pearl

“Would you like me to reheat it?” I ask. My voice sounds strange. Far away. There is real distress in it.

“Nah.” Federico waves me off. “Sometimes grilled cheese is best cold.”

I glance down at my plate. Grilled cheese is never best cold. Only ice cream and revenge are best cold. I think of what to say next, but my mind has gone blank. Suddenly, I hear a strangled growl and my head jerks up. Vance is standing behind Federico, a small knife pressed to his throat, while his other arm presses Federico’s upper body against the chair. Vance’s physical appearance is deceiving. He is tall and slim, but judging from how hard Federico is struggling against him and is still unable to wrench himself free, there’s a lot of strength in that supple body.

And how could he move so fast? I only looked away from Federico for one second.

“Vance?” I call, confused and shocked. “What’s going on?”

It seems like the two men don’t hear me because neither pays me any mind. Vance’s eyes are cold and hateful as he stares into Federico’s upturned face.

“Pick up your phone and delete that video.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Federico blusters.

“Vance, stop it!” I yell, but I may as well be shouting into a void.

Vance glides the knife across the smooth skin of Federico’s neck and blood drips down his neck, seeping into the fabric of his sky-blue shirt.

I gasp with shock. Oh shit. Things just got real.

Federico’s eyes widen. He is as shocked as I am that Vance would dare hurt him.

“I swear I will kill you and gladly surrender myself,” Vance says. “I don’t mind dying as long as I take your life with me.”

When someone says this, you know they’re serious. You can never win against someone who’s not afraid of death. As if reading my thoughts, Federico shakily reaches for the phone. I watch as his fingers go over the screen while Vance watches from behind.

“Go to the deleted folder,” Vance orders. “And delete it from there.”

Federico doesn’t argue. Seconds later, he says, “Done. Now let me go.”

“Not yet, you worthless Judas!” Vance growls. “Open your gallery.”

“What?” Federico gasps. “That’s insane. You’re infringing on my?—”

Vance roughly jerks him up, and the knife digs deeper into Federico’s throat. More blood flows, thick and sticky, and spreads across his shirt.

“Your fucking gallery.”

When Federico opens it, Vance yanks the phone from his hands and goes through it. They remain there for minutes until Vance is satisfied that there’s nothing else on the phone. He throws it and spits on Federico before slowly releasing him. Federico wipes the spit off his face before staggering to his feet, his face contorted in an ugly scowl.

“What was that for?”

“You’re a dishonorable man,” Vance says emotionlessly. “I always knew you were no good. You will pay dearly for this.”

Federico clutches the cut in his neck. “No.Youwill pay dearly for this!” He points a finger at Vance. “I am a Barone and you treat me like this? How dare you?”

“You’re a Barone. That’s why you’re not dead at my hands,” Vance says. “But I’ll wait for the Boss to deal with this. You need to leave right now.”

When Federico hesitates, Vance roars. “Now!”

Federico throws me a cryptic look before storming out of the house. It doesn’t matter how many folders they delete the videos from, it’s still playing in my head. Surprisingly, my eyes are dry, even though my heart is in the most unimaginable pain ever. Dying would be easier than this torment.

Still, I remain calm on the surface. I pretend I’m not hurt.

I can feel Vance watching me, but he doesn’t say a word. Steadily and calmly, I take a gulp of orange juice before pushing back my chair and heading toward the stairs. Vance is suddenly in front of me, and his eyes aren’t so emotionless anymore. There's feeling in them, but I’m too dead inside to care.

“What is it now, Vance?” My voice is strangely tranquil.

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