Page 33 of The Killer Who Kept Me

“Because you said you were having a family dinner…I’m not family?”

He rolled his eyes. “Everyone who works for me is family. It’s an affair every week.”

“But I’m not working for you.”

Saros wiped his mouth and sighed. “Ramsey made you hide in your room every time he had dinners and such, didn’t he?”

It was a good guess, but I’d do him one better. “Actually, anytime I wasn’t needed or not being punished, I was remanded to my room.”

It was as if my words woke a sleeping giant. Saros rose from the couch and flung his dish across the room. It shattered and scattered along the white and gray marble floor. I flinched andkept my eyes down. Whenever Ramsey reacted like this, it was best to make myself as small as possible.

“Em,” Saros whispered, and in a flash he was kneeling in front of me. “I’m sorry. I’m not mad at you. You spoke as if nothing you just said was wrong. How you were treated, you have to know dogs are held in a better regard.”

“I know, Saros.”

“Listen to me. I was telling you this to invite you to come to the dinner. You’ll have to abide by Paulo’s instructions, but that will be easy enough.”

“You want me there?”

“I very much do. Everyone is looking forward to meeting you.”

I wasn’t sure how much I believed that, but I simply nodded.

“Hard question, Em.”

I glanced at Saros. His blue eyes glittered with kindness, which was so different from the monster the world thought him to be.

“Yeah?”

“What did Ramsey do to you when he thought you required punishment?”

How was one to answer that question? Nothing was cut and dried with Ramsey. So, I did the best I could using just four words.

“Whatever he wanted to.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Instead of a man of peace and love, I have become a man of violence and revenge.”

~ Hiawatha

Saros

I had dealtwith some horrible people in my life. I knew my parents had as well. Hell, someone had killed them in the hopes of gaining their power and fortune but never had. Human traffickers never lasted once they set foot in my territory. I was a bad man, but I had lines I never crossed, and I killed those who did. Ramsey wasn’t just crossing them—he was obliterating them, and I’d very much enjoy showing him what real punishment felt like.

“Em, I’m not going to ask for details. It’s not my place, but you have to do me a favor.”

“Oh, uh, okay.”

“I don’t know what triggers you.” I gestured to the broken plate. “Besides fits of rage.”

He laughed lightly. “I understand you were upset and not at me. It’s…it’s different with you.”

“I’d hope so. Em, there are only two reasons my hands touch another person, and that’s out of kindness or hate, and I don’t hate you. I honestly can’t imagine you’d ever do anything to make anyone dislike you.”

Em scratched his nose and blinked a few times. When he lifted his head, his eyes were wet. “I always wondered.”

“Wondered what?”

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