Page 133 of The Devil Can Be Kind

But my father already knew that. He knew what that name meant to me. What that mandidto me. My cousin knew it too, but judging by their expressions they either didn’t care, or they had conveniently chosen to forget.

I sucked in a deep, unsteady breath forcing myself to calm down. To see past the fear, the terror, and the pain consuming me as thoughts swirled back to that night.

I counted to ten, over and over to myself but breathing didn’t come any easier. It was only when a heavy hand came to rest onmy thigh that I was able to bring myself away from the spiraling emotions and memories that felt like they were drowning me.

Marco squeezed me reassuringly, communicating silently to meyou are safe. That he would protect me. I focused on the soothing weight of his hand and the inky swirls of black visible on his skin. Slowly, I blinked away the tears.

As the ringing in my ears subsided, I could hear that the conversation had moved on, blissfully unaware of my internal suffering.

“$100 million interest.” It was my father’s voice I heard first.

“That would be a total of $200 million and peace between our families, all in exchange for your daughter?”

“Yes. Do we have a deal?”

“No.” Marco’s voice was menacing, but I thought I heard a faint trace of humor in it as well.

“Then name your price, La Torre.” My father’s hands fisted on the table, frustration rolling off him in waves.

“I don’t have a price. You can’t have her.”

My father smiled calculatingly. “A marriage contract has already been signed. She belongs to him now.”

The smugness on his face told me he truly thought had had gained the upper hand and trapped Marco in a corner.

Fool.

Marco let out dark, dry chuckle. “Your contract is void, Mannino.”

“And why the hell is that?” My father demanded, clearly irked at the insinuation.

“Because Adalyn Mannino no longer exists.” I didn’t have to look at Marco’s face to know that I would see a ghost of a smile on his lips. I could hear it in his voice.

“What!” Leon exclaimed, slamming his hands on the table. “How could you betray us like that!” He shouts, focusing his anger squarely on me as his face grew blotchy and red.

“Leon,” My father warned quietly.

“No, it’s not right. You never turn your back on family!” He yelled. “Youdid this to her!”

My blood boiled.

After everything my family had done to me. After everything they had put me through and made me endure…only to turn their back on me the moment I was taken behind enemy lines.

It wasthemwho had turned their back on family. Not the other way around.

A dark laugh resonated from my throat before I could bite it back, earning me a hateful glare from my deplorable cousin.

“Then what exactly do you think leaving me a prisoner was, Leon? A fucking tea party?” My voice was venom and sounded eerily like the man sitting beside me. “Myfamilyturned their back on me a long time ago. What was it father said?” I questioned to no one, pretending to try and recall the words that were now etched into my very soul. “She is of no use to me or this family.”

“Adalyn.” My father warned.

The look of consternation on his face was almost humorous. I doubted he had ever heard me swear before, let alone defend myself to a room full of men.

Nonetheless, I fell silent at his warning. Snapping back into the role I was forced to play for all my life—the dutiful and docile daughter.

“Lies!” Leon screamed.

I knew it wasn’t a lie. So did Marco. So did my father.

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