Page 75 of Revenge & Ruin

“Sounds like a dead end.”

I look away from him. “I can get her to crack.”

“And if she doesn’t?” Rocco sags back into his chair. “Are you prepared to kill her?”

“It won’t come to that.”

“It will if you have any intention of finding Ida. You’ll need to use Isabella to bait Leon into telling you instead, which means you must be prepared to go through with the threat.”

“And I’m telling you, it won’t come to that.”

“You can’t afford to be stubborn, Teo. You know Leon won’t tolerate you harassing her for much longer.”

I finally look back at him. “It’s too late for that.”

“What do you mean?” Rocco goes quite still. “Has the Prince’s Hand declared war?”

“Not yet, but I imagine we only have a few days before he realizes she’s missing. Maybe less.”

Rocco blinks at me. “Missing?”

“He won’t attack if he thinks Isabella will be caught in the crossfire. I intend to use this to my advantage to buy us some more time.”

“Where is she?”

I swallow hard. “Somewhere safe.”

“You kidnapped her?”

“I…” Doctor Malloy’s words suddenly ring in my ears.You saved her life.“...did what needed to be done.”

Rocco shakes his head in disapproval. “Is this really what the Guild needs or about whatyouneed?”

Rage begins to rise within me. “What do you want me to say to that, Rocco? If you think I’m jeopardizing the Guild, that’s on you for naming me don.”

“I just don’t see how any of this is rational!”

“That’s because it’s not!” I cry. “I never wanted this! She was never supposed to be important. She was never supposed to get hurt. And I was never supposed to?—”

I cut myself off, but it’s already too late.

“You were never supposed to what?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“She’s important, to who? To you?”

“Rocco.”

But Rocco is staring with wide eyes. “Fuck. You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

The world around me seems to grind to a halt. “It’s not like that.”

“Then explain what you’re doing with Isabella Natali in a way that makes sense.”

I let out a long breath and let myself settle back into my seat. “Ida tried to kill me, and Isabella got caught up in it. She got hurt badly. I had to move her somewhere safe.”

“To protect her.”

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