Page 61 of Mr. Kelly

“You, my friend, should get tighter security. Your men are fine, just unconscious.” He takes another step closer. “Relax, if I were here to kill you, I wouldn’t have to come inside to do it. Consider this a courtesy meeting.” He looks at me, and I know I’m not going like what he has to say. “Your wedding was beautiful.”

Knowing that he’s seen my pregnant wife pisses me off. “I swear…”

“Threats are pointless,” he tells me, completely bored with the scene. “They are in no danger. If I came to harm, I could have killed everyone else while you two talked about me.”

Changing the subject, Andrea glances at his paper. “You’ve just made my life easier, Dante.”

The calm the Spanish man had vanishes with the use of his name. “Don’t say my name again. Only warning.”

Andrea nods. “I get it. The man who raised me is a piece of shit as well.”

Dante cracks his neck as he looks at Andrea with cold eyes. “Don’t speak of Father in that way, or I’ll remove the courtesy.”

“Reaper? Is that what you want to be called?” Andrea tries again.

“That’s the name they gave me. I don’t want to be called anything.” Reaper nods as if he realizes something. His smirk holds no mirth. “I get it. You wanted me to find you.”

Andrea nods. “It was a gamble, but I had to try. Although, I didn’t think you’d come here. My problem isn’t with you.”

“As I said, if your problem is with Father, then it is with me.”

Andrea slides some papers his way. “That’s why I wanted to see you. In digging for info on Father, I found some about you. I think you’d like to know.”

“I know my history. I remember it. I was kidnapped and put in a cell. Father saved me, but my parents couldn't be found so offered to raise me.”

“Eidetic memory. Cool. The article said you were last seen with your parents at a plane museum.” Andrea pushes a picture forward. “Look past you and your parents. What do you see in the background?”

Reaper’s expression somehow becomes darker. “Father,” he says to no one but himself. He stares in the distance for a moment like he’s trying to remember everything about that day.

“He owned a building that mysteriously burned down around that time,” Andrea offers as he pushes another photo forward.

The recognition on his face and the flash of hurt in his eyes makes me sad for the child version of him.

“NO!” he growls low, but it has all the power of a full shout. Reaper closes his eyes and rolls his neck. Andrea pours a shot of whiskey and passes it to Reaper, who takes a sip while he goes back to staring at the photo. “You think...”

“That he plucked you from your life and made himself look like a savior so he could manipulate you? Yes. That’s why y’all are so loyal. He selects and raises his assassins. Look into it, please. If you find that I’m telling you the truth, please let him fall.”

Dante, The Reaper picks up the papers. “No. If I confirm that he did this, I'll rip apart life as he knows it, and then kill him myself. There'll be nothing left to fall.”

Honestly, it sounds good to me. We promised River vengeance, so I don’t care how it’s dealt. When he moves back towards the shadows, I’m still not sure what route he took to enter. He turns before he disappears.

“To amend my statement. I don't kill innocent women or children unless it’s absolutely necessary to send a message.”

Andrea flinches. “Does that mean I need to be worried about Inaya?”

The Reaper doesn’t respond. He just disappears while leaving Andrea’s question floating in the air.

“Who is Inaya?” I ask, trying to keep up. “Woman or child?”

Andrea scratches his head in frustration. “Both. She’s twenty-seven, but she's Father’s only biological child.” He taps his fist on his desk as he continues to stare in the direction The Reaper left. “We can’t make him an enemy. We can’t interfere.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

RIVER

I’m thirsty,and that feeling carries me out of my room with the intent to go to the kitchen. It’s kind of late, but I know Teddy is discussing business with Andrea in his office, so I’m not scared of being by myself in Andrea’s home.

I step into the hallway and realize that the lights are lower than usual. Anything out of the norm gives me pause since my abduction. I can no longer just consider things a coincidence.

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