Page 70 of The Shadow King's Brother

"Name’s Eduardo Rodriguez. Or just Eddie."

His words strike like a blade to my gut. My breath hitches. My fingers instinctively rub over the chi-rho tattoo on my wrist.

Shit. No.

"I guess Naomi and Peter didn't mention their little brother before you killed them?"

I shake my head, my entire body screaming in protest, but I can't force out a single word.

"Well—tada! Here I am." He grins, wicked amusement gleaming in his eyes. His hand drifts down, tracing a slow path from my knee up my thigh, his fingers creeping toward the edge of my panties. I shiver.

"And damn, did Peter have good taste in women. You and your mother—wow. Just wow. Exquisite. Both of you."

"Get. Your. Hands. Off. Me." I grind the words out through gritted teeth, wincing as the movement sends a fresh wave of pain slicing through my ribs.

He chuckles, unfazed. "Oh, Victoria," he murmurs. "I'll have you in time. You'll see. You'll bow to me eventually, one way or another… We can play nice, or we can play…" He leans in, his breath hot against my skin. "Rough."

His hand moves, stroking up from my apex to my stomach as I jerk, twisting away.

A gunshot rings out.

I freeze.

"Elio—" I choke out, my head snapping toward the sound.

Eddie smirks, his grip tightening as he whispers, "Don't worry about Elio. He's dead soon."

The blood drains from my face.

"And now that Susan's out of the picture, everything will be mine." His fingers graze my jaw, tilting my chin so I can't look away. "And you, Victoria? You'll be mine, too. We'll rule together. You'll be my bride. My queen."

The words feel like poison. I've heard enough—more than enough. I press my hands to my temples, trying to shut out the voices and the vision of Eddie's twisted grin.

"Elio—" I whisper, barely able to form the name through the thick knot in my throat.

"Stop saying his name!" Eddie snaps, his voice is razor-sharp with fury. Before I can react, his hand strikes across my face, a sharp crack cutting through the air. The impact sends me reeling, my cheek burning.

I raise my hand to hit back, but the pain lances through my ribs, stealing my strength. My body crumples, forcing me onto my knees.

Eddie hums in satisfaction, crouching beside me. "I love you like this, Victoria—bent over. Bowed down to my needs." His fingers trace the curve of my jaw, possessive. "You'll learn to love the darker side of me soon enough."

I spit onto the floor at his feet. "Never."

Gunfire erupts, closer this time. Eddie stiffens, drawing his gun in one swift motion. His lips curl into a knowing smirk.

"Soon, amore mio." He leans in, his breath ghosting over my skin. Then, his hand dips between my legs, entering me without warning, then slipping out.

I try to kick him, but he's already retreating, lifting his fingers to his nose and inhaling slowly. "Oh fuck yes. Exquisite scent indeed," he murmurs, eyes burning with promise. "I'll be back for you."

And then—he's gone.

Every muscle in my body tenses. I'm alone.

Chapter12

Elio De Luca

The secondwe move toward the dock building, the air explodes—not with a single bang, but with a hail of gunfire that rips the breath from my lungs. The warehouse transforms into a war zone.

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