Page 8 of Catching His Runaway

I’ll take that information to the grave before I ever breathe a word about any past feelings. Now I look at Tommy and see he’s become everything I hate. Tainted by this cruel life, he wouldn’t know kindness if it slapped him in the face.

He’s been molded into a man full of hate and doomed to spill his blood because of this family. It’s a fate only someone foolish would want.

Just looking at him pisses me off.

“It was a mistake coming here,” I tell him, jerking my chin to look away from his intense stare. The weight behind his gaze is enough to make someone fold. “This was supposed to be easy. You, of all people, just had to make it complicated.”

Accountability. I’ve never been too good at acknowledging when things are my fault.

“Seems you had no other choices from the way I see it.” He clicks his tongue. “Imagine where you’d be if you didn’t stick your nose into trouble at every chance you get.”

“Fuck you.” Anger growing in my chest hot enough to burn a hole through my body, I clench my hands into tight fists. “You act like I’ve asked for this to happen to me.”

His eyes flash at my words, his brows lowering even deeper.

“You left on your own,” he reminds me with his voice lowering, his eyes lowering.. Taking me in like I’m hardly a threat, his body remains stiff like he’s ready to jump right back into action. Does he ever relax anymore?

“And if I could go back all those years, you know what?” My frown matches his. “I wouldn’t change a fucking thing.”

He moves to stand, and I swear I hear his teeth grind at my words. Probably shouldn’t poke a bear, but his attitude pisses me off. He’s got blinders on and can’t possibly see it in the same way as I have. I might as well be talking to a literal brick wall.

“You know, assuming Santino took your pinkies, I’d be putting all this cluster of anger at him. However, it feels like you’ve been harboring quite the grudge.” I jerk my chin up at him, meeting his dark gaze with my own once he erases the space between us.

Am I talking big game because my brother told him not to kill me? Possibly. However, if he wasn’t so busy glaring at my face, he’d notice my knees are knocking together.

I don’t remember ever being afraid of this man. However, I’m not blind. This isn’t the same pushover I grew up with. He’s completely flipped, coming off more cold and ruthless than I remember.

He might even be more dangerous than the man I ran away from.

Showing that he’s got some kind of control over his emotions, he pauses long enough to loosen his jaw. Once his frown has flattened, the tension in his shoulders loosens slightly.

“You think I should be mad athim? Why, because he held the blade?” He shakes his head, his eyes lighting up in what looks like cruel amusement. “Your father took this one when you left.” Holding his hand up, his thumb grazes where his left pinkie would be. “I promised your brother that I’d bring you back. When I didn’t, he took the other.”

Despite talking about his missing fingers, there’s not an ounce of betrayal in his voice. Rather, he looks at his hands fondly.

“They’re a reminder when I need it,” he explains as he curls the rest of his fingers. “Now that you’re here, I won’t need to look any longer.”

His eyes lift, and my stomach clenches when a scowl curls onto his lips.Nowhe looks pissed.

“I’ve got the physical form of what killed the man I used to be right in front of me. A constant reminder.” Something else shifts in his gaze, and the warning bells blare in my head. “Youare the one who has burdened me. Therefore, you’re going to be the one to pay back what you’ve taken.”

I take one step back, he takes one forward.

“You can’t be serious. I can’t give you your fingers back.” It’s an obvious statement, but not as much as I think. Not when rage is what fills his eyes.

“It’s not about the fucking fingers,” he growls, snapping in return.

Clearly touching a sensitive topic here, I realize I’ve pretty much poked the bear with a hot iron fire poker.

Turning on my heel, I know when it’s time to run. There’s hardly ten feet to the door, and I move like my life depends on it. When it comes to this guy, it might actually.

He might be loyal to my brother, but accidents happen. I don’t think I want my blood to be what stains this carpet.

Reaching for the doorknob, his hand flattens against the door before I can even reach out to try to turn it. I don’t have time to look back at him, I can feel his breath tickling my throat. Leaning so close, he causes goosebumps to form on my skin.

“If you run, Valeria, I will chase you.” Promising his threat in a hushed whisper, a shiver crawls down my stomach and weighs heavy enough to make my legs shake. “Until I get what I want, you’re not leaving my sight. If I have to tie you to my bed to make it happen, then so be it.”

Taking in his calloused fingers spread against the wood, I try to keep my breathing even. “What do you want?”

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