Page 160 of Salvatore

“They would get you to handle jobs instead of me.” The admission poisons my veins. “Everything you suffered was at the hands of my mistakes. Either because they didn’t trust my loyalty or I refused to blackmail, bribe, or kill someone they didn’t approve of.”

“You were killing people for them?” Remy accuses. “Since when?”

“Since Matthew left.”

“But I remember how you acted when Cole Torian murdered that guy in front of us.” He frowns. “You were as fucking shocked as I was.”

I incline my head. “I pretended a lot of shit wasn’t normal for me. But I went ahead and took charge of the body disposal and crime scene clean-up like a pro, right?”

“Fuck.” He drags out the curse as he scrubs a hand down his face. “I can’t believe this.”

I wish he didn’t have to.

I wish none of them did.

“Unfortunately, I can. They were fucking monsters.” Bishop places a comforting hold on Abri’s upper arms. “And I don’t like that I have to break up this defining moment of family trauma. But right now, we need to start prepping a game plan for Lorenzo. He’s due to arrive any minute, and there’s no doubt he’ll be homicidal.”

33

SALVATORE

The hairson the back of my neck rise. “What does Lorenzo know?”

“About the stabbing and the knitting needles.” Bishop sits atop the armrest of the sofa. “I think we can safely assume he also anticipates you’ve killed his sister.”

Fuck.

I turn away from them and head to the kitchen, needing space, forcing calm. But I still have to dump my coffee mug in the sink before I’m tempted to throw it.

“Should I leave?” Ivy’s strained voice fills the stretching quiet. “He wanted me gone before these added… complications.”

“There’s no running from him,” Matthew mutters.

“Not when I’d be the one tasked with finding you,” Bishop adds.

I grip the kitchen counter and hang my head. “I’ll talk my way out of this. Adena’s death was a long time coming.”

“I’m loving the outrageously optimistic attitude,” Remy drawls, “but what about the problems surrounding the cartel finding out Gabriel’s daughter was stabbed? They’re just as likely to have been tracking government databases for her as wewere, which seem like the more pressing reason for Lorenzo to slit your throat.”

“I should leave.” This time Ivy’s not asking.

There’s a squeak of the leather sofa and the shuffle of moving feet.

“You’re not going anywhere.” I keep clinging to the counter, clutching onto stability.

“Maybe it’s for the best,” Layla cuts in. “I can call my brother. Cole will get her on a private flight to Portland. He’ll look after her.”

“I saidno.” I raise my gaze and glare out the kitchen window, trying to envisage a plan that won’t formulate.

There has to be a way to diffuse this situation. Better yet, I could put it all on the line and stage a coup… but given the verbal and physical beatings my siblings have given me this morning, it’s unlikely I’ll have their backing. Just because some misconceptions have been cleared up doesn’t mean we’re about to sit around the family dinner table and start singing Kumbaya.

“Salvatore…” Ivy murmurs. “You said I wasn’t a prisoner here. You said this place wasn’t another cage.”

I did.

I meant it, too.

But that was before she got stabbed. Before she conceived my child. And before my fucking actions were overrun by emotion and every breath in my lungs served no purpose but to breathe her in.

---