Page 120 of Poison Vows

“Yes,” he says simply and truthfully. “Because I know for a fact that you have kept our encounter secret from everyone, including my dear grandson.”

“Seeing as this is the first time we’re having a discussion—albeit, absurd and candid, it’s still my first time meeting you, sir.”

“Really? This is the game you want to keep playing?” he mocks. “It’s been days since I took your brother and had him roughened up to unconsciousness, and yet you, who has the power to free him, sits idly there, lying to my face? You’re really something, Ivy Marie. I don’t know whether to be disappointed or impressed.”

“You have my brother?” I gasp, blood rushing in my veins.

“Yes, and because of that one move, I’ve found out just how out of my control Alessio is. He has forces that work for him that even I don’t know about and they’re out there, searching the earth for Samuel Jr., and yet I have him.”

Oh my God.

The hellish morning when Samuel called me… I believed Emmett had my brother taken, only to learn now…

“Release my brother!” I demand, rising to my feet in a rush. I feel faint for a second. “Give him back!”

“I want to, of course, but, well…”

He wants to know Emmett’s secret.

With as much confidence as I can—or stupidity, depends on what will happen next—I hold the old man’s stare and slowly take my seat again, pretending to be poised and collected.

“The value of the secret you want to know and what you’re offering are nowhere near enough,” I state, voice level and cold.

The old man stares at me in disbelief for a second before his facial features school into sick enjoyment.

“You’re indeed Marie’s granddaughter,” he praises. “Fine. Let’s haggle. What do you want?”

I take a deep breath, fully aware that I’m about to toss my life away with my next move.

“Tell me who killed my grandfather.”

Almost immediately, the smile on Grandpa Armando’s face is wiped clear just as Ripley enters the room once more and whispers something in the old man’s ear.

“He says it’s urgent,” Ripley answers. “Apparently, he wants a word concerning the young miss.”

The frost on Emmett’s grandfather’s eyes makes my own blood run cold.

The entire time we’ve been talking, he hasn’t looked like that.

“Tell him I’ll see him when I’m done here,” the old man orders in a voice so deadly, I almost jump out of my skin.

Ripley bows and leaves the room. When he opens the door, I hear a faint commotion, before I hear a now familiar voice.

“Father, that girl is an imposter!” Giovanni shouts “She’s a liar! Don’t believe h?—”

His rant is cut off by a door being closed shut.

No other sounds can be heard anymore, but I’m bewildered.

When I look back to Emmett’s grandfather, he’s already watching me. It’s as if he didn’t hear what his son just shouted.

“Did Giovanni ask where you grew up?” he suddenly questions.

I stare at him as waves of indescribable chills go down my spine, but I can’t even look away, nor can I hold his gaze.

“Yes.”

His eyes narrow slightly then he leans back in the armchair, as if settling in.

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