Page 60 of Dirty Behavior

“I'm sorry, I don't have the authority to answer any questions. You need to go see Remo.” Turning away from me, he started down the hall. “This way.” His rounded waist jiggled at his hips, the thick creases on the back of his neck glinted in sweat.

“No.” Crossing my arms, I stood as tall as I could. “I'm not going anywhere, where's Dante?”

The man stopped short, looking back at me over his shoulder. Taking one of his chubby fingers, he pushed his glasses back up on his nose. “Just come with me.”

“No.” My voice growled as it came out, teeth clenching down hard. Biting the inside of my mouth, my cheeks hollowed.

I wasn't going to leave the front room, I wasn't going to walk away from the safety of an exit and follow some asshole I didn't know.

Was I nervous? Yes.

Did I want to see the man I gave my heart to? Yes.

But I wasn't fucking stupid.

I wasn't going to head back into the unknown, where the monster I despised was tucked away somewhere inside.

Remo was a man of tricks, he was willing to do anything to get what he wanted. But I had studied him for a long time, long enough to know his games.

The bald man turned on his heels and nabbed my arm. “You're coming—” I started to pull away, leaning back, and reaching for the knife.

“Del, don't be rude to our guest.” His voice tore at my ears like hundreds of razor blades. Stepping out from around the corner, Remo licked his thin lips as his eyes stabbed my chest.

Disgust crawled over my body, sending chills up my spine. I didn't want to see him again, I didn't want to hear him again. But here I was.

His feet clicked against the concrete, fingers twirling tight circles around each other. “It's been too long, Celia, far too long. I hope you got this out of your system.”

My eyes burned. I wanted to yank the knife out and throw it at him. I was too far away, it wouldn't do any good. I had to get closer. “My name isIvy.”Snapping my wrist free, I stepped away from Del. “Where's Dante?”

His smile spread into a devious arch, turning my stomach. “We'll get to that, don't worry, Love.” Nodding to Del for him to leave, Remo started to walk towards me. “For now, why don't we talk about this whole little stunt you pulled.”

Stunt!?

How dare he try and make this out like it was just me going against the grain. He said it as if I was child who ran away because I wanted to fight authority. I hadn't done anything wrong,nothing.He was just trying to use his mind games to fuck with me.

Remo wanted to beat me down mentally, he wanted to try and get control over the only place he never could.

I wasn't cracking. His hand was never enough, his punishments were never enough. . .

And they never would be.

Why can't he just realize I won't give him what he wants?

Why won't he just let me go?

As he came closer, I had to stop myself from stepping back. I didn't want him to think there was any fear in my heart. If he saw me breaking, if he thought he had caught a whiff of reverence, he'd think he'd won.

But this wasn't over, I wasn't going to run back to him and beg for forgiveness. I just needed him to get close enough for me take back what he had stolen from me.

Life.

There wasn't any doubt in my mind about killing him. Remo deserved it, he wasn't a good man, there wasn't a bone in his body that hadn't been touched by the devil.

He deserved a death sentence.

“We can talk after I see Dante.” I had to know he was okay, that Remo hadn't done something horrible to the father of my unborn child.

The only fear I had was for Dante. I wasn't afraid of Remo or his fucking men, I wasn't afraid to wield a knife and slit his throat clear through.

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