Page 12 of Killian

“It’s Bash. He...” She stops, her eyes filling with tears again. “He killed Karrisa.”

I give her a questioning look.

“My sister. He killed her and her husband. He gave her children to my cousin, Giovanni.”

“I’m so sorry. Do you want me to go with you to the funeral?”

“There was no funeral. He killed them months ago. He killed them and never even told me. If I hadn’t talked to my mother today, I would have never known,” she says with an edge of panic.

She looks up at me now with genuine fear in her eyes.

“What are you afraid of?”

“Him. If he can kill Karrisa, the sister he kept close to him and spent time with, who’s to say he won’t kill me?”

My blood boils at the insinuation. “Me. I say he won’t kill you because if the thought even crossed his mind, I would annihilate him.”

“That’s a nice sentiment, but by doing so you would start a war.”

“I don’t see your point. You think I’m afraid of war? Afraid of your brother? I’m not. I promise you, I will keep you safe from him and any other threat.”

She cuddles into my chest, choosing to let it go. But I didn’t miss the hushed whisper.

“Who is going to protect me from you?”

It about killed me to see her in that pain. As if her pain was my own. I think it was then I knew she was more than a fling or my ally’s sister. She was it. The one my mother always swore would find me.

“Tell me why,” Bastiano barks out.

I narrow my eyes at him. If it wasn’t for her telling me to drop it, I would have already had words with Bastiano about his actions causing Greer so much pain. I meant what I said that night. I plotted his demise for the sins against my woman.

Even if he doesn’t know she’s my woman. Yet.

If it were up to me, I would just tell him, but between Greer and the Westies, I need to be strategic. This doesn’t just affect me.

“You owe me. This is what we agreed upon for payment. You know as well as I do that I’m required to take actions because of my position. Actions I don’t always enjoy, but must proceed with nonetheless.”

His eyes narrow, his shoulders becoming more tense.

“Why Greer?”

I shrug. “When you want a job done, don’t you want the best? I mean, look at her. She was able to stay off your radar for this long. If she can do that, then she must be the best.”

“What is the job you need done?” His nostrils flare.

I know he’s close to losing his cool. Bastiano’s usually calm and level-headed, but it seems bringing his baby sister into this may be a trigger. Maybe he cares about her more than he lets on.

I chuckle. “Westie business. Do we have a deal or not?”

He thinks it over for several minutes. I don’t know if he’s waiting for me to break or what, but I remain relaxed, even though I am anything but. I already know if he denies me, I will still take his sister. I’ll kidnap her if I have to. She would hate that being all independent and whatnot, but I refuse to let her go again.

“How long will it take?” His lips press together in a slight grimace.

I pretend to think it over, but I already know I need time to put my plan into place. “A couple of weeks. I think Greer will be able to give a better timeline since she’s the expert.”

He frowns. “How did you find out about her?”

“I keep my eye on a lot of things. Just be glad it was me and not an enemy. From now on, Greer will be under Westie protection along with your own. She will be protected. I give you my word.”

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