Page 15 of Assassin's Heart
“I told you,” I said, “I understand the appeal.”
“What happened?”
I met her eyes, and I knew she could guess the end of my story.
“He died.”
“Jesus, Leah. I’m so sorry.”
I turned toward the darkened window. Night had fallen hard, but the lawn outside was lit with a myriad of lights. Security, of course. You can’t stop a threat you didn’t see coming. “It was a long time ago.”
And now it was coming back to harm the family Angelo had given his life to protect.
“I think Angelo and Levi are a lot more alike than you want to acknowledge,” Abby said. “They both love, or loved”—she winced—“their women. Their families. Levi would do anything to protect me, just as Angelo was willing to do for you.”
I couldn’t hold back a laugh at that, though the sound wasn’t the least bit amused. “Oh, I have no doubt about that. The problem is, they can’t protect you from everything.”
“Leah—”
I threw up a hand. “Just stop, Abby, okay? You’re not going to convince me that Levi’s the good guy here. I don’t even believe Remi is a good guy. I don’t trust any of you.”
A stricken look crossed the redhead’s face, but I hardened my heart, forced myself to ignore it.
“If you don’t want to be here, if you don’t want our help, why don’t you leave? What about your family?”
I barely held back a snort. “I don’t have any.” Not that I would draw into this, anyway.
The door opened behind me. I turned, the sight of Remi taking my breath in that way I hated but couldn’t seem to avoid. And then his expression registered.
Uh-oh.
“Don’t have any what?” he asked, voice deceptively calm.
“Family,” Abby answered for me. Probably a good thing since my tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth.
“Hmm...” Remi’s eyes narrowed on me, the pure rage shining there drawing me like the beauty of a King Cobra about to strike. “That’s not entirely true, is it?”
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Chapter Seven
Remi —
Leah had lied to me. The thought reverberated in my brain even as I watched shock flare in her eyes. It wasn’t so much that she hadn’t told me the man on the phone was her brother; it was everything else. I’d been so blinded by my feelings for her that I hadn’t thoroughly vetted the person I had brought into my family’s home.
I’d put my family at risk—for a woman.
The knowledge filled me with rage.
“Tell me, Leah.”
Abby was silent, seated at a table in the corner, her lips tight as she watched us. I heard my brothers enter the room behind me. They always had my back, even when I majorly fucked up. God, how I’d fucked up.
I stalked Leah across the room, my anger and the bulk of my body pushing her back until her spine hit the wall. “Tell me.”
The impact jolted her out of her shock. “Tell you what?” she asked.
“Tell me about your family.” My words came out gravel-rough, sharp edges cutting. “You do have one, I know you do, so don’t bother lying anymore.”
