Page 170 of Dancing with the Devil
I slightly frowned, looking down at my father.
“He was neither. He was and always will be nothing but an enemy to our family.”
I swallowed hard. “What are you talking about?”
“This business that we’re in…Iff you don’t pay up, we go for the thing that’s most precious to you. In my case, it was our family, but since Nereus and your mother were out of the picture, all eyes were on you.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Tell me it’s not true,” I looked over at Antonio.
“Nirah, just listen to me,” he took a step forward but I lifted the gun.
“Don’t come any closer.”
The muscle in Antonio’s jaw ticked. “Don’t listen to him—”
“No. I want to hear it. I want to know the truth,” I said and Antonio took a step back. I looked back at my father and he showed me a wicked smile, continuing.
“He was going to take you that day,” my father explained. “He and his brother were ready to do godawful things to you.” My stomach dropped.What?“It’s what the De Luca brothers were known for—”
“That was Alexander, not me,” Antonio cut him off.
“You knew?” I whispered.
“I knew who he was, but I didn’t know that you and him had a past.”
“So that makes it okay?” I breathlessly asked and he looked torn. “Just go on,” I encouraged my father.
“I don’t know what changed that day, but when he came downstairs, he said that he had changed his mind and that he had other plans for you. I’m assuming it’s this,” my father chuckled but started coughing out blood again.
“You were just going to let him take me?” I sorrowfully asked.
“I didn’t stand a chance against him. If I refused, he’d kill me and torture you because of it.”
I felt my throat close up. “Antonio, he—no he wouldn’t,” I shook my head.
“Yes, he would. Do you think he loves you? Do you think that Antonio De Luca, akaDiavolois capable of human emotions? And if you think he killed his brother, then you’re fucking naive, Nirah.”
My heart dropped and my head snapped up to Antonio. I saw Nereus out of the corner of my eye, dropping his head and Antonio’s face softened apologetically.
“You killed him, right?” I asked, tears stinging my eyes. “Antonio—tell me he’s dead,” my voice cracked.
For the first time since I met him, Antonio held regret in his voice. Guilt. “No,tesoro.”
My stomach dropped and my vision blurred. With weak knees I stumbled back and both men rush towards me but I held the gun up, daring them to come closer.
“Youliedto me, all this time?” I asked and he slightly tilted his head to the side, hurt washing across his face.
“That’s not the whole truth,” he shook his head. “Alexander isn’t dead but he is in a coma.”
“If you kill Antonio,” my father choked out. “You, Nereus and I could be a family again,” his voice cracked. “If you say yes to marrying him, you’ll be branded with the De Luca name, and I’ll have to see you as an enemy. Nirah, I don’t want to hurt you. Or Nereus.”
“Just for the record, I’m not marrying him, which means I’mnota De Luca,” Nereus chimed in, and my head snapped to him. “Sorry, carry on,” he stepped back.
“And if Sylvester had done his job right the first time, I wouldn’t have had to corrupt Antonio’s idiotic brother to find you,” my father explained.
“El demonio…” I murmured, and he grinned. “It’s you.”
“It can’t be,” Nereus scoffed in disbelief. “Father? Seriously? This guy is pathetic—he showed up here without any protection.”
