Page 49 of Ruthless Vengeance
She moves to set down her own plate before taking a seat across from me. “You haven’t tasted it yet.”
I pick up my fork and stab a few pieces of the pasta.
Clara watches me closely as I take a bite and let out a satisfied groan.
"Damn. This isgood.” I load up my fork again. "You’ve been holding out on me."
Clara shakes her head as she reaches for the wine. “Don’t get too excited, it’s one of the only dishes I can make."
“Then it’s a good job I would happily eat it for the rest of my life.” I snatch the bottle out of her reach.
She laughs, shaking her head. "My lack of skills isn’t intentional. It’s not like my mom was around to teach me how to cook.”
I pour her a glass of red, and I meet her gaze, catching the flicker of sadness behind her eyes. "It must’ve been hard, losing her so young.” I pour some wine for myself.
Clara nods, pushing the pasta around her plate. "It was, but I think it’s even harder now that I have Zoe. There are so many times I’ve wanted to call her for advice, to ask her things about Zoe, but…I can’t."
Her voice cracks a little, so I reach across the table to take her hand, entwining my fingers with hers.
"You’re not alone anymore." I stroke my thumb over her knuckles. "You know that, right?"
She squeezes my hand back as she offers me a small smile. "You’ve made that clear.”
"Good. I hope I’ve also made it clear how much I love you."
She bites down on her lower lip as she nods her head. "Very.”
"And that I would doanythingfor you?"
Clara tilts her head, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she looks at me. "Anything?"
I narrow my eyes, already sensing where this is going.
I don’t give Clara time to react before I push my chair back and walk around the table to scoop her up into my arms.
"Marco! The food?—”
“I’m carrying my food right now.” I carry her out of the kitchen.
“Oh, my god, you’re ridiculous!”
“Shh, my sister is upstairs. I’m going to need you to be quiet, love, which might be hard when I’m about to feast on your pussy.”
She smacks my shoulder, but I don’t miss the way her breath catches at my words.
I grin as I take the stairs two at a time, already thinking about all the ways I’m going to show her how far I’m willing to go to make her happy.
Chapter Thirteen
CLARA
The car slowsto a stop outside a looming gray warehouse, and my stomach tightens. Marco told me on the drive over here that he and Andre refer to this place asthe slaughterhouse,and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why.
I shift in my seat as I look out of the window.
I knew this place would be bad, but now that I’m actually here, staring at the rusted metal and cracked concrete, an icy dread settles over me.
I’ve witnessed firsthand how brutal Marco’s world can be, but sitting outside this place, knowing what has likely happened within its walls, makes my throat dry. But I trust that whatever has happened here, whatever Marco has done, it’s because the people deserved it. That’s what separates him from men like Ben.
