Page 53 of Ruthless Vengeance
Her brother might have just handed over valuable information on Cillian, but I have no intention of handing him back his freedom in return.Just because he’s no longer rotting behind bars doesn’t mean he’s free.
Not even close.
I’ve built him a whole new cell, one with invisible bars where every move he makes will be monitored. I assigned Dom to keephim on a very short leash because he’s the sort of man who doesn’t hesitate when given an order. And my standing order is that if Ben so much as breathes wrong, if he tries to play me against Cillian, Dom will put a bullet in his skull.
While Ben’s story about Cillian might have lined up with what I’ve heard from my informants, that doesn’t mean I buy into his new reformed, helpful brother act. I know people like Ben all too well.
They’re survivors, which means they’ll fuck over anyone they can in order to stay alive, and I’m not about to let him. He might share Clara’s blood, but that doesn’t mean he gets my protection.
If there’s one thing I know about people like him, it’s that they always have an angle. And I’m still trying to figure out what the hell his is.
“You doing okay?” I ask Clara for what feels like the hundredth time today. I glance over at her, but all she does is nod.
It’s clear as day in her face that she’s racked with guilt over her brother’s situation, stuck between wanting to help him and needing to let him clean up his own mess.
An incoming call flashes on the center screen before she has a chance to answer, but when I see it’s Max calling, I breathe a sigh of relief. This might be just what she needs.
“Who’s Max?”
“You’re about to find out.” I smile before answering the call. “I’m here with Clara and you’re on speaker.” I turn up the volume on the steering wheel.
"Good." Max’s voice filters through the sound system.
I glance at Clara to find her frowning at me, and I flash her a smile.
Max’s voice comes out loud and clear. "Then I can let both of you know that Clara has an interview scheduled for tomorrow.”
“Interview?”
“For the New York Institute of Fashion.”
Clara goes completely still beside me and for a moment, I wonder if I made the wrong call by asking Max to get her an interview. But I don’t have the chance to ask before Max is talking again.
"You’ll need to meet with the admissions board at ten a.m. sharp. The interview will consist of a portfolio review, as well as a practical assessment where you are required to present two completed looks."
I glance at Clara and swallow a laugh when her mouth opens and her eyes widen.
This wasn’t exactly how I wanted her to find out about this, but at least it will serve as a distraction from what just happened back at the warehouse.
I ignore the way Clara is still gaping at me. "Got it. I really appreciate it, Max. Say thank you to Tana for me."
"Any time.”
I hang up the call before turning to look at Clara.
She’s still staring at me with a mix of shock and excitement on her face.
"What?" I try to act innocent.
"You…you did that forme?" Her eyes shine with tears.
I reach out to take her hand. "All I did was arrange an interview.You’rethe one who’ll be getting yourself in.”
Her lips part, but no words come out at first. Then she shakes her head, trying to process it. “But it’s not just any school, it’stheschool. The Institute of Fashion is the best in the country, Marco.”
“Is it?” I feign ignorance. “I had no idea.”
“This is huge! I wasn’t even considering them because I knew I had no chance of getting in.”
