Page 10 of Ruthless Vengeance
“You broke out of a federal prison.”
“I’m aware.”
“Surely, every cop in the state is going to be out looking for you. How exactly are you planning on not getting caught?”
Ben says nothing as he keeps his gaze fixed on the wall opposite him. Though the way the muscle in his jaw ticks lets me know that I’m hitting a nerve.
“I mean, I’m aware that this Tommaso is a powerful guy, but surely he’s notthatpowerful?—”
“My plans are none of your business. You cut me out of your life, remember?”
I put the sandwich down, swallowing the lump in my throat.
It’s hard not to think of what our life could have been like if Ben had gone down a different path. Maybe we could have had a relationship like Marco and Rosa. Zoe could have grown up with another uncle, perhaps even have had cousins on my side of the family.
There were so many different roads, and yet he chose the one that caused us both the most pain.
I shouldn’t feel guilty for cutting him out after what he did, but I do.
He’s right. I am the one who walked away, who severed any last threads of the relationship that we had.
I would be lying if I didn’t question whether or not I make the right choice. I wonder if Marco would have made the same choice if it were Andre? They have a fierce bond, one that is almost deeper than blood.
Would it have been enough to make him ignore his brother’s betrayal?
“You didn’t leave me with a choice. The people you got mixed up with…” I shake my head as my throat becomes too thick with emotion to speak.
A hysterical laugh escapes Ben’s lips as he looks at me, his green eyes flashing.
“See, that’s fucking hilarious, considering who your boyfriend is, Clara.” He points a finger right at me. “He’s a murderer, and yet you’d protecthim.”
“That’s different…” I put the sandwich wrapper back in the bag.
“How?”
I bite down on my lower lip to keep myself from crying.
I don’t want to talk about Marco with Ben in case he uses it against me. For all I know, Marco is on his way here right now, and I need to make sure he has every advantage possible if he’s to survive Tommaso.
He scoffs when I don’t reply. “You’re such a fucking hypocrite. You protect that murderous piece of shit, but I’m the one you walk away from? I’m you’re fucking brother?—”
“It’s not just about him.” The words spill from my lips before I have a chance to stop them.
“Then what’s it about?”
“It’s about the child that we share. I won’t have her growing up without her parents, I just won’t.”
Ben looks like he’s about to be sick at the mention of Zoe.
I thought he would have known about the child I share with Marco, considering the fact that Tommaso kidnapped Zoe, but maybe he’s more in the dark than he realizes.
I brace myself for an explosion of anger. I know I should have kept quiet about Zoe, but a small part of me was curious as to whether Ben would back down at the mention of my daughter, his niece.
But from the way his body is practically vibrating with rage, I know I made the wrong call.
“So, the fucker can procreate, big deal. It doesn’t change the fact that he kills people for a living.” His voice is laced with venom.
I hate the way he’s talking about Marco, like he’s no better than the animal he’s working for.
