Page 3 of Ruthless Vengeance
He and I both know that there’s no truth in my words, but all I can see in my mind as I plead with my brother is Marco and Zoe. Every second that passes, they slip through my fingers.
“So, family means nothing to you?” My desperation claws at my words.
Ben could be my way out of here. If he could just get a message to Marco, warn him of what is happening, there is a chance we could all come out of this alive.
Ben lets out a humorless laugh, as if he can read my thoughts. “You say that like it means something to you?”
I grind my teeth together.
Family meanseverythingto me, but he lost his place in mine a long time ago.
I made it perfectly clear to Ben all those years ago that I wanted nothing to do with him. Every call, every letter, went ignored. He might have thought me cold and heartless, but I had to protect myself. After all, once mom died, I was on my own.
But that doesn’t mean I wanted Ben dead, which is exactly what is going to happen to me if he doesn’t get me out of here.
“You know Tommaso’s going to kill me. Is that what you want, Ben? For me to die in this place?”
Ben’s smirk fades as he shakes his head, his gaze lowering to the floor as a crease forms between his eyebrows.
“You’ve got it all wrong, Clara. Tommaso promised me that no harm would come to you.”
A hysterical laugh escapes my lips. “You actually believe that?”
Ben’s eyes snap to mine. “Yes. All he wants is Marco.”
“No.” My blood turns cold.
His name sends a stab of pain through my chest.
I squeeze my eyes shut for a second, trying to breathe past it, but I can’t. If anything happens to him…
“Please, Ben…” My voice cracks. “You have to stop him.”
“Why? Surely, it’s enough that I’m making sure you get out of this alive? Which is a lot more than you deserve, by the way.”
I flinch at my brother’s words. “You don’t mean that.”
“Don’t I?” Ben’s eyes turn ice-cold. “You couldn’t wait to cut me out of your life.”
He’s right. I couldn’t.
“So, you want me dead? Is that my punishment?”
“How many times do I have to fucking tell you? Tommaso wants Marco.”
“And I’m the bait that brings him here.”
This is nothing but a game to Tommaso, one I didn’t even realize I was playing.
I think of the phone call to Marco.
Even if he has worked out it’s a trap, there’s no way he won’t come for me. He’ll walk through fire to make sure I’m safe, even if it costs him his life in the process.
“Whatever has happened between us… Please Ben, don’t let it be the reason Marco dies.”
“That’s not up to me. It’s like I said, I’m here to repay a debt.”
“And there’s no other way?” Panic starts to build in my chest as I think of Marco bleeding out on the ground, a bullet wound in his chest. “Please, you can’t do this?—”
