Page 66 of Innocence
I didn’t give a shit about Bias’ shock. I was too busy imagining Carmine’s blood on the wall. When he gave me a smug smirk, I plucked my pistol out of my holster and dropped it on the table.
That’s when all hell broke loose. Jackson jumped up from his chair, prepared to launch himself across the table. Bias began demanding to know what the hell was going on.
All while Carmine and I stayed stuck in our silent stare down. A silence he was the first to break.
“You really want to shoot me, Enzo?”
I didn’t just want to shoot him, I’d enjoy it.
“What do you think?”
“You want to know what I think?” Carmine braced his arms on the table and leaned in a little, “I think you’re all talk. You might shoot me, but you’d never kill me.”
I snickered. “Is that what you think?”
“Of course,” he sang with a smile. “I am family, after all.”
Jackson was inching his way over. Slowly side-stepping closer into my peripheral vision. He froze with my next words.
“Yeah, Dad thought the same thing. Didn’t work out so well for him.”
Even Tobias quieted at that.
I could feel Jackson’s nervousness when Carmine tipped his head and glared at him. It was about time he stopped coddling him.
“Some people don’t put the same stock in the word family.”
“True,” I nodded and sat back, crossing my arms. “Problem is, you’re looking at the wrong brother.”
I watched Carmine’s brows knit in confusion. “You’re lying.”
“Look at my face, and tell me I’m lying.”
“Enzo,” Jackson called out.
“Shut up, Jackson. He’s a big boy, he can handle the truth.” My gaze zeroed in on the shock taking over my brother’s features. “Isn’t that right, Carmine?”
Shock quickly morphed into anger. Carmine’s eyes shifted to the pistol just out of his reach. He wanted to go for it. I hoped he did. Then I’d have a reason to end his miserable fucking life.
Unfortunately, we were interrupted before that could happen.
“Sir,” Jerome walked in the room and nodded at me, completely ignoring the tension in the air. “She’s still refusing to eat.”
For fuck sakes. “What did she say this time?”
“Nothing. She just kicked the tray out of my hand.”
And just like that, my mind was on something else.
My little pet was getting more spry. When I refused her demand to be seen, her attitude picked up. Every servant I’d sent to tend to her had come back with some tale of violence, or lashing out.
Now, it appeared Kya was intent on starving herself to death. I was tempted to let her.
Carmine, of course, seemed to notice my mood switch.
“Having problems getting your poor little pet in line?” His mouth tipped up in a sneer. “I could help with that.”
Like fuck he could. Scanning the room, I gave each of my brothers a look. I’d seen the way Liam looked at her. Carmine too. Tobias and Jackson would lust after her as well.
