Page 166 of SINS & Riley
The words drop one by one, as more puzzle pieces lock into place.
“Dominic was with Dante when he died?”
Dillon’s only answer is a single nod.
My mind stutters. If that’s true, then why hasn’t Dominic ever said a word about it?
“Can I talk to Dominic?”
His gaze flicks to the mantle, to the photo he hasn’t looked away from since I walked in. “Why does Zver have that?”
“I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve even been in this room.”
Smoke’s eyes narrow. “If we’re gonna work together, you need to tell us the truth.”
My blood spikes. “I am telling you. I don’t know.”
His mouth hardens to a line, his gaze drifting across the room until it hooks on the coat of arms. He steps closer, studying it. “What’s that?”
“Zver’s coat of arms. I think. There are several throughout the house.” Smoke frowns, studying it. “That’s not like any crest I’ve ever seen. My wife’s Bratva. I had to memorize every bloodline just to figure out who I was a fifth cousin to.”
He stares harder, like something about it is fundamentally wrong. Then, like a maniac, he snaps, and starts ripping through drawers.
At first rifling fast, but not fast enough. He flips them upside down, tossing contents across the floor in a storm of socks and underwear, toiletries and papers.
“Hey!” I jab a furious finger at him. “This is not your place. Stop it!”
He doesn’t so much as flinch. Doesn’t acknowledge I’m even here.
Another drawer slams to the floor, contents scattering. A case of contact lenses bounces onto the bed beside me. Black.
Zver wears black contact lenses?
Why?
Then he drags a trunk out of the closet and tears it open.
Papers and sketches scatter across the floor.
Skulls. Roses. The same designs inked into his forearm. Perfect replicas. Every last one.
Fake. Fucking. Tattoos.
My stomach plummets. The mask, I understood. He’s made a lot of enemies and he has to hide his face. With an identity to shield.
It’s all very Marvel.
But this?
Not everyone sees his tattoo. Not everyone gets close enough to trace it with their eyes, brush it with their hands.
That ink isn’t for the world.
It was for me.
And it’s a goddamn lie.
He’s not just hiding from them.
