Page 62 of From My Past
“Thank you,” I say quietly and sit in the other chair, just waiting for the interrogation to start.
But it didn’t.
It was awkward, no one speaking, and Kellan just staring at me like I held all the secrets to his success. I looked to Kieron, begging him with my eyes to save me from this attention, this unnecessary look from Kellan. Kieron looked back at me, nodded his head towards me in understanding and support.
Without warning, Kellan clapped loudly once and stood up from his chair. I jolted at the loud noise, my trauma from Luca still running my body even if I felt stronger mentally.
“Talia, Talia, Talia.” Kellan drawled, resting on the edge of his desk in front of me. “I understand that this is a hard time for you. I really do, lass. But I’m going to need more information in order to continue to put my men in harm’s way and start this warproperlywith the Italians.”
I nodded, he’d told me what the price was for their protection and aide.
“Good.” He said, pulling out a document from the pile on his desk. My eyes widened and I gulped softly at the length of the document. Holy fuck, we were going to be here forever.
Fear ran through me when I realized I wasn’t going to be able to answer them all like I’m sure they wanted. My hands clenched into tight fists in my lap as I waited for the questions to start.
I looked down, staring at my lap and picking imaginary lint off my black skirt. A warm hand enveloped mine, giving me some strength to make eye-contact with Kellan. Kieron threaded our fingers together on my lap, staring down his dad as well.
“I need to know everything you know, Talia. Everything about Luca, about the restaurant front, about the Don. Let’s start with how you met.” Kellan said, his eyes peering into mine with all seriousness.
Taking a deep breath, I squeezed Kieron’s fingers again and settled in to tell my story.
* * *
“How did you not know he was the son of the Don?” Kellan asked after I finished explaining how I’d met Luca, how our relationship progressed, when the abuse started, what I did, what I saw, everything. Kellan and Kieron had sat quietly while I told them the story. In hindsight, I should’ve known Luca and his family were sketchy. Our only dates out happened at the Italian Stallion, Luca was always on the phone with his family speaking in hush-hush ways, the way I’d felt almost scouted by Luca and had to meet his father before he would commit to me.
Fuck, if I’d only left him then.
“I don’t know.” I answer honestly. I wipe my eyes quickly, already embarrassed with how much I’ve broken down in front of them already. Reliving all of the hatred, abuse and fresh trauma was too much for me to handle. This interrogation had been going on for so long that now I felt flayed. I was cut open and bleeding in grief and pain at all I’d endured, at all the signs I should have seen, at how idiotic I felt for being taken advantage of.
“How often is he at the restaurant?” Kellan asks.
Kieron’s hand hadn’t left mine since this all started but I could tell it got more and more tense in mine as time went on. I stole a look at Kieron to make sure he was okay but when I looked at him…
Kieron looked murderous. His free hand was flexing over and over in his lap, his forearm covered in the addicting swirls of dark ink was rippling with each flex. His chest was rising and falling quicker. His nostrils flaring with anger.
His jaw was clenched so hard I could see his jawline underneath his dark beard showing through and his eyebrows were pulled together so tightly that there was no doubt he would have a deep line between his furrowed brows.
My mind immediately went to how he was madatmebut after a few moments I realized it was because of what I’ve said.
Turning back to Kellan, I took a deep breath. “What would you like to know?”
“Could you tell me how many exits there are? Entrances? Does he have an office? Is there a basement? Anything you know, I need.” Kellan said, leaning forward on his desk.
“The dining room has at least two entrances, not including the door to the kitchen. There was two bathrooms, the ladies had three stalls so I can only assume that the men’s was the same. I only went into the backroom once, when Luca had to talk urgently to his father but I wasn’t allowed into the actual office. I don’t think anyone was. There was always a guard on the door and the door had no windows so I couldn’t really see if there was any inside.” I pushed my fingers through my hair, letting them trail through the deep violet strands.
“There were at least three to four security cameras in the dining room. I think. But I can tell you about the kitchen or the backroom where the waitresses hung out.” I offered. “If there was a basement, I haven’t heard about it or seen it. But it would make sense if there was.”
“And why do you say that?” Kellan quirked his eyebrow.
“Because I never heard Luca say anything about going anywhere for work other than the Italian Stallion. He never met his father anywhere but the restaurant or his house. After Luca let me in on the family business secret, he continued to meet his father there. We only went to the nightclub to meet Trenton because Luca set it up.”
“They need a place to do their dirty work. Having an underground interrogation room is a necessity. We will have to start there.” Kellan said, writing notes down on a notepad.
“When did he start hitting you?” Kellan asks out of the blue; his tone was clinical and cold. A huge difference from when we first met.
A low growl vibrated from the side of me and Kieron closed his eyes and dropped his head. I shook it off and focused back on the question.
“After I killed my sister’s boyfriend.” I whisper.
