Page 30 of Crazed

I blink hard, not wanting to cry but suddenly feeling nothing like my usual strong self. I curse myself, unable to stop the chaotic emotions annihilating me.

"Sit down, Katiya. Please," Ettore orders, but it's in a softer tone.

I freeze, unsure what to do, staring at Massimo.

"Dolce, sit down," Massimo reaffirms.

Not knowing how to get out of this, I take my seat.

Massimo slides next to me and puts his arm around my shoulders, hugging me close to him. He orders, "Ettore, this needs to stay between the three of us. I expect your discretion, as usual. Now, are you going to offload this for me or not?"

Ettore sighs. "You need to tell your papà about this."

"No," Massimo declares.

"Why not?"

"This isn't his business."

Ettore scrubs his face. He closes his eyes for a moment then refocuses on us. "How did you get this ring? I assume you stole it?"

"I'm not a thief!" I cry out, but shameful heat burns my cheeks.

He scrutinizes me, making me feel like an ant in a labyrinth with no way out.

Massimo starts, "Ettore—"

"A ring like this, an owner wouldn't forget about, especially Ludis Petrov," Ettore claims.

I can't deny it. Even I don't understand how I haven't been caught by now.

"It's been several years. No one knows she has it. Are you going to do this for me, or should I find someone else?" Massimo barks.

Ettore points at him. "You better think before you go waving this around."

Massimo grunts. "Please. I'm not stupid. I brought it to you for a reason. But if you aren't going to help me—"

"I didn't say that," Ettore interjects.

The room turns silent again. A stare-down between the two men reignites.

In a no-nonsense voice, Ettore proclaims, "Does anyone besides Ludis know this is missing? Has she told anyone?"

"No! Of course I didn't!" I declare.

"But you stole it?" he asks again.

I've never felt so small. I lift my chin and square my shoulders.

"She had justifiable reasons," Massimo claims.

Ettore arches his eyebrows, continuing to make me feel like a schoolgirl in trouble.

With as much confidence as I can muster, I state, "I've never stolen anything in my life besides this ring. If you were in my shoes, you would have done the same thing. And to answer your question, no one else knows about it."

A few seconds pass, and Ettore's expression softens. He nods and says, "Okay. Let's keep it that way."

"You'll do it?" Massimo questions.

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