KillianThis wasn’t the first time I’d had to apologize to Tommaso, and it likely wouldn’t be the last. In my defense, I’d grown up with him. We’d fought like brothers our entire lives. Roughing each other up and throwing punches over women should have ended in our twenties, however, and I had been inexplicably in the wrong for nearly killing him over Sera.I hesitated at the door to his room, my hand raised to knock. What could I even say? Sorry? That felt like nothing compared to what I owed him now.The last time we’d fought like this had been the same night I’d gotten the news I’d just become the boss of the Ricci family. I’d been hellbent on dying to avenge my father’s murder. Sera wanted to hear all about it after being informed of the story by Joyce, but in all honesty, I could barely remember what had happened. Tommaso had almost killed me that night trying to save my life.Shuffling sounds drifted from behind the door. I knocked, and the shuffling stopped, followed by a grunt
SeraI did, in fact, watch Dr. Enstrom stitch Killian’s face back together and enjoyed every minute of it. Enstrom hadn’t been gentle. He’d spent twenty minutes reminding Killian he was in his forties, and not an invincible young buck with nine lives yet to live. Obviously, Enstrom didn’t care that Killian was the Hand of Death, and watching Killian get put in his place by the wiry doctor had me hooting with laughter by the end.But then it was my turn, and my laughter immediately stopped, replaced by pathetic sniffles and tears as he sewed the wound on my arm closed. Killian excused himself to make good on the promise he’d apologize to Tommaso, and after the doctor took his leave, I sat alone in Killian’s office for only a few minutes before wandering back upstairs.I avoided Tommaso’s rooms. Who knew what was currently happening in there? They were either making up, or killing each other, and after what I’d witnessed earlier I had no desire to watch them destroy any more rooms. Or e
SeraI woke late in the afternoon and couldn’t believe not even a full day had gone by since Killian and Tommaso had almost killed one another. I groaned, rubbing my eyes and wishing I’d been able to sleep the entire day away, waking in the morning to a new day, and whatever new set of problems would be coming my way.With Killian, I was an acrobat, always walking the tightrope. One wrong move, and I’d fall over the edge into oblivion. Right before I hit the ground he’d catch me, and we’d start the game all over again.It was getting exhausting trying to keep up with him and his moods. I knew without a shadow of a doubt his unwillingness to either commit, or get rid of me, was because of whatever damning secrets he felt he couldn’t tell me.I took a deep breath, trying to get my thoughts together. I could lie in bed and dwell on it, or I could do something with my day.An hour later, I was still in bed, ruminating over the situation with Killian, and overall feeling sorry for myself.
SeraI felt somewhat lightheaded as I tore through the mansion under the cover of night with Killian by my side. My heart thundered in my chest while we took a hidden staircase to the second floor. Wrapped in nothing but a robe, and still wet from the pool, the silken fabric clung to my chilled skin, and my bare feet slid on the marble floor, but Killian had a firm grip on my arm. He wasn’t going to let me fall.He took me through an unfamiliar door on the second story. A lush, well decorated parlor opened up to me, dark against the faint silver light drifting through the windows. Killian shut the door behind us and turned on the overhead light, adjusting the dimmer to reveal only shapes and forms with no detail.“Where are we?”“My private rooms.” He looked at me over his shoulder before he stepped deeper into the room, absently running his hand over a long, deep burgundy leather couch.Compared to the rest of his home, this room was surprisingly casual. One entire wall was lined wit
KillianSnow fell in earnest beyond the windows, gray light spilling through the curtains. I glanced at the clock on the bedside table, taking stock of the time. It wasn’t even six yet. Sera slept snuggled in my arms, her cheek resting on my chest. I ran my knuckles down her arm over and over, lost in random, fleeting thoughts until my fingers grazed her bandage. I stilled my hand.Why was I doing this to her? Better yet, to myself? I knew it was wrong to string her along, acting like whatever we’d built between us could last and turn into something more.I’d never let the thought of getting married and starting a family cross my mind. I’d never allowed myself to fall in love. I’d never been in love against my will.But here I was.Love. Sometimes it felt worse than death, if I was being honest. The crushing anxiety that came along with it felt like a sharpened blade in my side as I tried to go along with my business on any given day. Every decision I made would affect her. Every step
SeraHe shut the bathroom door. I heard the faint click of the lock, but the sound echoed through the room like a death knell.I slid out of bed and fumbled for my discarded robe, pulling it over my arms. Why was he like this? One moment he set me on fire, and the next, it felt like I’d been dunked in ice water, that flame abruptly staunched. The better question I should be asking was: Why was I like this? Killian had proven time and time again what I could expect from him, and I was the one who kept tricking myself into thinking things might change.I’d have to get used to it. Maybe one day there wouldn’t be this rift full of secrets between us. But what was I supposed to do in the meantime? Just allow us to be pushed farther and farther apart?I tied my robe, my fingers lingering on the silk as I looked around the quiet room. He’d left his phone out in the open, and I wondered if it had been meant to be a test. “I don’t want to look in your phone anyway,” I grumbled, stalking out of
Killian“There’s been an accident.” Patrick’s pale face washed with frantic exasperation as he repeated the words. I sat completely and utterly still, unable to process the words a second time.The room spun and the house tilted and trembled on its axis like a spin-top toy.I snapped back to reality with a force that nearly stopped my heart. None of my other men had gone out on any missions last night. All of the soldiers and capos were either tucked up in their designated rooms in my house, my safehouses, or home with their families.All of them except Tommaso.“No,” I said, and it was all I could think to say as I pulled myself to standing.Patrick opened his mouth and shut it again, sweat prickling along his brow as he looked from me to Sera. His tongue flicked out to moisten his lips, but he didn’t speak.“No,” I repeated, clenching my fists. I felt Sera’s panic at the tone of my voice. Her chair squeaked as she stood. Our quiet, cozy morning had shattered in an instant.I wasn’t
SeraI should have been more shocked that Killian didn’t protest at all to my going, but I was too overcome with panic to dwell on it. Following two blacked-out SUVs to a rural, private airport just outside of town, I sat beside Killian in the front seat of one of his cars, this one a modest Rolls Royce.I could have rolled my eyes at the thought that I’d consider a Rolls Royce modest, but compared to his other flashy sports cars, this one felt like it belonged to a much older man who made his millions in finance or media.Killian put on a suit before we got into the car. His hair no longer ruffled, now swept back away from his face. Clean shaven with eyes ice-cold eyes, he was a sight to behold, that was for damn sure. And me?Olivia had quickly helped me dress in a muted red pantsuit, which still hugged my figure, and red-bottomed heels that made me nearly six inches taller than I my natural height. I looked, and felt, like the mafia wives I remembered from when I was young, drippin