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“I stopped the worst of it, then sent her home so she wouldn’t be forced to see my reaction.”
“What did you do?”
There was such an elegant pause that I hadn’t realized he’d stopped talking for almost a full minute.
“What I had to do, Maria. Protect her in the only way I knew how. I made sure he could never rape anyone again before I killed him. I tore him apart limb from limb, just like I will do to anyone who fucks with my family.”
CHAPTER 20
Maria
Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord.
But in this case, my husband had considered himself God, cleared of any wrongdoing because of the reason he’d found the brutality necessary. Had it been? Had he needed to ravage and kill the man?
Truthfully, I didn’t know.
Even worse? I didn’t blame him.
He’d taken joy in destroying the person who’d attacked his sister. I could see it in his eyes, the glee and lack of remorse shining brightly through. And that’s exactly what he had planned for the men who’d attacked him and killed one of his soldiers. Could I blame him? I wasn’t sure I was even thinking clearly enough to be honest with myself.
How horrible that a small part of me was not only applauding how he’d done what he could to avenge what had happened with his sister, but also knew in my heart he’d do the same thing for me and the knowledge gave me a smile.
Maybe you aren’t so goody two shoes after all.
“Now, I’ve terrified you all over again. Haven’t I?” Daniel asked, his hooded eyes mesmerizing.
“No, I…”
“Don’t lie to me. You find me repulsive even after growing up in the same life I was born into.”
“Not repulsive, just…”
“Say it. Reprehensible? Disturbing? Toxic? I assure you that if I hadn’t and my father had found out, he would have forced the asshole to watch while he defiled every female member of the soldier’s family before killing them.”
“If you find the soldiers you mentioned, you’re going to do what you did to your sister’s attacker to them. Right?”
“It’s business, Maria. It’s necessary to save face in this town and to keep our empire strong. Without some level of retaliation, other syndicates will believe they can walk all over us. I have a brother and sister-in-law to protect as they do with me. I have a sweet niece and nephew on the way. I have parents who could be taken out just because our enemies believe it’s the right time. Just imagine what they would do should they get ahold of you. I won’t allow any of those scenarios to occur.”
My throat tightened, a sickening haze forming in front of my eyes. However, the man’s conviction still warmed my heart. As I’d asked myself several times before, what did that make me deep inside? The way he’d challenged the darkness he insisted he’d seen in me had been furrowing in my mind, nagging at me incessantly. At this moment it was even worse. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you wanted me to be truthful with you about who I was and my life. I’m honoring your request.”
I was shaking, angry with myself for needing to hear the end of the story. But I did. “I still want that no matter what you tell me. If I am to be your wife, then I am also your partner.”
He laughed. “My partner. Be careful what you ask for, princess. What you may learn will keep you awake at night. However, you will never be allowed to participate in my line of work.”
“And what did I tell you before? I don’t scare that easily. I can take it.”
“Hmmm… Perhaps.”
“What happened after that? Were you found or did you return home of your own accord?” I sensed his continued surprise that I was pushing him.
“After what I’d accomplished, I felt exhilarated, more determined than ever I was a man to contend with. In other words, I was a goddamn fool to think I wouldn’t be tracked down. My father found me because I’d been caught stealing food in a diner since I had no money of my own. Plus, I think my sister ratted me out, worried that I’d do something I’d regret. At the time, my father handled business the old way just like you’ve heard about in the movies, making business owners pay taxes to keep them safe. I didn’t know that. I’d managed to steal from one of my father’s clients, as he called them. That had prompted the aging man to contact my father right away after locking me in the storeroom.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. “What did your father do?”
“He had his men clean up after me, saying nothing at all when shoving me into the passenger seat of his car. When he got home, I was sent to my room like I was eleven all over again.”
