AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t know. There was no one else there. Leonardo would have run them off. He’s aggressive that way.”
“Fascinating. So what you’re telling me is that Liam O’Banyon didn’t put you up to this, finding you in a small theater where you had a lead performance in a play. Or did he have breakfast at the sleazy diner where you worked?”
I was so fucking screwed. The terror was reaching entirely new heights, my mind unable to process who’d told him. And why. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
“You don’t?” As he spun around again, I was certain the man was going to put a bullet in my brain. “Tell me the truth and it will be much easier on you.”
“I am telling you the truth. I was born and raised in Sicily, going to school in Paris. Until I arrived here in the United States, forced into a marriage with someone I didn’t know, I’d never stepped foot inside this country.”
“How fascinating. I could swear you have a Midwest accent.”
“That’s crazy. Absolutely crazy.”
He stared at me for what seemed like forever, taking another deep and ragged breath before moving toward the bed. “I’m going to give you some time to think about the answers you’re going to provide, Margot. As you might understand now that you’ve known me for this period of time, I do not handle treachery well. I’ve told you before that above all I value truth and loyalty. That’s what allows trust to be built.”
When he scooped Zorro into his arms, I flew toward him in a rage. “Don’t you dare hurt my puppy. Don’t you fucking dare!” I managed to issue a hard crack of my hand across his face, immediately shocked I’d done something so brazen. Gasping, I backed away as rage flew into his eyes. “Please don’t hurt him. Please don’t. You can do anything you want to me but don’t hurt my puppy.”
“You did this. Remember that.”
As soon as he walked out the door, I broke into sobs, falling to the floor.
Daniel
I heard her sobs and closed my eyes, leaning against the wall. She was begging me not to hurt her puppy. The girl cared more about the dog than she did about what I might do to her. That was a testament to her resolve and character.
And dear God, that made me realize whoever she was, I’d fallen deeply in love with her. Fuck this shit. Fuck the O’Banyons. They’d crossed a line that would mean their deaths without hesitation.
Exhaling, I pulled Zorro close to me, leaning over and kissing his face. He was already squirming in my hold. He was definitely his mother’s dog. I almost laughed at the thought. What the hell was I supposed to do now? Of course, I would need to run my own check on the information, the entire situation ridiculous. But there was more than a solid possibility what I’d been told was true.
Maria, or Margot as I should start thinking of her, was a damn good actress if I said so myself. Her ability to fall into a role that moved way past her small theater acting abilities was incredible indeed. Academy Award-winning performance. However, it wasn’t going to last. She would tell me the truth or so I hoped.
I’d never hurt a woman in my life and while I had no intentions of doing so now, I was way out of my league in knowing how to handle the situation. However, the moment my men and the family enemies found out the entire Thorn regime had been duped, not only would we be the laughingstock of every single crime syndicate, there would be a hard push to enter our territory. And what the hell would the Brotherhood have to say?
Fuck. Fuck.
Instead of heading to my office, I moved into the kitchen, easing the pup onto the floor. I hadn’t realized he had a ball in his mouth and almost immediately, he brought it to me. The little tyke was a bundle of energy and love. I crouched down, tugging it from his mouth. As I pitched it across the room, I fell into an ugly haze.
I’d never been this uncertain of what to do in my entire life. I’d need to talk with Constantine. This would need to be a family decision. Even that would embarrass the fuck out of me.
I tossed the ball a few more times before it seemed I’d tuckered the poor pup out. When he lay on the floor, I moved to the back door, needing some fresh air. She really believed I was going to do something terrible to Zorro. She didn’t know me at all. Then again, I could say the same thing about her.
What I’d read in the information had been admirable, including the fact she’d worked three jobs. Why provide such damning information now? Why push that in front of my face? What kind of a twisted game was Liam playing? Did he want me to kill her? No, it was something else altogether. As soon as I walked outside, I took a deep breath, fighting the rage that needed a release.
The light breeze and intense scents of whatever fucking flowers were in bloom did little to ease my bad mood. I’d locked her in like some bird ready to fly the coop. Nothing made any sense any longer.
I had a terrible feeling that whatever was going on was just the beginning of the game being played. I’d lied. I wasn’t good at being a chess player or any other kind of game for that matter. If my men didn’t find Liam and his family tonight, I would go hunting myself.
I flexed both hands, fisting one then rubbing my palm. I was sick inside, wanting nothing more than to have not been told.
When I sensed a presence a few seconds later, I bristled much like she’d done. My wife. The woman I didn’t even know.
“We have another issue and you’re not going to like it.”
Kane’s voice was full of trepidation.
“You damn well better me here to tell me the O’Banyons were found.”
“They were but not the way you think.”
