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“Me? He’s in your room too.”
“Difference is, I asked him to come and let me know if he’d found anything, which I’m assuming is the reason?” He looked at me, and I nodded. While I hadn’t found anything, I wanted to update him on what Zion said.
“I don’t recognize you anymore, Fred.” Aiden gestured to me. “You’re sleeping with the enemy, making rash decisions, not listening to me when I advise you—it’s like you died and were replaced with someone else.”
Fred slipped on his glasses that were on the night table and stepped up to Aiden.
“The night I watched my uncle Sean and Aine get brutally killed, part of me did die, Aiden. It’s a piece of me that will never grow back. In its place is a dark hole that feeds on revenge, and until I have that I’ll never heal, I’ll never be whole. Your ideas, while cautious, aren’t going to get me any closer to putting a bullet in the head of whoever ruined my life. I won’t tell you again to respect rank; next time I will dismiss you and call in someone else.”
He stepped away. Aiden’s face was ashen, but Fred wasn’t done. “You say you don’t recognize me, but it’s you who is unrecognizable, Aiden. You’re turning into a person I don’t want to know. I miss the man you were, and I wish he’d come home. So upon your return to your room, if you happen to find him, I’d very much like to see him at breakfast tomorrow.”
Aiden didn’t say anything; as he turned to leave I stepped out of his way and watched him walk to his room, never once turning around.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Fred
I sank onto the corner of my bed, head in hands. “I hate this.”
“What do you hate exactly? You’ll need to be specific because there’s a lot to hate, but I think there’s a lot to like as well.”
I could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke; I didn’t have to lift my head.
“I hate having doubts about someone I’ve known for years, Vincenzo. I can understand his hurt.” I looked up, and Vincenzo was closer but gave me space.
“Can he understand yours?” He held up his hand before I could answer. “I know how someone unfamiliar with me would see me. He’s known you forever, and here I come swooping in. My words shine doubt on everything he says and does, and on top of it, I’ve had you in my bed.”
When he said it like that, it did sound every part the manipulation Aiden claimed.
“But anyone who does know me, would realize how dedicated I am not just to finding out who did this and bringing them to meet their fate, but to you, Fred.” He took a few steps closer and kneeled so he was eye level with me.
“I meant what I said. I’ve seen you, I know the type of man you are, and I’m enamored. I don’t want to extinguish the flame that flickers inside you; I want to pour gasoline on it and watch you burn away your demons.” He reached out and took my hands in his.
“I welcome any proof Aiden can find that I have nothing but your best interests at heart.”
I sighed and slid my fingers through his. “In my gut, I know who you are.”
He nodded. “But you’re uneasy because you can’t say the same about Aiden, someone you should have no doubt about?”
“That’s it exactly.”
He lifted my hands to his lips and pressed tender kisses to my fingers. “I’ve been betrayed in my life by people who were supposed to love me, protect me, and sacrifice for me.”
“Your sister.”
“Probably the most painful of all betrayals.”
“Yet she lives.”
He hummed, his concentration on following a vein on the front of my hand. “Last time I saw her she spoke of death and I told her if she truly wanted it, I’d take her life.”
I gasped. “You’d kill her if she truly wanted it?”
His dark eyes met mine. “Anyone else, and she’d already be dead, Fred. It’s not easy to forever remove someone from this earth who you loved unconditionally once upon a time.”
I pulled my hands free and cupped his face. “Do you still love her?”
“Yes, and I hate that I do.”
