Page 226 of Maddening Fixation

Some of the hatred I had carefully fed for four long months began to crack.

Not disappear.

Never that.

But crack.

“I will find your father.” Romeo’s voice cut through the silence.

I looked back at him.

His expression had hardened again, the brief softness disappearing beneath the cold determination I knew too well.

“I don’t care how long it takes,” he continued. “I don’t care how many times they arrest me. I don’t care how many men I lose along the way.”

His eyes darkened. “I will find him.”

The certainty in his voice sent a chill through me.

“And when I do, you will be there.”

My stomach twisted.

“You’ll watch him pay for everything he has done.”

I clenched my jaw.

“You’ll see him for who he truly is.”

“Whoever he is,” I snapped, refusing to let his words get under my skin, “he’s still not as bad as you.”

The accusation hung between us.

Romeo didn’t flinch. “I don’t kill children.”

His voice was quiet, but there was something terrifying beneath the calm.

“I don’t murder innocent people.”

He stepped closer. “Your father does.”

My breath caught.

“He killed my sister.”

For the first time, I heard something beneath his anger.

Pain.

Raw, buried pain.

“And he will pay for it.”

“Apart from Keegan, you are the only person who knew I had your father’s location.” His voice remained calm, but something dangerous settled into his eyes. “Keegan would never betray me. Which leaves you.”

My heart sank.

“My guess is that you warned your father I was coming.”