Page 13 of Avenging Azalea

“Stop, you owe me nothing. I made a choice. I wasn’t forced. For the record, I’ve never pitied you, and I’d do it again a thousand times.”

It was dumb, but the idea that he wanted me in his life and would take me from Cesare and my old life all over again made me feel like I was worth something.

“You are mafia, right? Why are you this freaking nice,” I asked, confused how this man could be the way he was when I’d heard and seen so many terrible things.

Titus burst out laughing, the deep rumble completely intoxicating like the rest of him.

“Yes, I am, but I hope you never see more of my world than being sold by Caesar. I choose not to let the world I was born into define who I want to be as a person.” He sobered and stretched out, crossing his feet at his ankles as he folded his arms over his chest.

He was mesmerizing, and I couldn’t take my eyes off him even if you paid me. The elegant suit, with the long buttercream coat, did nothing to diminish the sexy appeal of the jeans and T-shirt he normally wore around the house. In contrast to his casual look, the crisp lines of the suit and the slight bulge of his gun hidden underneath enhanced the mafia vibe and reminded me of an Al Capone movie.

“So, what are you going to do with me?”

He looked at me, and his face turned serious.

“Well, for starters, we are going back to the house. It’s Thursday, and you have a long weekend so technically it’s not too late to choose a movie. Then I’ll let Bella and Daisy tell you off for sneaking away and making them worry.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes, that’s it. I’m not going to punish you if that’s what you were thinking.”

“You confuse me,” I said, mimicking his pose.

“Why is that?”

For just a moment, I was tempted to tell him what I had endured, all of it. Maybe I finally had someone to share my trauma with and not keep it buried. But the caring look in his eyes stopped me. I couldn’t bring myself to say the words. Even if he didn’t pity me, telling him I’d been used sexually as payment for the last two years wasn’t something I ever wanted him to know. It was my secret and my cross to bear, along with the doctor’s appointments and blood tests to make sure I was still valuable. I…I couldn’t.

“You just do.” I sighed and then shrugged. “I still need to find a way to help my brother.”

“We will. I’ll contact a friend of mine and see if he can locate your family. Once I do, then we’ll go from there.” I swallowed hard. What the hell would he learn if he started digging into my stepfather and family? “Do you not want me to? You look worried.”

“No…yes. I mean, yes, I do, but….” I stood and paced back and forth. “What will you do with George?”

“Do you think I’d hurt your little brother?”

“What?” My eyes grew wide. “No, I didn’t mean that. I just…will you bring George here or ship him off to another family? Are you going to kill my stepfather?”

“You need to lay off the old mafia movies.”

Titus smirked as I crossed my arms and glared at him.

“No, I’m not going to kill your family or toss George into some random orphanage. But I can’t bring him to my house. I took you as payment for a debt owed, but you’re sixteen and already self-sufficient. I’m not ready to be a surrogate stepfather to an eight-year-old, and it’s complicated with my family.”

“I understand…maybe I can give George a phone so I can keep in touch,” I offered.

“No, I didn’t mean that I wouldn’t go get him, just that he can’t come home with me. I’ll place him at a boarding school where he’ll be safe.”

“Sooo…you’re going to kidnap him?”

Titus laughed. “No. Let’s just say that my men can be persuasive without killing anyone.”

I swallowed hard, not wanting to know what that meant, even though I was tempted to ask.

“What school? Does it have a good reputation?”

“You ask a lot of questions,” Titus said.

Heat spread across my cheeks, and I looked down at my sneakers. “I like to know things.”