The frustration had ignited another wave of anger. I ripped out my weapon, pointing it at his head. “There is nothing to keep me from pulling the trigger, old man.”
“Except the truth. You crave the truth, but are you prepared for it? Your father was a true leader, a man refusing to succumb to the rage that’s kept you prisoner your entire life. I didn’t kill your father. I needed his help, which he’d agreed to providing.”
The bastard was trying to goad me. It wasn’t going to work. “What the hell did he agree to?”
“You’re not ready for the truth or to do what’s necessary to keep your family safe. You’re his firstborn son, yet you’ll never be a great leader like he was.”
“What the fuck is this? Another game?” I lost all sense of control, furious not only with him but also with my father for making some insane deal. “Is it in motion?”
When he didn’t answer, I came so close to putting a bullet into his brain, but the rage was personal. Years of guilt and shame, hating and doubting myself had come full circle.
This was personal.
With my hand wrapped around his throat, I squeezed, enjoying watching him flail and the monitors going crazy. I smiled seeing the haze building over his eyes and knowing I had his life in my hands.
“You fucker. You deserve to die.” I pounded him into the pillow, ignoring his wheezing. I just didn’t care.
A flash of light coming from nowhere startled me, a strange warmth capturing my attention.
Then I could see her face. My sweet angel. The beautiful woman telling me this wouldn’t ease my pain.
Fuck. Fuck…
I backed off just as I heard footsteps and a loud voice outside the door. After shoving the weapon into my jacket, I raked my hands through my hair. What in the fuck was I doing? He was right. I wasn’t like my father. I wasn’t suddenly some great leader just because of his death. This certainly didn’t honor the man or his memory.
I backed further toward the door, Jarvis finally pulling me out.
“What the fuck was that?” he hissed “The staff has to be on their way.”
“Nothing good.” Fury continued to tear through me as I headed to the stairs.
The reason my father had kept the potential alliance private was obvious. He didn’t want to upset my mother. And he’d had an inkling of what I could do. My sweet mother had been through too much pain years before, barely able to free herself from the misery. It was a time I remembered far too well. I fisted my hand, trying to control my breathing.
The anger that had consumed me had been born on the day I’d lost a portion of my soul. The control was slipping further.
Why did I have a feeling the man’s words had been a cryptic warning? Maybe that my soul had been taken by the very black magic I’d wanted nothing to do with. Maybe Catherine crashing into my life had been a last chance at finding happiness.
And saving my soul.
“Did he tell you anything?” he asked, jogging behind me as I rushed down the stairs. Suddenly, I needed air.
“Nothing worthwhile.” The last thing I wanted anyone to hear was that our father had been prepared to sell off my sister in marriage. I couldn’t fathom it. Why in God’s name would he do such a terrible thing?
To provide help to Vitelli? That didn’t sound right. Neither did the thought of combined wealth or power.
Although he was uncertain if he’d been the target or my father. That was clear to see.
His act of reaching out to my father had been about his future, not ours.
The past was brought back once again, the ugly twisting memories and despair that had almost destroyed our household and my father’s regime.
What I wanted to do was to force Vitelli to meet his maker on this very day, sending him straight to hell. Maybe his torment could bring some sense of peace to my family. However, even I’d seen the torment in the Italian’s eyes, the death of his son excruciating.
I was determined to discover the reason for his son’s death. At least my sister was protected. Now I needed to do the same for my family.
And for the woman who’d become a part of some twisted game.
Maybe some would say I was doing this to clear my conscience or to possibly open a space in heaven. I knew better. I wasn’t doing it for me or even for my beautiful guest. I was doing it for someone else entirely.
