“Not Kenji.” The man’s reply grabbed my attention.
Moving further into the shadows, I angled my body to give me a view of Ishika, catching the shattered pieces of porcelain around her feet.
She was breathing hard, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. “What do you mean not Kenji? I had one brother and he’s dead.” Undisguised agitation filled her words.
“Your younger brother.”
“Wait. Hold on.” She took a step back, shaking her head. “Younger brother?”
“Ishika.” The man sighed, nearing her. “Your brother was taken the same day the rest of your family died. You were either too young to remember or lost your memory?—”
“Are you kidding me?” she shouted. “How can I forget my own brother?” Raw emotion debilitated her struggle not to break down.
That sudden squeeze on my chest startled me. The feeling so alien it had me gripping the gun tighter, my head clearly baffled by the sudden hold this woman had over me. I barely knew her and relationships were something I avoided. The need to find out more, though, challenged my desire to go to her.
Her abrupt twirl away caught the man of guard as she swung back just as quickly, waving a knife at him. “I don’t know what sick game this is but if you don’t leave right now, I’m calling the police,” she threatened.
His hands went up, palms out. “I know you’re angry and you don’t believe me right now. But just stop for a moment and look at this.” He nodded to his wife.
The woman drew something out of her purse and held it out to Ishika. She hesitated, her eyes darting between them, the knife still defending her position before she reached out and snatched the item. Frowning, she stared at what I presumed to be a photo.
Then, as her gaze lifted to the man once more, the hand holding the knife slowly lowered. “This is my family,” she whispered, her voice thick with anguish.
He nodded. “Yes. Taken when you were eight. As you can see, your mother is holding a three month old baby.”
“I have another brother.” Clearly shocked, Ishika backed away until her rear met the sink. Abruptly turning, she dropped the knife, the loud clatter resonating in the silent kitchen before her sobs filled the space.
Again the unfamiliar emotion clawed at me. Never in my entire fucking life had I felt this out of sorts. Whatever it was, I hated it.
The couple gave her room to cry for a moment and shared a look I couldn’t read before the woman approached Ishika. Her words comforting, almost motherly as she embraced her. “I’m sorry, Ishika, this is not how we intended you to find out.”
Ishika straightened, moved out of the woman’s hold and turned to face the man, her red-rimmed eyes shifting between the couple. “How do I get him back?”
He stepped forward, scratching his beard. “After you marry Ajay, they’ll hand Kai over to you.”
“Marry whose son?” I growled under my breath, my fingers biting into the gun. The wordminepulsed through my veins.
“What sixteen century bullshit is this?” Ishika tossed back. “They’re blackmailing me into an arranged marriage contract that began God knows when and I’m supposed to just give up my life for a man I don’t even know just to get my brother back.”
“You don’t want him back then?” the man asked, his tone tight with irritation.
Ishika narrowed her eyes at him, her defiance reminding me of just how beautifully she’d sucked the cum out of me and fought me at every turn. I choked back a chuckle. As if she heard me, her gaze strayed around the room until it rested where I stood. I wondered if she could see me and I silently urged her to come seek me out.
Maybe I’d get my cock sucked again or maybe, I’d spill some blood and end the life of that fucker who seemed to be pushing her into a situation she didn’t want.
Then what?
Toss her over my shoulder, take her back to the estate, handcuff her to my bed and fuck the living shit out of her.
Done.
However, her gaze shifting to the man stopped me as she asked, “why did they take my brother in the first place?”
“Collateral.”
She frowned the same time I did. “Collateral?” The fucker nodded. “For what?”
He sighed, staring out the window. “Your parents never wanted this arrangement for their daughters and why they disowned their respective families and moved to Italy, in favor of a free life ungoverned by traditions.” When his gaze returned to Ishika, something in his expression worked a nerve at my nape. He was lying to her.
