I pulled my gun from beneath my pillow and aimed it at him. He paused, his back to me, before he spoke.
“Matt, you know I can kill you before you even pull the trigger,” he said softly. “I don’t want to have to do that.”
“If you came to reclaim your empire, you can have it,” I snarled at him.
He walked to my door. “I will see you downstairs in your study, brother.”
He left, closing the door behind him. I sat on my bed and lowered my gun, my pulse thundering in my ears. It took me all of a moment to quickly pull on a t-shirt and rush from the room.
I stopped outside Bianca’s door and opened it carefully before peering in to make sure she was safe.
She slumbered peacefully in her bed, snoring softly.
I closed the door and breathed out before going to my office, texting Klaus and Alessio along the way to let them know The Carpenter had returned.
I stepped into my study to find Santino helping himself to a glass of my best whiskey.
He poured me one and offered it.
I went and took it, eyeing him.
I hadn’t seen him in years. He’d been my hero when I was a kid. My best friend, really, and then he’d left me to this fucking hell.
“Why are you here?” I asked as he walked past me and took a seat in front of the fireplace.
I followed and sat in my chair, watching him.
He was still the handsome devil he always was. Evan bore a striking resemblance to him, but he also had the softness his mother, Amy, had.
“My son,” he replied, staring me down.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I said. “I, too, lost a child. My daughter. Gianna.”
He said nothing, opting to drink, his blue eyes fixed on me. In the history of forever, he was the only man who unnerved me.
I shifted in my seat and looked at my drink.
“You are an excellent liar,” he finally said softly. “You have gotten better over the years. It’s impressive, but…” He tapped the side of his head. “It’s still not good enough. I came for my son. Either you let me have him, or I will show you how I can rearrange your guts ten different ways with my hammer while jerking my cock at the same time. I’m really quite an artist these days.”
I swallowed. “Santino?—”
“Tell me why,” he said. “You did it. I want to know your reasoning.”
We were both quiet for a moment before I spoke. There was no escape, so I answered him.
“To save him.”
Santino nodded and sipped his drink again before settling back in his seat. “I am going to assume he is hidden.”
I nodded. “He is.”
He said nothing as he stared into the fire. I watched him drink more.
“I am sorry for the loss of your daughter.” He looked over at me with his piercing blue eyes. “It is an awful pain to lose what you love.”
“I suppose we’re both masters of pain then,” I murmured before drinking.
He let out a soft, sad chuckle. “Yes. I suppose we are.”
