“You killed my men,” he growled. He was referring to his fucking slimy, dick jerking cousins who wanted my Karina.
I kept my composure, shrugging my shoulders. “They weren’t of any help to us.”
He chuckled, smoothing back his hair. “Us.” He shook his head. “Do you honestly think you're a part of this?”
Something inside me snapped. Something dangerous and unhinged. A dark creature crawling out from the depths of my soul, hungry for not just blood…butpower.“I have been running your empire while you pissed and moaned over your spineless son,” I spat.
Keep it together!
He charged me then, gripping me by the throat and hauling me to the floor.I let him. I needed to be reminded of my place in his eyes—I needed him to think he still had control over me.
Rein in it, Stevens. Play the part.
My loyalty to Ray Romano had been crumbling for quite some time but twenty seconds ago, any loyalty I had for the evil man standing above me vanished.
Things have been so…complicated since my angel followed me in the rain weeks ago. I should have killed her. I shouldn’t have entertained some old fascination. There were things that needed to be done, and she couldn’t be a part of this.
The back of my skull slammed into the floor, and I welcomed the pain. It was a reminder of everything that I had been through, what I had become, and what I had to do. Ray Romano was older, but he still had the strength of a forty-year-old man. He would never allow himself to be the weaker one.
But the strongest man in the room was choosy with his battles.
This was not a battle I planned on fighting.
I would win the fucking war.
“What the hell did you just say to me,boy?” he hissed.
I needed this. I needed to be put back in line in his eyes.
The Mafia was my safety, my survival. This was the only way.
When Cal Matthews took me in, he promised me wealth and control, but I needed to work for it. That was all I had been doing, and yet I was still anerrand boyfor Romano. He didn’t make me any fucking promises.
He just used me.
I needed to appear grateful.
“I apologize, sir,” I gritted as that creature inside me growled in disapproval.
I needed this. I needed this. I needed this.
To survive.
20 years ago. Chicago, IL.
“Collin! Collin! Wake up!”
My eyes shot open as something touched my shoulder. My hand shot out, gripping flesh, and instinct took over. I brought my attacker underneath me, pinning him down with all my might. The world focused in around me, and Kevin was staring up at me with his wide green eyes, his face red from lack of oxygen.
I pulled my hands away from his throat.
“Sorry—I—shit. I am so sorry!” My voice cracked from fear.
Kevin was Mr. Matthews' second son, and I was told I wasn’t allowed to talk to him or his older brother, Ian.
If I did, the boss said that he would gut me like a deer and string me up by my toes.
The well-groomed child below me just stared.
