“I don’t know where to start. It’s such a long, fucked-up story,” Mitch admitted.
“Try the beginning,” Jess said.
“Okay, but I need to understand why you haven’t called the police?”
Jess met his gaze calmly. “Because I know that there are things in this world that don’t make sense. Like my billionaire boyfriend knowing how to fight like a professional bodyguard.”
Mitch paced back and forth and then stopped and spun to her, making Jess jump. He immediately held his hands up. “I swear, I’ll never hurt you.”
“Uh-huh,” Jess said, unconvinced.
“Jess, I was born into a family of fanatics. They’re actually worse than that, but there’s not a word for them. They believe… in things many don’t. And that has made them cruel and suspicious. When I was five, my mother was killed. For a long time, I believed it had been an accident. In addition to attending school, for an extra five hours a day, my father, Alexander, and grandfather, Alfred trained me…” Mitch broke off and took a sip of coffee.
Jess waited with a knot in her gut. She sensed something dark was coming, and Mitch was stalling.
“If I didn’t learn the lessons they wanted me to, and be able to recite them, Alexander beat me. In addition to studies, two hours a day was spent on physical training. There was never a break for birthdays or holidays. They crammed the family history into me, intending to make me like them. That backfired when I discovered that they’d butchered my mum for something she’d seen.” Mitch paused.
Despite her rising alarm, Jess couldn’t help her exclamation. “They murdered your mother? Who did?”
“Alfred and Alexander.” Mitch looked out of the window. “It was then I took Mum’s surname and ran. She’d left me four jewellery shops, and I inherited them and expanded, becoming what I am now,” Mitch said.
“Mitch McQuoid.”
“Yes. I cut ties with Alfred and Alexander, but every so often, they pop up wanting me to rejoin the family business. They don’t accept that I can walk away without looking back. They honestly believe I should understand why they killed Mum and get over it. That’s not something anyone should forgive.”
“What monsters, Mitch… But who was that man you killed?”
“When I left, I took an insurance policy. I’d scanned hundreds of documents and diaries and had knowledge and evidence of the murders they’d committed. Until now, I’d never needed to use them to get them to leave me alone. But for some unknown reason, they’ve decided I need to return to the family fold. According to Alfred, my feelings are redundant; I should obey because of my blood tie. Fuck that,” Mitch spat.
Jess’s stomach was churning, and she felt sick. She’d an idea of what Mitch’s relatives were, but couldn’t put voice to the word.
“The man?”
“At the last, forced meeting, I told them there was no way I’d ever rejoin the happy murder gang. Alfred threatened me, and I replied in kind. Apparently, Alfred, my grandfather, decided to test my resolve and sent an assassin after me.” Mitch rubbed the back of his neck as he held Jess’s eyes.
She wanted to believe that what she was seeing in them was honest, but she couldn’t trust Mitch. Not knowing how deceptivetheycould be.
“What did you do after killing him?” Jess demanded. Would Mitch be honest?
“A friend and I took the body and dumped it at Alfred’s estate. It was a message that they’d failed, and I was riled. After that, I released some information that implicated Alfred in a murder.” Mitch frowned and blew a breath out.
“Are they the mob?” Jess asked, knowing the answer.
“No. They’re far worse. And they’re vile. Jess, I want nothing to do with them. I know what you saw shocked you, and, in all honesty, I’m surprised you haven’t phoned the police. Jess, it’s probably not going to be safe around me for a while,” Mitch admitted.
“Mafia?” Jess pushed.Would Mitch admit what his family was?
“No.”
Jess eyed Mitch, attempting to decipher his motive. There could be several. Mitch might be trying to lure her in. Discover where Jess lived and then attack when she was at ease at home. Mitch might want her to offer him safe harbour at the castle and then lead his band of merry brothers to Jess and the others.
“What are they?” she asked, her voice implacable.
“They go by the name Sealgair Uilebheist; it translates into Hunters. They are bad guys, Jess, the worst of the worst. You need to stay far away from them. Alfred doesn’t care who he kills as long as he gets the answers he wants.” Mitch closed his eyes. “They’ve even tortured people. If they knew how I feel about you, they’d try to take you to control me. And they’d be able to.”
“Hunters? What do they hunt?” Jess asked. Her mouth was dry, and her voice was cracking. Hopefully, Mitch would think that was because of what he was telling her or because Jess was afraid of him.
“You don’t want to know, Jess…” Mitch sighed.
