Page 134 of Tempting My Mafia Monster

He didn’t take the hint. He followed me as I flopped onto the sofa and switched on the TV. He leaned against the living room doorframe, watching me.

“Do you not want to know why I pulled you down from that gantry, even after you’d spared my life?”

“Couldn’t give a fuck.”

“Hear me out. Just so I can feel less of an asshole.”

“That seems like it would be a waste of both our time.” I turned the TV up louder.

“Picture this,” he shouted over the noise. He was like an annoying fly that wouldn’t piss off. He lifted his hands as if conjuring a vision before him. “My little sister, the apple of my eye, was kidnapped. Gone without a trace for six weeks. Her life means more to me than my own. I was losing my mind. Six weeks of pent-up anger, frustration and worry. Then… I get to unleash it. Face one of McKenna’s men in a cage to save her and bring her home. And keep my wife safe from Sean, too. I had to kill you. That was the deal. It was a fight to the death. Me or you. I didn’t pull you from that gantry to save myself. I did it to save my wife and my sister from Sean.”

I stared at the Italian woman on the screen, speaking rapidly, not listening or understanding a word.

“You’re still an asshole.”

Santino smiled. I glared. His amused expression wavered, replaced by seriousness.

“I know Sean took away everyone you loved. I don’t expect your forgiveness, only your understanding. I was protecting the women I love.”

My jaw clenched. Hard. I turned off the TV. His dark brown eyes held mine, searching. Even though I understood more than he’d ever know, I said nothing.

“I know you were under Sean’s control. I know you weren’t fighting me because you wanted to.”

“That’s a lie.”

You don’t know anything. You don’t know what you took from me.

He paused, his eyebrows furrowing. I looked out the window, trying to bite back the truth. I fought him because I wanted him dead. For Connor. But I stopped because… I wish I remembered, but I knew it was for Soraya. I’d been willing to let my brother’s murderer live for her sake.

“What do you mean?”

Fuck. All I wanted to do was confront him about Connor, but I couldn’t. Not yet. I’d risk them all finding out that Callum was Connor before they helped me reach Sean.

“Fightin’ was all I knew. Killin’ was all I was good for. I didn’t want or feel anythin’.”

“If that were true,” he said, studying my face. “Why didn’t you kill me when you had the chance?”

I rolled my tongue over my teeth, shaking my head.

“Was it because of Soraya?”

I tensed at the mention of her. He noticed, cocking his head.

“According to her, you saved her life multiple times. You fought to protect her from Sean. You must have felt something for her.”

“Thanks to you,” I growled, turning my head towards him. “I don’t remember.”

He licked his lips, nodded, and said, “Again. Sorry for that.”

“You done? Or do you have more apologies to make?”

He smirked. “I’m done. You can tell me to go fuck myself now.”

“Go fuck yourself.”

He saluted and turned towards the door with a smile. The arrogant prick had somehow come in uninvited, apologised for trying to kill me, defended his actions, irritated the fuck out of me, and still had the audacity to leave, looking pleased with how it had gone.

He stopped, hand on the door handle, and glanced back at me. “We leave for Belgium at six in the morning.”