Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Milah.”
“I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to look at you. Just stay away from me.”
He watched her go, and his hands clenched into fists.
Damon followed her as Milah rushed back toward the house. He didn’t stop, seeing where she would go, and she stumbled back into the room where he’d put her when she was first given to him.
The door slammed shut.
He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Genius immediately, requesting all the information linked to the soldier named Ricky.
Damon hung up, and Raoul waited for him near the entrance of the basement. “Have you told her?” Raoul asked.
“I think it is best if you leave.”
“Eavesdropping is never good for anyone, but avoiding your feelings is even worse.”
“Raoul, leave, before I regret what I do.”
His friend nodded and bowed, taking his leave.
Damon entered the basement. Ricky had been chained to a chair.
There were no cuts or bruises on him, and Damon was surprised. “You didn’t put up a fight?”
“I have nothing to hide. I imagine you’re running all my information through your guy, and you’ll know everything soon enough.”
“Yeah, what I’m not getting is why you’re here. Why with me?”
“Because a son needs to have more of a reason to avenge his mother, to go against the man that never acknowledged him.”
“Why get involved at all?” Damon asked. “If your mother was a one-night stand, and she had you, tough. Was she a leech?”
Ricky’s jaw clenched, and Damon shook his head. “You don’t have a fucking clue what you’re talking about. My mother wasn’t just a one-night stand.”
“What was she then?”
He waited.
“She was his mistress.”
“So, still a woman used for fucking.”
Ricky tensed up, and Damon stared at him. “You’re one to talk. Isn’t that what you used Milah for?”
His hands clenched into fists, but he didn’t strike. “Don’t.”
“You can call my mother out for being a whore, but Milah, she doesn’t get hit by the same stick.”
“If you value your life, shut your fucking mouth.”
“I do value my life, and I value Milah’s, as well as my unborn niece or nephew. Family means everything. Even as that piece-of-shit man tried to ruin my mother, she always believed that family was strong. She was the one who told me about Milah. That I had a sister. She asked me, on her deathbed, if I would take care of her. To be a good brother to her.”
Damon burst out laughing. “You expect me to believe this?”
“I don’t care if you believe it or not. We’re not all bastards, but maybe your thirst for revenge on Russo has turned you into him, whether you like it or not.”
Anger shot through his entire body. He wanted to put an end to the fucker’s life, but someone must be looking down on him, because at that moment, Genius was calling him.
Damon just wanted to kill him and be done with it.
The man dared to touch Milah. No one but him touched Milah. She was his.
“What do you have?”
“A paternity test, and hell, yeah, this is Antonio Russo’s child all right. He has been working for you for nearly five years.” Genius whistled. “Damn good from what I see. He was a soldier as well. Trained in the art of killing. He has saved your ass so many times. It’s why he’s a main guard at your home. You can trust him.”
“Thank you.” Damon hung up. “Did Milah know about you before today?”
“No. Today was the first time I approached.”
“Why did she believe you?”
Ricky shrugged. “I guess she is desperate for some family. Look, I know you want to kill me, and I didn’t come forward and tell you who I was because I know what a Russo name means around here. I’m not my father. I just want to keep Milah safe, and you. You’re a good man, De Luca, and I will accept whatever punishment you decide.”
Damon glared at Ricky, hating the fact he sounded so fucking reasonable.
He left the basement, knowing he wasn’t going to be able to kill the fucker although that was all he wanted to do.
Several of his guards were stationed outside of the basement. “Let him go.”
“Sir?”
“Nothing is to happen to him. You have worked side by side for long enough. He is one of you.” Damon left and made his way toward the main bedroom, where he found James and Glory.
The young woman was crying.
James had already asked if there was a chance he would be able to marry the young servant girl. Damon had never known it to happen, but with how fucked up everything was going of late, he didn’t see a reason why not. He was going to grant Glory freedom. In fact, he already had, but Glory had asked if she could continue to stay and work for him. The only difference now was she left with James and came back every morning.