Page 236 of Boys Who Hunt

“Punish her?” I ask, shaking my head. “You don’t know how well she took care of Cora. It’s all a big mistake, I’m sure.”

“A mistake?” Stefano raises his brows and lifts a finger. “Oh no. She planned this for months.”

I glance at Ivy, who eyes me with despair, hoping it isn’t true.

But when she opens her mouth to try to speak, only gibberish comes out.

“What is she trying to say?” Silas mutters at Heath.

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t bother. She’ll only try to lie some more to spin a web around you like a goddamn spider,” Stefano says.

“Daddy? I’m scared. Can I go to my room?” Cora asks.

Fuck, hearing her panicked little voice makes me want to grab her and take her with me right now. But Stefano’s hell-bent on keeping them both here at all costs.

“Soon, honey,” Stefano replies. “Daddy has to take care of some guests first.”

“You mean Silas, Heath, and Max?” Cora mutters.

His eyes narrow. “Yes. I believe they stormed into my house uninvited. How many men did you take down? Five?”

“Twenty. At least,” Silas retorts.

He snorts arrogantly. “You think that’s a lot?” Roaring laughter follows. “How many men do you think I have, kid? Just a couple hundred?” Suddenly, his laughter stops. “I am one of the lieutenants of the Bones Brotherhood, and you are in way over your head.”

Silas’s face darkens. “Send me a thousand, I don’t care. I will kill them all to get to her.”

A smile tugs at Stefano’s lips. “Brave. I like that. So what do you want, boy? Money?”

Silas lifts his knife higher. “You think I need money?” He laughs menacingly. “I have more money than I could ever fucking dream of.”

“Then what do you want? The girl?” Stefano snorts. “You can have her after I’m done with her.”

“Over my dead body,” Heath growls.

I’m glad he feels the same way.

Stefano chortles. “That can be arranged, no problem.”

“I don’t think you understand us,” Silas says. “We’re not leaving here without her.”

“What about Cora?” I ask.

“Cora stays here. With me,” Stefano growls.

“Daddy, I’m scared.”

“I know, honey,” he says.

“Don’t be scared, Cora. We’ll take care of everything,” I tell her.

“You think you’re the good guys?” Stefano growls. “When you harbored the thief who stole my child out of my own damn home?” He points at Ivy. “My wife isdeadbecause of her.”

I gasp. “What?”

And it’s hard to believe for me as well.