Page 58 of Redemption
“Well, I fucking insist. Get a hold of yourself. In my house you behave like a man, and not a whimpering boy. Sit, and spit it out. I’m busy.”
I remain standing. “The girl.”
Salvatore’s face is impassive. “Yes?” He supports his elbows on the desk, tenting his hands.
“Kerry Jackson.”
“Yes. Our brave little redhead. What about her?”
His fucking superior attitude suddenly gets the better of me and I snap. I shove all the contents off his desk with one swipe of my arm and lean in, nose to nose. It takes a mere moment and I’m ripped back by the brute, my arms held behind my back in a crushing grip.
“Fuck you!” I squirm and jerk. “Let me go!”
Salvatore waves his hand and the monkey behind me releases me. I square my shoulders and straighten my sleeves.
“What happened, Christiano?”
“She’s gone,” I grit. I clench my fists as heat floods my cheeks.
He frowns. “I know.”
“I can’t fucking live like this! Just— give me something to do. Any-fucking-thing. Use me. The dirtier, the better. Bury me in work or I’ll—”
I swallow the rest. I don’t know how to live anymore.
“I’ve always protected you, Christiano. Your mama literally held me by the balls once, when you joined my business. I don’t think she—”
“I was a kid back then. I doubt she feels the same now, and besides, what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Luciano, I need it. I need to fucking fight. I need a war zone.”
Something dark flickers through his gaze. “You were always my best man, Christiano. I’ve always hoped this day would come. I’ll find something for you. Now tell me, if she meant that much to you, why the hell did you go and follow my orders?”
I clench my jaw as nausea rises in me. I still feel her warm skin, her thudding heart, smell her fear. I still see her before me, shattered, her thin frame, her dark frightened eyes. I did that. I can’t blame anyone else.
“I hurt her bad, Luci. Bad. And now she’s gone. With my baby.”
He tsks. “You’re an idiot. You could have had everything. She’s such a pretty girl. Clever too.”
Yes.
She is.
PartTwo
Alterum Non Laedere
Seventeen
*Middlebro, Canada*
Kerry
Ishake the bottle and then let a couple of drops fall on the inside of my wrist. The content is warm, but not hot. It’s close to perfect. A grunting from the little bed at the back of the other room makes me smile.
“I’m coming, honey.” I jump off the kitchen counter where I’ve been sitting while preparing her evening snack and walk the few feet to her. Looking down at the expectant, deep brown eyes that sparkle when she sees me, my heart fills with tenderness.
“Momma,” she gurgles. “Angwy.”
“I know you’re hungry, baby. Look what Mommy’s got.” I beam back at her and wiggle the bottle before her. My little Cecilia, my Cece, waves chubby hands in the air and tries to catch my arm.