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The bedroom goes silent. I stare at his chest, unable to look him in the eye. Then he cups my chin, lifting it until my eyes trail up his face to his gaze.

“Four years ago, my mother and father were killed,” he says flatly. “Executed.”

My whole body stiffens. My pulse is suddenly roaring in my ears, and it feels like my throat is squeezing in on itself.

My family did that,a voice screams in my head.

“I was attacked that night, too” he grits out. “They were mercenaries. I never found out who hired them. I don’t know iftheyeven knew. It’s not like we had a shortage of enemies.”

A horrible, twisting sensation wrenches at my heart as my stomach drops.

Nero, or Laz.

Both are mafia. Both have, and had, plenty of enemies. I looked into it after that day at the bookstore with Laz: his family was embroiled in a bloody conflict with a Bulgarian mafia family at the time that my uncle and the De Lucas were briefly at war.

Was itNero I was with that night, who sent me running as he was getting shot at by my uncle's hired guns? Or was it Laz Kislev, dodging a hail of Bulgarian mafia gunfire as he told me to leave via the back door and not look back?

Either way, Nero still doesn’t know that it wasmy damn familywho killed his. And right now, that hurts much worse than any bruise or cut.

“The night of the attack, they found my parents at a restaurant my father owned.”

His voice is flat; hardened. His face is steely and tense as he looks though me.

“They raped my mother, and made my father watch before killing them both.”

I start to cry before I realize it’s happening. Tears flood down my face as I bury my head against his chest.

I know I didn't pull any triggers that night. I didn't aid or abet the murderers in any way. But not telling him what I know feels just as awful.

“The two men you saw me with that night, in the side yard at Greymoor…” His arms wrap around me. “They were the two men that night that held my father down.” He shakes his head. “Donotfeel bad for them.”

I don’t.

I feel bad forhim.

Horrible.

A tremor ripples through my body, and I feel Nero’s arms tighten around me. Then he slowly pulls back, reaching for my chin and lifting my face to his again. He frowns as he brushes the tears from my cheeks, and our eyes lock. “You never need to be scared of me, baby. Not ever.”

His mouth descends to mine, lips molding to my own. It’s a soft kiss at first, then grows more heated and passionate. My legs widen, and I kiss him with even more hunger as I wrap them around his waist.

“Wait,” he murmurs.

I giggle quietly into his lips. “Oh,you’restoppingmenow?”

He smirks. “Only to ask you what you’re doing tomorrow night.”

Heat floods my cheeks. Then I wince.

“Shit. I have late rehearsal.”

“The night after, then,” he grunts. “I want to take you out.”

I bite my lip as his green eyes ensnare me. “What’s the catch?”

“How about you just shut up and take the win, princess,” he murmurs.

Then I’m moaning deeply as he sinks his cock into me, pushing deep as his mouth crushes to mine.