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CHAPTER 4

Genevieve

“I need to know what happened,” I repeated as I stormed through the house, finding it even more difficult to breathe. I’d been forced away from my father, whisked back to a home where it no longer felt as if I belonged.

I’d been separated from Bella and had yet to hear from my brother. For all I knew, he’d been taken or killed. My mind was a fucking blur of thoughts and anger that I’d yet to control.

And fear.

So much fear.

Every soldier I’d passed had kept eye contact, none offering their condolences. In their eyes, I was merely a lost little girl they likely felt no sadness for.

Fuck them.

“You need to calm down,” Emiliano said quietly.

“How am I supposed to?” I was close to being hysterical, forcing myself to take several deep breaths. My father’s office door was closed. I hesitated once I reached it, holding my hand on the knob. I sensed I was being watched, my behavior resonating throughout the estate.

After taking another deep breath, I opened the door, only to find my younger brother already inside. “Marco. You’re alive.”

He snorted. “Of course I’m alive.”

The heady round of arrogance I’d left had only intensified.

“What are you doing in here?” I asked, trying to remember he was still a child, at least in the eyes of the law.

“Our father is dead. What do you think? We need to regain control. We need to hunt down the men responsible.”

Marco was seventeen, the mirror of our father in looks and in demeanor except he had a cruel streak tempered by almost nothing.

“I will. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Before he had a chance to argue with me, Bella swept into the room. My little sister was a true angel, protected from the brutality our world offered. She had tears in her eyes and she flung herself at me.

“Oh, sissy. What are we going to do?”

I wrapped my arms around her, closing my eyes briefly, envisioning the horrible tragedy for the tenth time. “It’ll be okay, sweetheart. I promise you.”

“You can’t promise anything. You don’t know what’s been happening,” Marco insisted.

He was right, although his disrespect only added fuel to the fire, which I didn’t need right now. I had to maintain some level of control or chaos would ensue. “I will do what it takes, Marco. Now, we all need to calm down. I have things to do.”

“You have things to do,” he challenged. “What could you possibly know?”

“Just shut up!” Bella yelled. “Our father is dead. Dead!” Her sobs continued, the wretched sound breaking my heart.

I pulled her away, rubbing tears from under her eyes. “Why don’t you go up to your room. I’ll be there in a little while. Everything will work out.” It was at that moment I regretted leaving her for so many years. I also hated the fact I could be lying to her.

She nodded, sucking in her breath and hugging me tightly again. When she finally let go, I glanced at Emiliano. He knew what was at stake. A strike would need to occur quickly, or my father’s business would be threatened.

She ran off just as Antonio walked into the room. He wore no expression, but I knew the man well enough to know I should brace myself.

“What is it?” I asked.

“The shooter was found.”

“Good. Bring him to me.”