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I scrunch my brow in confusion. “Nicolas? I don’t know a Nicolas.”

He continues to have us circle around the island. And I don’t miss what he is doing, trying to force my back to the doorway to the kitchen.

“Is he not your husband? Or maybe your lover? From the looks of it, he isn’t giving it to you like I did.” He inches closer to me as I fumble to keep my footing and my eye on the door behind me. “Do you remember those nights? The ones where I had you tied up and screaming my name for hours. When you let me take a knife and slide it—”

“Enough!” I shout.

“Mmm, you are getting riled up just the way I like it.”

“What do you want, Kilian?”

His playful face turns serious. “Where the fuck is Nicolas?”

I skim my hand along the bottom lip of the island and find the secret door that holds a knife I keep hidden. “I told you I don’t know a Nicolas.”

“He was in your house just a few weeks ago. I doubt you forgot about a gentleman caller?”

I scrunch my brow. What the hell is he talking about? Then it hits me. “You mean Ezio?”

“Ezio?”

“My brother,” I say just as I hurl the knife in my hand and hit Kilian in the shoulder, causing him to drop his gun. My stupid heart not willing to use my own gun to shoot him.

“Fuck!” he yells as he grips the blade with his other hand.

I turn and run, making it through the kitchen doorway and sliding across the tile as I try to make it to the front door. But a large man steps into the hall, blocking my escape. I drop and go to roll underneath him but he’s too quick. All I see is the butt of his gun coming for my head before everything goes black.

* * *

My head is throbbing as I come to. The warm feeling of blood drips down the side of my head and down my neck. My eyes flutter open but the pain of the light is too much to keep them open. I try to gain my senses. I’m sitting in a chair. My arms tied behind me, the cut of zip ties pinching my skin as I move my wrists. My legs are also tied down. All I can think of right now is that I’m happy I let Aria go to a sleepover. I just pray to God they don’t try to find her.

I attempt to open my eyes again as I lift my head. I blink away the pain and take in my surroundings. I’m still at home. In my kitchen. I’m tied to one of the kitchen chairs.

I glance to the side and see Kilian talking to the man that knocked me out. Kilian was wearing a dark-gray three-piece suit earlier but he’s removed the jacket, vest, and shirt. He stands shirtless with a bandage covering his right shoulder, bloodstains still on his skin. I smirk, I hope it hurt when I hit him with that knife.

“Are you just going to keep me tied to this damn chair, or are you going to tell me what the fuck you want?” I growl to get his attention.

He looks over at me and smiles. That smile that won me over twelve years ago. “Ahh, she’s awake.” He walks over to me and traces a finger down the side of my head where I’m bleeding. “I never would have someone hurt you,anam cara.But you did throw a knife at me.”

“You deserved it.”

“Did I?” he asks as he circles me. I follow his gaze when he reaches my front, lust fills his eyes as he takes in my body. That’s when I notice the silk robe I have on has fallen off my shoulder, revealing my see-through red lace bra. His finger trails over the top of my breast causing goose bumps to flood my skin. “You always had a taste for sexy lingerie. I’m glad to see that hasn’t changed.”

“Fuck you.”

He leans over me, his hands clamping down on my thighs, his face inches from mine. “Maybe in a different life. Now tell me where your brother is.”

“I don’t know,” I spit as I look him in the eyes with fury.

“You know, for someone who claims they aren’t in the mafia, you seem to have a handful of weapons in this house. And your knife-throwing skills are on point.”

I grit my teeth. “I’m not in the mafia.”

He squeezes my thighs harder. “But your family is.”

I keep my face straight, not giving anything away.

“Boss, we found the girl. She is at a friend’s house.”