Page 49 of Seduce & Destroy

I let out a laugh. Rows of white and red wines lined the walls, all from different parts of Italy, but mostly Sicily. Messina. Syracuse. Palermo. Scopello. They had it all. I stood in admiration of this wealth and opulence, yet inwardly, I fantasised about turning this place into my personal rage room.

“Pick one.”

My eyes scanned the shelves, back and forth, reading the names as if they meant something to me. Finally, I settled on one—a red Etna Rosso.

After I handed it to her, she took it to a minibar at the end of the shelving and uncorked the bottle before heading up the stairs again carrying two glasses.

I followed her out but took note of the secret passageway as we left. This might come in useful sometime.

A herd of men marched down the hallway at that moment caused the floor to vibrate under our feet.

I shot a hand out in front of Laney to stop her in her tracks, I used my outstretched arm to push myself in front of her to see round the corner of the door at the group of men approaching.

Dylan’s brother was among them and gave me a firm look. When I returned my gaze to Laney, I knew she saw.

“Let’s take the wine outside,” I suggested, and she agreed, moving toward the front of the house, where we sat perched on the front steps.

“What’s happening?” Laney seemed to wonder aloud.

“I don’t know.” But I did. I just thought I had more time.

Most of the commotion was taking place behind the estate house, but groups of men discussed in hushed tones in front of us, too. They were throwing meaningful and worried glances at us and the side of the house when Neenan walked up to them and gave them a stern look with words I couldn’t decipher.

Then, he came toward us. “Laney,” he said when he got near. “Can I talk with you?” She went to nod, but he interrupted to clarify, “Alone.”

“It’s okay,” I said as I waved them off. I had to fight the instinct to bite my cuticles.

I watched the men talk as I waited. When Laney returned, it didn’t take long for her many words to fracture my mind into scrambled thoughts.

“Tell me about your family.”

Chapter 19

LANEY

The fire came from inside the house.

Neenan’s words rang in my ears, the resulting anxiety almost drowned out his next words. “Kenna’s enhanced background check came back sparse. She’s not registered at any school district in England and her family records show little relatives. I’m running her intake picture through facial recognition to be safe. I know you like her but don’t give trust she hasn’t earned.” I never let her out of my sight. Not even when he pulled me away.

I stayed standing in the hallway long after Neenan had left. My defence was weak as I listed all the facts I knew about her. Her family, her homeschooling, her dreams, but truly, I knew nothing. As that thought set in, my heart rattled thick pumps of blood in my chest, each thump marking the slow steps I took to return to Kenna.

Coming up behind her, I observed her eyes wander around the surrounding area, not focusing on anything.

Deep breath in.

“Tell me about your family.”

Deep breath out.

She dropped her shoulders. “Laney…” Coming to her feet, she faced me and reached a hand toward my face to push a lock of hair behind my ear. “Don’t make me go through it again.”

Don’t give her trust she hasn’t earned.

I pulled my head back, away from her.

“Be honest with me.”

“They were strict with me.” Kenna stared into space over my shoulder. “Sometimes cruel.”