Page 74 of Stolen Temptation

“I didn’t say she was the original Libertas.” In the thick, smoggy tension, I force myself to take another breath. “Kiara is Libertas the second. The first Libertas was her mother.”

Shane steeples his fingers on the table. “What does this have to do with the De Lucas?”

“Kiara and her mother are art slaves to the De Luca family.” The words feel heavy and thick on my tongue. “I don’t know for how long exactly, but as long as Kiara’s been alive, so at least a couple of decades.”

Finn moves away from the table, dragging a hand through his shaggy mane. He faces the wall a moment before turning back to me. “The De Lucas force the girl and her mother to paint and then sell the pieces off as…”

“The works of an anonymous modern master.” I finish Finn’s thought.

“Enriching themselves at no cost.” Shane gives a curt, humorless laugh. “I’ve clearly underestimated them.”

“What did the online chatter turn up?” Finn’s tone has come down a few notches from ballistic missile.

“Relative silence.” I approach the table in the center of the war room, standing directly opposite of Finn. “I suspect Leo did whatever necessary to keep Kiara’s disappearance quiet.”

Finn’s eyes darken. “That means he’s planning to take her back.”

I don’t want to think about that. The idea of that psycho getting his hands on Kiara infuses me with the urge to play with explosives.

Great. I spend a little time with the woman and suddenly I’m turning into Darren.

“Which means we have two options.” Shane casts a knowing look at his son. Whatever the options are, Finn doesn’t like them. It’s written all over his vengeful face.

“Sell her back to the De Lucas or keep her as an ace, Iknow.” Finn groans. “What does any of it matter? Even killing her in front of Leo wouldn’t change anything. Wouldn’t bring any of our own back.”

A forceful combination of rage and resistance ignite in my chest. The hand in my pocket balls into a fist, and it’s a struggle to keep my mouth shut while Shane and Finn casually toss around suggestions that would threaten Kiara’s life.

I’ll protect her from them. No matter what they decide.

I shake my head. There’s something wrong with me. I’ve caught a twenty-four-hour insanity bug, maybe. When have Ieverhad a problem with the Kings using people? We’re a crime family. It’s not a novel concept. We do this kind of thing every day. All the time.

I’ve never cared before.

But right now, I’m disturbed. With every suggestion, my anger flares a little hotter.

I shouldn’t want to give Kiara even more special privileges over our other prisoners, but the thought of this family hurting her bothers me to the point of madness.

Sneaking down to my old office?

Lying to Finn about what else happened last night?

Who the fuck am I? A few days ago, I was a loyal soldier, yet one night with Kiara, and I’m changing into something unpredictable and deceptive.

No. That makes zero sense. I can’t be angry about Shane and Finn trying to exploit the situation. I must be pissed about the idea of them using Kiara before I decide howIwant to use her. Of them stealing my toy before I’m finished playing with it.

I don’t have any kind of real connection with Kiara.That’s absurd. We’ve barely been aware of each other’s existence for forty-eight hours.

This is just about sex, pure and simple. Not emotions.

That’s what I get for letting my dry spell drag on too long.

“Leave your feelings out of it.”

I jolt when Shane’s warning tone echoes through the room. Did I say something out loud?

My shoulders relax once I realize Shane’s directing his comment at his son. His choice of phrase causes Finn to glower at the tabletop between us.

“You know as well as I do we need the leverage. Leverage is worth more to us now than any asking price for the girl’s safe return.”