Page 94 of Stolen Temptation

“Leo De Luca had a grudge against my son and his wife. And before he was sent to jail in Nevada, he confided in Matteo about it, and Matteo had my daughter-in-law murdered.”

It’s not the first time my head has snapped up in Shane’s direction. “What are you talking about?” I’ve definitely never heard this story before.

“Matteo cut her up and mailed pieces of her to us.” Shane’s eyes fall from mine, pensive and cloudy, like he’s seeing her dismembered corpse in his mind. “My son was inconsolable. It was a blow worthy of Matteo’s execution. And that’s why my son did it.”

I’m speechless.

I’ve heard that the heir to the Irish Kings killed Matteo, but no one ever divulged the circumstances of the murder. Up untilnow, I’d assumed it was unmotivated. That there wasn’t any logical reason why they might have wanted him dead that didn’t have anything to do with them being violent, power-hungry monsters.

“A few months ago, Matteo’s brother Enzo appeared to take his revenge on my son.” Shane’s explaining this because he doesn’t know who I am. He doesn’t know I’m related to these monstrous men by blood. Cold sweat dampens my skin at the thought of what would happen to me if that changed. “Later, Enzo not only kidnapped the daughter of one of my men…that psycho cut into her and stole a piece of her bone. He was killed in the skirmish that followed when we sent our soldiers in to extract her.”

I spend the next few moments blinking and attempting to process that information because, seriously, what the hell? I always knew Enzo wasn’t quite right in the head, but to kidnap a woman and steal part of her bone? Who does that?

A shiver races over me. I guess I hit the jackpot in the kidnapper department. Rory could be frightening at times, but I can’t imagine him ever doing something that depraved. For the most part, he’s treated me well. Put me up in a luxurious room, provided me with books when I asked. Gifted me with art supplies and cupcakes and touched me with the kind of passion I thought only existed in fairy tales.

My stupid heart squeezes as I recount Rory’s actions.

“From what I understand, you and your mother have been De Luca property for many years now. Why?” Shane leans forward in his seat. “Who are you,really?How do you fit into all this?”

After licking my dry lips, I clear my throat. “Like I told Rory, they kept us there to paint for them.”

Shane’s shrewd gaze dissects me like I’m a lab specimen. “Yes, but I think there’s more to the story. Something you’re holding back.”

My lungs cease functioning. He can’t possibly know the truth, can he?

Rory steps to Shane’s side, standing behind his chair to the right. I can’t help but meet his gaze. Though otherwise stoic, his eyes contain a silent plea.

He wants me to confess my secrets. Part of me is so tempted, but I can’t force myself to summon the words. As horrified as I am about the awful things my male relatives did, I’d be stupid to put my trust in the Kings. Even more so now that I understand the very legitimate reasons for their hatred.

At the moment, I’m the only De Luca within their grasp. They despise De Lucas. Ergo, admitting I’m a De Luca would place me in serious danger.

At my silence, Shane shakes his head. “I’ll give you a day to think about your answer. Use it wisely.” He turns to Rory. “You stay with her. Maybe you can convince her that I don’t bluff.”

My pulse explodes into a frantic drumbeat as Shane leaves us alone in the room.

Chapter 25

Kiara

As soon as the heavy oak doors close behind Shane, Rory and I are alone again.

Seeing him standing there, eyes cast in the direction of Shane’s departure, shoulders rigid, muscles coiled tight, pushes my nerves into freak-out mode.

A few hours ago, having Rory all to myself was an unexpected fantasy, but being alone together right now lines my stomach with slimy dread.

I push up from the chair I’ve been perched on, all the tense, anxious, ashamed feelings inside me fusing together into some kind of defensive shell.

“Wasthisthe reason you came by earlier?” I wait for him to meet my eyes. “You knew the Kings were going to trade me back to Leo today, so you showed up ahead of time, acting nice and hoping you’d at least get to screw me once before throwing me back?”

The line of his jaw tenses, and his body bristles, but he doesn’t snap back at me. He releases a steady breath. “Is that what you really think?”

I throw my hands in the air. “I don’t know what to think! So, what, you were justlyingtwo weeks ago when you told me I’d be here for a while?”

Rory takes one intentional step in my direction. “Kiara, the situation changed.” His eyebrows cinch together, conflict scrunching up his face. “Leo sabotaged one of our operations, all right? The losses of both people and product are significant.”

Leo? He did something again?

People died?