Page 58 of Brutal Crown

“Your father got too close,” he murmurs, not directly answering my question. “He thought he was exposing corruption. He didn’t realize he was unearthing bones. Old ones that have been buried deep for decades.”

My heart begins to thud even faster.

“He unknowingly unraveled the kind of history that punishes bloodlines, the kind that should remain buried alive…”

My voice comes out hard. “They killed him.”

“Of course, they did. They always kill the ones who get too close.”

He takes another step toward me, and that is when I take a step back. He smirks. “What they didn’t know was that your father was only repeating history.”

“Who are they?” I whisper, but I already know. “You mean… La Mano Nera? They are some kind of secret society?”

He chuckles. The sound is soft, yet eerie. “Maybe. But no. I mean history.”

I frown. “What are you saying?”

He walks toward a shelf and runs a hand along the thick, smooth wood.

“There was a man, once,” he says. “Vecchio Nero. One of the first six. He saw danger in every branch of the old bloodlines. He tried to cut them off and turn against his own people. Until two families made a pact.”

My mouth goes dry. First six of what? Could it be those names I saw in my father’s journal?

Romanos, Morettis, De Lucas, Altieris, Vescovis, Salvatores.

They were mentioned so many times in the second book I didn’t understand. They all must be in this society together, and they killed my father to hide his truth.

“Romanos,” I whisper. “And the Morettis. They share a dark history.”

Cassian hums, turning to face me. “Their ancestors broke every law. Killed their own to survive. And they thought they could end it. Seal the truth with blood. And they bound themselves and their heirs through carefully planned loyalty displays, decades in the making.”

His gaze drops to my stomach. “But you can’t kill a prophecy.”

My arms wrap around myself instinctively. “What prophecy?” I ask, my voice trembling slightly.

He steps forward again.

“The child of unsanctioned blood,” he murmurs. “The one who ends what the ancestors began.”

My breath stutters. “You’re insane?—”

He reaches a hand toward my midsection, slowly and deliberately.

I jerk back on instinct. “Don’t touch me!”

He doesn’t flinch. “You already carry the key, Lia. And you don’t even know what you’re about to unlock.”

I stumble back, heart pounding as I rush past him and out of the cellar, feeling the walls close in on me.

His voice echoes after me. “You can’t run from what’s in your blood.”

I blindly bolt up the stairs. I don’t stop until I slam straight into someone.

Strong arms catch me before I can fall. His scent wafts into my nostrils.

Marco.

He steadies me, his eyes narrowing as he sees my face.