Page 81 of Devil's Property

“Then what happened?”

I felt my chest tighten as I thought about the day I’d found him, his body broken and bloodied. “There were a few business discrepancies, which left nerves running high. Lucian was taken from his home, beaten when he wouldn’t tell Valentino or his soldiers what they wanted to know. After that he was tortured, but my brother was strong.” I gulped half the drink, loathing the emotion that I’d learned to shove aside as if unwanted.

Maybe that was the problem. I needed to remember.

“When he still didn’t break, they brought in the Brain, as your father was called.” I was matter of fact, but the words still stung.

She immediately sucked in her breath, trying to look away, but I captured her chin, forcing her to look in my eyes. “Navarro. I am so, so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, but I need you to hear me, Fallon. I need you to understand. My brother was given a truth serum andtold Valentino everything he wanted to know. When they were finished, they tossed his bloodied body in the same location where I killed that fuck who hurt you. But he was alive. My brother was alive. He told me what had happened. I had to go for help. By the time I returned, the real magic of the drug that was used on him kicked in.”

“What do you mean?” Her voice was barely audible.

“I mean his organs crashed. He would have survived the attack if the Brain hadn’t given him the goddamn drug.”

She gasped, jerking back instinctively, but I held her fast. “No. No…”

“Yes,” I hissed. “Whether by accident or design, your father killed my brother. From there, things got messy. New wars broke out, warehouses destroyed, soldiers on both sides killed. When Valentino had enough, he ordered a hit on Don Torres, but things went wrong. Instead of Don Torres and his family being in the car, mine was. The car exploded just outside the Torres mansion.”

“Oh, my God.” She gripped my hand, leaning forward. I continuously noticed her quivering lip and for some reason, the sight of it grounded me.

“What happened afterwards I barely remember. I was made a soldier in the Torres army. But that wasn’t enough. I went after Valentino and his family in retaliation. I wasn’t the only soldier doing so, but it was very personal for me. The killing continued, innocent people caught in the crossfire.”

“And my mother died.” She was repeating what she’d already suspected, taking in the news and never blinking. Not once.

“Not by choice.”

“What happened to the Aldero world?”

“It was crushed. What few soldiers remained loyal were killed. As far as the business, Rafael claimed his territory. That was during a time that business mostly consisted of illegal activities so it wasn’t hard to do.”

“What about properties?”

I was surprised by her question. “I honestly don’t know. That never entered my mind. Why?”

She half laughed. “Because if my father is dead, whatever is left belongs to me and my sister.”

I hadn’t thought about that. Chuckling, I looked away. “You’re right.”

“Then I want it back.”

She shifted away, her body shaking, but this time from defiance. “My mother is dead because of ruthless games. However, I won’t be a weak link and I will not allow what’s left of my family to be destroyed.”

“Understood, Fallon. Or would you prefer I call you Gabriella?”

“I don’t know yet.”

What was she thinking?

I refused to back away. We were from two entwined pasts, shattered by men seeking power and fueled by greed. There was very little difference today, although Jago was a different man than his father.

But was I different from mine?

Or my brother?

Or the man who’d taken me under his wing, turning me into the killing machine I’d sought and relished over the years?

The answers weren’t as forthcoming as they’d been before.