Page 17 of Die for You (Kiss or Kill #2)

“It appears you know who I am.”

“Enough with the bullshit. Why the fuck are you here?”

“The rumors are true,” he says with a smile. “Lennon Shepherd is the ruthless killer after all.”

“Nice chat,” I quip. “Now answer the fucking question.”

“You know who I am. That is why you are pointing a gun at me, no?” His thick Italian accent reminds me of Aldo’s.

Perhaps they knew one another. Aldo always had his suspicions, but he could never prove them. So why is Francesco willingly divulging this information to me now?

When I neither confirm nor deny his claims, he continues. “I am Valentina’s father. Aldo knew it all along, but it was never spoken of. We arrived from Italy together as we grew up in the same village. I was the one who introduced Gianna into this world.”

“You wanted to double-cross Aldo, but Gianna double-crossed you, didn’t she?”

He nods.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure it out, because I know Gianna. The moment Francesco introduced Gianna to Aldo, he was always going to be the runner-up to Aldo, as Gianna saw his power and what she could steal from him.

“Aldo turned his back on me for ‘love.’ My fault for trusting either of them.”

“Did you know about Valentina?”

He shakes his head.

“She had left me by the time she was heavily pregnant. She kept hidden, even from Aldo, as she didn’t want anyone to know about her pregnancy.”

Of course, she didn’t. It was her plan to exploit Valentina all along.

“Aldo protected her. God bless him for falling in love with il diavolo . It cost him, and now, Gianna is after me. She wants to tie up ‘loose ends’ as she is coming for you, Lenny. She is merely biding her time and compiling an army that is stronger and smarter than yours.

“I come to you, asking for protection. I once worked for Aldo, so now, I offer my services to you. All I ask for is sanctuary in return.”

“How can I trust you? For all I know, Gianna sent you.”

“Over time, I can only earn your trust. But as a good gesture, I will give you what you want.”

“And what is that?”

Francesco stares me dead in the eyes, revealing he knew he would always win. “Valentina.”

I cock the trigger on my gun. But Francesco doesn’t waver.

“I will tell Valentina the truth about who her mother and father really are.”

I lower my piece because Francesco is the missing piece I need.

I gave up after all these years because with the evidence gone and Sister Margarette’s mysterious death—which I know was Gianna’s doing—I couldn’t prove to Valentina who she really was.

But now, I can.

“How do you know about Valentina?” I doubt Gianna told him they had a daughter. If she did, then why does he want her to know the truth now?

“Rumors are circulating about Valentina. There is a mole among us who wants to harm Valentina. They know too much. It’s not Gianna, since that would make her vulnerable, and she doesn’t want anyone knowing about her secret weapon.

“One look at Valentina and I knew she was my daughter. She’s in danger, Lenny. We must protect her.”

Is that why Valentina is here?

Nothing makes any sense.

Putting my gun away, I open the freezer and retrieve the bottle of vodka. I pour two glasses and offer one to Francesco. We both take a much-needed drink.

Truth be told, I don’t trust Francesco. This entire ploy smells of Gianna.

But what if it’s legit?

I know what my answer is. Regardless of good sense, I know I will give Francesco what he wants because he’s the only one to give me what I truly want—and that is Valentina.

He places the crystal glass on the counter. “I’ll see myself out. Bria has my number. The ball is in your court.”

He leaves, and I take a moment to digest everything.

If Francesco is a mole, then I’m about to welcome the enemy into my domain. I’ll take my chances because if Valentina is in danger, then it’s only a matter of time before she is another fatality in a war we never wanted.

I walk up the staircase, and when I enter my bedroom, I duck to miss the flying bottle of wine that Bria’s aimed at my head.

It smashes against the wall, staining the paint red.

I close the door, sighing because I’m not in the mood for what’s about to transpire.

“Please explain to me what’s going on because, correct me if I’m mistaken, but we’re supposed to be partners in all things, are we not?”

“Stop with the sarcasm. It’s most unbecoming.”

“You know what’s unbecoming?” she screams. “You giving me bits and pieces of yourself. I don’t know what more I can do.”

“Stopping screaming would be a good start.” I kick off my boots.

Bria doesn’t appreciate my suggestion and storms over, attempting to slap me.

I grip her wrist and arch a brow. “Careful.”

“Or what?” she challenges, her chest heaving in anger.

I don’t reply.

“This has to do with that cagna , doesn’t it?”

I clench my jaw.

“I am your wife, Lenny! Not her. She left you. She has done nothing but be a major pain in our asses for years, and here you are, pining after her like a fucking pathetic dog! You should be embarrassed. I am embarrassed for you.

“She is the reason my father is dead! She is the reason we can’t live in fucking peace!”

“Wake up, Bria! There is no peace in our world. This is the life we’ve chosen!”

“Well, maybe I don’t want it anymore.”

“That’s your choice then,” I counter, letting her go.

“I fucked Alex,” she reveals, gloating.

Honestly, I have no idea who Alex is, which really isn’t the moral of the story.

“He wanted me, unlike my husband!”

I won’t do this with her. I don’t have time for childish games.

I turn my back and walk toward the en suite. “I’m taking a shower.”

“I tell you I fucked another man, and that’s your response?”

I’ve run out of words because I honestly don’t care.

After I strip off my shirt, I turn on the faucets and wait for the water to warm. I take off my pants and step into the double shower. The hot water feels amazing against my aching body. The bliss is short-lived, however, because Bria charges into the shower and stabs me in the shoulder blade.

Placing my forehead against the tiles, I inhale slowly because a man can’t even take a shower in peace.

Reaching around, I withdraw the blade. It’s only a flesh wound, but regardless, it’ll need stitches.

Turning around, Bria stands in the shower, fully clothed and soaking wet.

She goes to slap me again, but this time, I grab her by the throat and shove her back against the wall. She fights to free herself, but I tighten my hold.

I am fucking pissed off…which is exactly what she wants.

“I fucked him in our bed,” she gasps as I squeeze her throat. “He fucks like a real man.”

“Not sure what that even means, but kudos to him.”

Her eyes narrow, angered I’m not taking the bait. “No wonder she left you…you’re a miserable sack of shit who can’t fuck! She’s probably found a real man who fucks her—”

Bria never finishes her sentence because I spin her around and slam her front to the tiles. I yank up the hem of her dress and slap her bare ass.

She jolts up the wall with the force, groaning in delight.

Reaching around, I grip her throat and arch her head back where I fuck the shit out of her mouth with my tongue. We kiss like we hate one another, and that’s because we do.

But with hate comes love, and I am suddenly hard.

Bria rubs her ass against my cock, and I give her what we both want as I thrust into her. A guttural cry leaves her as she takes everything I give, bouncing back on my cock. I yank her arms above her head and capture her wrists in one hand, restraining her.

She surrenders like always since this is the only sex we have—rough and animalistic.

I think it’s because we hate each other more than we love. But despite this, we have a connection, no matter how messed up it may be.

I fuck her hard, punishing her.

She feels like heaven on my cock, but it’s always been a substitute for who I really crave. Thoughts of Valentina have me fucking Bria faster and deeper. I withdraw only to shove my cock into her so hard, driving her up the wall.

“I love you!” she screams, arching her back.

And I know that she does.

There are parts about her I love, but I can never say it back and mean it the way she wants.

“I love you…even if you don’t love me back. But you will,” she pants, before coming loudly.

I have no idea what that means, but it sounds like an ominous warning of things to come.

But what’s fucking new.