Page 121 of Malicious Claim

His smile increased in cynicism. "I'm saying you have a different definition of luxury. And that? That makes you a threat."

I reached for my fork, cutting into the dish in front of me, playing the role of a woman who was enjoying her evening. "You knew my family, didn't you?"

The effect was immediate. Stefanos's hand stilled for just a fraction of a second before he took another sip of wine. "Yes, a little."

I pretended not to notice the hesitation. "And?"

His smirk faltered. "And what?"

I shrugged. "Makros killed them all. I think I deserve to know why."

The table between us iced over.

Stefanos exhaled, reclining in his chair. "Leila—"

"I was happy and at peace," I interrupted, my tone low, even. "And then one day, my entire life was ripped from me. You don't think that's worth explaining?"

Stefanos drummed his fingers on the table, staring at me. He wasn't stupid. He knew how dangerous it was to talk about Makros's past actions, especially to me. But he was a man who wanted to get in my pants, he'd do anything to make me happy.

He glanced around, then leaned in. "Makros had motives. I'm surprised you don't even know."

That made my heart miss a beat. "What are you talking about?"

Stefanos sneered. "That's not the way it is. You don't learn all the answers at once."

I allowed a flicker of annoyance to show. "Not even if it makes me less miserable? Or that I will repay you."

Stefanos hesitated, then finally sighed. "It was revenge."

The word struck me like a blow to the heart.

Revenge?

What revenge could possibly be worth the killing of my whole family?

Before I could get him to tell me more, he shook his head. "That's all I'll say."

But it was already too late. He had fallen through. And I would discover the rest.

The rest of the evening was like trudging through wet cement, but I forced myself to smile, to laugh on cue. Stefanos wasn't terrible to spend time with—he was good at jokes, and a few of them were actually funny. But I had more pressing issues than being a good sport.

Half a bottle in, Stefanos was really getting quite tipsy and I suggested we go back to the estate.

Back at the estate, I closed my bedroom door behind me, locking it.

Immediately I brought out the envelope from Vincenzo's henchman. I exhaled, my fingers running over it before eventually tearing it open.

There was a single sheet of paper inside.

One name.

One direction.

My first real mission.

My head pounded, but the more annoying sound in my head was Stefanos's voice.

Revenge.