Page 104 of Scarred Heir

“Are you okay?” I got up from the hearth and took his hand. “You need to sit.”

“I got up too fast.”

He didn’t stop me when I guided him to the couch and made him sit.

“I don’t want to fight with you,” he said. “I need to get rid of this headache.” He leaned his head against the back of the couch. “Maybe if I just close my eyes for a few minutes.”

“Milo.” I sat down next to him and gently shook his shoulder. “What can I do for you?”

“I asked for your loyalty, but you couldn’t give it to me.”

“No,” I whispered. “I didn’t do anything to betray you. I was never working with Chance or Bello. I would never do that to you.”

“You don’t understand how any of this works.” He turned his head and stared at me with a vacant look. Cold and distant.Is that the concussion or something else?“That could get us killed. I can’t take that risk. Not after what happened to my mother.”

“What?”

“She was murdered.”

“I know.” I inched closer to him and put my arm around him. “You don’t have to talk about that now.”

“She knew how to stand by my father’s side,” he said. “But a lot of good that did her. Our enemies found a way to destroy her, and they made sure we never found out who was responsible.”

“Chance isn’t a threat.”

“Yes!” His body went rigid against mine. “He’s working with my enemies. He may have put you in the path of one of the most vile men I’ve ever encountered.”

“Bello?”

“Diego.” He rubbed his temple. “Bello is a fucking roach. A low-level player, but he is useful to someone like Diego, especially when he has someone who has access to me.”

“Chance didn’t know what he was doing.”

“Stop!”

His demand came out in a roar, causing me to scoot to the other end of the couch.

“Your brother aligned himself with my enemy, and he knew exactly what he was doing. He overheard information about where I would be and he leaked it to Bello.”

“Chance was wrong. That’s why I want to send him away.” I fidgeted with my hands because what I was about to do next was a big ask, but it was the only way there couldbe a shot for us. “I know Chance did something he shouldn’t have, but he wanted to protect me.”

“Sable.”

“It was misguided and dumb, and I understand why you want to kill him, but I think he needs to get out of the city and get a real job away from men like Bello. He has to learn that your lifestyle won’t work for him. He isn’t you.”

“What are you asking me to do?”

“Don’t hurt him.” I pulled my knees into my chest. “Send him away. Set him up someplace where he’ll be safe. If you do that, then you and I can be together. He can’t come between us. He can’t screw up your business.”

“And if I don’t fund your little plan? Then what?”

“You know you hold all the cards.” I fought back the tears that filled my eyes. “But you said you loved me. If that’s true…”

“Don’t do that.” He held out his hand for me. “Don’t make me weak.”

“You’re not weak.” I crawled into his lap. “I’ll learn your way of life. I’ll show you I can stand by your side. I’ll be loyal to you. I’ll love you forever.”

The brutal killer inside him softened before my eyes as he caressed my cheek.