Page 121 of Severed By Vengeance

“Let me ask you a question, Evangelina. You’re supposed to be good at instincts and intuition… well, except when the likes of my son blinds you.”

“Stop fucking with me.”

“The night your godfather was murdered, did you know he was there?”

My throat tightened. “Who?”

“Let’s not play dumb. You know who,” he taunted.

“No, you’re lying,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

He ate the space between us, but I was too entangled in my memories, numb to my surroundings apart from the crushing words spewing from his mouth.

“Am I?” he asked, circling me. “Tell me, dear, you ever get that feeling? The one where the hairs at the back of your neck stand up. When you feel eyes on you, and the weight of a presence you can’t see.” His breath fanned over the side of my face. “Did you feel him, Eva? Did you feel him that night? Watching? Waiting? And let’s be honest, probably debating whether he’d have to kill you too.”

Ronan was in front of me now, but he was just a distorted figure behind the tears flooding my eyes.

“No.” My voice was barely a whisper, the devastating truth tearing into my heart. “No!” I yelled, shoving him away. “He wouldn’t. He’d never—you’re lying.”

I wiped roughly at the droplets sliding down my face.

And he grinned, thoroughly amused by my anguish, as he cocked his head and rubbed at the short beard on his chin. “Well, then, there’s only one way to find out. Follow me.”

“Like hell I will.” Ronan Cain’s devilish laugh made me want to scream. He really was enjoying this, the bastard. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Purely selfish reasons, my dear,” he said with a wink. “Derek thinks he can just leave, as if I haven’t invested years in him. He’s one of the best. Never misses a mark.”

The question was hanging on my tongue, burning it. But I didn’t want to hear his answer. I didn’t want to know anymore.

“However, James—well, that one was personal.”

Pain.

“Please, stop,” I begged, throat clogged with emotion.

Ronan shrugged his shoulders and eyed me one last time before walking toward the closet, turning back to me as he reached the entrance. “Your choice, Eva. Choose to live in darkness or, as they say, let the truth set you free.”

I closed my eyes and hung my head, tears diving off the tip of my nose. This wasn’t happening. I loved him.

I loved him.

He wouldn’t.

He couldn’t.

But I had to know.

I took off behind Ronan. When I reached the doorway, a trap door had opened in the middle of the closet, beneath the large dresser where Derek stored his accessories.

“Fuck you. I’m not going down there, especially not with you.” Pulling out my phone, I dialed Derek’s number.

“You’re so hung up on my son’s cock that you refuse to see the truth.”

“Eva? Can you hear me?” Derek’s voice called for me on the other end of the open line.

“I have a meeting in about twenty minutes, so I won’t be sticking around. But you’re free to continue wearing that blindfold.”

Derek’s voice was frantic now. Had he heard his father?