Page 45 of Severed By Vengeance

“Will she have the same fate as that asshole in the cellar?”

My eyes flashed up at him from behind the glass. “No.”

The word flew out of my mouth, cutting and resolute before I could even process its meaning.

Kai’s eyes narrowed, a question hanging in the air. But he looked away, a pensive expression etched onto his face. He didn’t say anything more, choosing not to vocalize his concerns.

I leaned back and stared into my drink as if the answers to his unspoken questions lay hidden in the amber liquid.

Kai rubbed a hand through his dark hair and huffed a long breath. “So, this Eva woman—she’s Franco’s daughter. Does he know who you are?”

I lifted the hem of my shirt to a faded scar on my abdomen. “Two years ago, I caught the business end of a blade and he did my sutures. He doesn’t know my connection to James… for now.”

“You’re not planning on meeting him, are you?” He scooted to the edge of the sofa, a severe look on his face. “He’s going to put that shit together. He’ll know you did it. Then she’ll know. Loose ends, D.”

“Nobody touches her.” My voice came out more like a growl than words.

He put both hands up in his defense.

“You know me, brother. I would never. But word gets around. And Franco isn’t going to keep quiet about you sleeping with his daughter.Andshe’s a cop? Derek, that’s some Armageddon-level shit you’re about to jump balls deep into.”

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

EVANGELINA

Ilooked back at my childhood bed. Though hard to see from under the pile of clothes, lavender sheets with white roses still adorned the queen-sized mattress in the center of the room. I twisted my body in front of the mirror for the umpteenth time since my shower an hour ago. For reasons I refused to examine, I’d changed outfits six times, fussed over my hair, and couldn’t decide which shoes would still be practical but also give me an inch or two in height.

I finally threw my arms up, realizing how ridiculous I was acting. Since when had I ever gone out of my way to impress a man?

It was just Derek.

I pulled on an oversized knit sweater and let my hair loose, smoothing my fingers through the waves and sighing.Just Derek, I repeated in my thoughts—a place where his name, face, and scent had taken up residence for the last two days. I wanted to convince myself that my draw to him was solely due to his connection with James, but I knew better. He made me feel things I hadn’t felt in so long.

He’d been so bold. So forward. I could have him if I wanted to.

And I did. Fuck, I did.

I just knew he’d be a passionate lover. Those arms, that chest—why did I have this craving, this need to be ravaged, tossed around, and disrespected in the worst and best ways possible?

My eyes closed of their own volition, and I stifled a moan when I thought of that man between my legs.

“Eva?” my father rasped against the door. His voice, though soft, startled me, and my eyes popped open.

“Come in,” I said, leaning close to my vanity as I pretended to retouch a subtle liner around my lips.

His hulking figure walked inside, hands in the pockets of his blue scrubs. I felt his eyes on me and a strange tension radiating from his stance. “You’re meeting him again, aren’t you?”

I paused to meet his scrutinizing gaze in the mirror. “He’ll be here in about twenty minutes. We have plans.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

I whipped around. “I don’t understand. Why?”

“Because you don’t know this man, Eva. He can be anybody. Just because he’s James’s blood doesn’t automatically grant him entrance into our family and our lives.”

His disdain toward Derek was ridiculous and unfounded. He’d never met him and was already writing him off without giving him a chance. He and James had been so close for many years. None of it made sense.

“So, then get to know him. Give him the benefit of the doubt.” I took his hand in mine. “Do you doubt my judgment?”