Page 50 of Taken by the Mafia King (Kings of Philly #1)

SERA

M y ears rang as I looked back and forth between Fred and Killian. Fred, a man I trusted and loved like a father or uncle, and Killian, a man I hated but needed like I needed oxygen. Both of my worlds were colliding right in front of my face, but all I could think about was my father.

Possibly the only man I hated more than Killian. And loved. And feared.

“Is he dead?” I asked. My voice sounded hollow and competed with the ringing in my ears. What was that God awful sound? I reached out and steadied myself with a hand on Fred’s arm.

“You didn’t tell her?” Fred closed his hand over mine and glared at Killian. “She’s been here this whole time, and you didn’t tell her?”

Killian stood motionless a few feet away, looking more like a painting than a living, breathing man. Finally, he shifted his weight, and spoke. “This isn’t the time.”

“No,” I said sharply. “Don’t do this to me. Please. I can’t stand not knowing anymore. Is he dead? Did you kill him?”

Killian looked like I’d just slapped him before he rolled his shoulders and stalked forward like a predatory cat. I thought he was going to grab me, but he grabbed Fred instead and hauled him toward the top of the stairs.

My heart lurched, and I hurried forward. “Wait!”

“We’re done here,” Killian growled.

He and Fred descended, and Fred muttered a string of foul curses as he yanked his arm free. When they got to the marble floor of the foyer, Fred rounded on the Hand of Death, and I felt a surge of fear for him.

How far would Killian be pushed before he snapped?

Fred smoothed his ruffled shirt. “I can’t believe you didn’t fucking tell her. She’s been here believing her dad was going to come for her all this time! Show some mercy, you bastard.”

I hurried down the stairs and ran across the marble to keep up with them. “He’s dead, isn’t he? Oh God.” I clutched at my stomach as he rolled. “Just tell me. Please. Someone tell me. I can’t take this.”

Killian pushed Fred toward the door. It was like he couldn’t even hear me. Like I didn’t exist. Like he didn’t give a damn at all. And maybe he didn’t, now that he’d had me for himself.

I gave my head a shake. It didn’t matter right now. All that mattered was getting answers.

Fred caught himself at the threshold of the door and turned back to us. “You tell her right now, Ricci!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the house.

A maid who’d been dusting at the far end of the foyer squeaked in surprise and scurried away like a frightened mouse. I couldn’t blame her.

Fred heaved a breath as Killian’s fists clenched and unclenched by his sides. I hovered an arm’s reach away, not wanting to get too close, but not daring to give up now. The truth was right there, dangling in front of me like a carrot on a string. All I needed to do was reach out and take it.

One more push.

“Please,” I said again, my voice now almost entirely drowned out by the ringing in my ears.

“Tell her, or I will.” Fred’s jaw rose in defiance.

“Get out of my house.” Killian’s voice was smooth but deadly.

Fred’s eyes settled on Killian’s lethal hands, and his tone softened. “Tell her, please. She deserves to know.”

Killian made no move to speak or raise a hand.

“Please,” I whispered.

Killian turned to look at me, and his eyes flashed with something I could only describe as guilt. Then he took a breath and turned back to Fred.

“I will, but you need to leave, now.”

Fred’s jaw tightened but he nodded shortly. Then his eyes met mine. “I’m sorry, Sera. I’ll come visit you as much as I can.”

“You have two seconds to get out of my house before I stain the floor with your blood, Fred. Don’t test me.”

Fred turned for the door and disappeared before I had a chance to catch my breath.

Killian turned to me and motioned for me to walk away from the door with him. Whatever fire had been holding me upright dimmed, and I could do nothing but follow as he led me through the house and to his office.

The ringing in my ears had reached an all-time high. I couldn’t hear the click as he closed the door behind me, and when he spoke, his voice was a murmur, like I was underwater.

“What am I going to do with you?” He put a hand in the small of my back and guided me to a chair by the fire.

The heat on my skin brought me back into my body, and the ringing eased a bit, but not entirely.

Killian’s eyes glanced at my shaking hands, and he walked away. As I sat there dreading whatever he was about to say, he brought me a bottle of water.

“Drink,” he said.

I tipped my head back and took a sip. The ringing eased a bit more.

“You looked like you were about to pass out.”

“You’re killing me,” I whispered.

He stiffened.

I closed my eyes, and tears I wished I could have stopped spilled down my cheeks. “All these secrets. Lies. Keeping me up there locked in my room. Stealing me from my life. I can’t bear it anymore, Killian. Please just tell me the truth. What happened to my father?”

Killian stood staring down at me. I leaned forward to rest my elbows on my knees and my forehead in my hands.

Desperation and anxiety had taken hold, and I wanted to crawl out of my skin.

I sank my fingers into my hair and pulled at the roots, needing to feel something to ground me in my body and keep me tethered to this moment.

I couldn’t tell how much time passed, but the silence felt so heavy I wanted to scream. Eventually, Killian took a knee in front of me.

I lifted my head and blinked away tears.

He reached out and brushed one away with his thumb. His touch felt gentle and almost kind. Impossible.

His mouth twisted before he pursed his lips in a fine line. “If you want the truth, so be it. I wanted to spare you from it, but I see that I wasn’t protecting you. You deserve to know.”

I held my breath.

“It was him, Sera. He did it. Your father.”

I raised an eyebrow, not understanding, and let my hands fall into my lap. “What are you talking about? He did what?”

Killian took my hands in his and looked into my eyes.

“Your father sold you to the Marinos to cover a debt he acquired by buying some woman from a previous auction. He couldn’t come up with the funds he promised for her purchase, so he sold you to pay it off.

You were abducted by your father’s men, Sera. ”

I couldn’t breathe. Tears stung my eyes as I gaped at him in disbelief.

He continued. “I had my suspicions from the beginning about how you ended up in this situation. Fred looked into it, talked to your father, and he recently confirmed what I assumed was the truth. Your father did this. He is not coming for you.”

The ringing in my ears abruptly stopped.

He gave my hands a squeeze. “I’m sorry.”

Sorry? That word had never sounded so flat before.

I grappled with what he’d just told me, my mind rushing back to that moment in the school parking lot when the men in the van closed in on me. The fear I’d felt, the panic, the darkness under the hood.

The room fell silent as my mind went over my worst fear coming true. Not only was I trapped here forever, but the one man I’d trusted more than any other had completely betrayed me.

“No one is coming for me,” I whispered, more to myself than to him.

“Not anyone you’d want to take you.” His reply was quiet but sharp.

How could my father have done this to me?

We had our issues, sure, but even after I fled and he perceived my leaving the family as a betrayal, I never expected him to do something like that.

He didn’t care what happened to me. For all he knew, I was suffering unspeakable things courtesy of the Hand of Death.

“Sera, I know you’re upset, but I do have something for you.” Killian’s voice was closer, but I still didn’t open my eyes.

He turned my hands over in his and slowly opened my clenched fist. Something warm and smooth touched my palm, and round beads rattled softly. He closed my hand then rose and stepped away from me.

I looked down, and a glimpse into my fist sent shock rippling through me.

I closed my fingers around it—something I’d been missing since the night my world came crashing down around me.

My rosary.

My mother’s rosary.