Page 103 of Veil of Obsession

“Liar.” The word drips from his lips like poison.

I try to pull away, but he tightens his hold, forcing me to look at him.

“You think you’re smarter than me?” His breath is hot against my skin, his voice a deadly growl. “That I wouldn’t fucking check?”

I shove at his chest, hard. “I didn’t do anything!”

His eyes flash with something dark. Something like betrayal. Something I don’t want to name.

“You’re still lying to me,” he murmurs, shaking his head, his grip loosening, just slightly.

For a second, I think he’s calming down.

Then he shoves me back against the wall. Not hard. Not enough to hurt. But enough to remind me exactly who he is and what he’s capable of.

“Do you understand what you’ve done?” His voice is lower now, more controlled. But somehow, that’s worse. “Because of you, my family was attacked. Because of you, my ma is in a fucking hospital bed fighting for her life.”

My chest tightens. “I didn’t mean?—”

“You didn’t mean to?” His laugh is bitter, sharp. “That’s fucking rich.”

I press my back against the wall, my nails digging into my palms. “Lucio, I swear to you, I didn’t do this.”

I don’t know why I keep insisting on denying that I was behind the breach, but every time I open my mouth to admit it, I panic and lie straight to his face.

He studies me, his gaze searching, unreadable. Then he exhales sharply, dragging a hand down his face and stepping back.

For the first time since he stormed in, I see something other than pure rage in his expression. Something like hurt.

“You were the only one I trusted.” His voice is lower now, rougher. “The only fucking one.”

Something inside me cracks. But I can’t tell him the truth. Not yet.

So I do the only thing I can: I lie again.

“I didn’t do it.”

His jaw tightens. His hands clench into fists. Then he grabs my wrist and yanks me toward the door.

“Lucio, what the fuck?—”

I stumble, nearly tripping, but he doesn’t stop. He doesn’t even slow down. His grip is tight, unyielding, dragging me through the apartment like I weigh nothing.

My pulse pounds, my mind racing.

He’s taking me somewhere. He’s taking me to them. To his brothers. To Emiliano Folonari.

My stomach clenches, fear coiling low in my gut.

“Lucio, wait. Please, let’s talk…”

He doesn’t answer. He doesn’t even look at me.

We reach the front door and he shoves it open, dragging me out into the hallway, down the stairs, through the lobby, and straight to his car.

My heart is a hammer in my chest. I dig my heels into the ground, trying to stop him.

“Where are you taking me?”