No reply. He opens the box, pulling out some ointment and a bandage. I hiss in pain when he applies the ointment.
“Don’t be a baby,” he murmurs, working efficiently at cleaning the gash and then closing it up with a bandage.
He’s very gentle with the task, gentle enough that I feel something stirring in my chest. Something I know I have quash.
“Who was that man?” I ask curiously. “The one I made bleed.”
His lips twitch, light humor in his eyes, “My brother.”
Ah. That explains the resemblance. He finishes with my wound but doesn’t look up.
When he speaks, his voice is soft but leashed, “Don’t do that again.”
“Do what?”
“What you did earlier. Don’t talk to me like I’m nothing,” he says, finally looking up at me. I hate what I see in his eyes. I hate the way it stirs at my chest. I want to reach inwards and seek out even more of it. “It made me angry, Liliana. Bad things happen when I get angry. Don’t do it again.”
I swallow softly, his voice penetrating my veins, chilling me from the inside out.
“Are you going to let me leave?” I decide to ask.
“No. Would you like to have dinner?”
“I’d rather starve.”
His jaw clenches and he rises to his feet, heading for the door.
“Rafaelle,” I call just before he opens it. He pauses but doesn’t turn around to look at me. “Are you going to kill me?”
It takes him a long moment before he replies. When he does, his voice is grating.
“I wish I fucking could.”
CHAPTER TEN
RAFAELLE
Liliana Zaccari.
I spent a year searching for her and I probably would have found her if I’d only had her last name. I have no clue exactly what I did to deserve such luck. She practically walked right back into my arms. Although, not as Liliana Zaccari but as Liliana Navarro.
Maybe I’m not lucky though. Maybe her reappearance in my life is what will finally ruin me. My mind flashes to the way she had looked at me. It wasn’t like that before. She watches me like I’m a rabid dog that needs to be put down. Most people do. But I despise that look on her face. I want her to look at me like she did before. Like she was searching for something I know doesn’t exist.
After making sure the door to her room is locked, I head downstairs and find Elio on my couch. He’s moaning and groaning like a little pussy. I hold back an eyeroll as I move to stand in front of him, the first aid kit in my hand.
“Treated your girlfriend first?” he snarls, eyeing the box in my hand.
“Shut up,” I murmur, knowing he must be confused by my reaction to Liliana.
Hell even I’m confused. I still can’t believe it’s actually my little siren in that room upstairs. Shaking my head, I begin working on cleaning the bruise on my brother’s forehead. He stays still while I work but I can practically hear the gears turning in his head.
“How do you know her?”
“I’d like to know too,” Matteo drawls from hallway, walking into the living room.
I shoot Elio an accusatory glance. And he shrugs.
“The situation seemed to require his expertise. You’re acting way too possessive over our hostage.”
