Page 129 of Unravel Me

I keep him in my sights with one hand while signing with the other, which is not easy; I need to use the other one from time to time.

I'm going to kill you, Rocco. The fact that you came here only convinced me it's the right decision.

"So… you're going to kill me, or are you actually doing it? Right now, Mauro, while you've got the chance… Because that little window of opportunity is awfully narrow, little brother."

I tighten my grip on the pistol and sign again.

I doubt you'd come here without some kind of insurance. Talk. What is it?

He lets out a long, rasping laugh.

"You're thinking along the right lines. I've got an excellent choice for you. I have Jared already. Either you kill me right now and never find out what is going to happen to him… or you let me live, and you'll get to watch exactly what I do to him with your own eyes."

My anger overwhelms my reason.

I pull the trigger.

The bullet slams into Rocco's chest. Of course, I know I should've aimed for his head if I wanted to be certain, but I fired into his chest for a reason. I wanted to show him just how determined I am. But I can’t kill him yet. Fate only knows what plan he’s already set in motion.

His top-tier body armor stops the round, but the impact is still powerful enough to knock the air from his lungs. Rocco slides off the couch and drops onto his knees, bracing himself against the floor with both fists.

He coughs for a moment, doubled over.

Then he lifts his head.

"Well, look at that. You've actually got some balls. Just not enough to finish the job… and maybe that's for the best, because it would've ended very badly for Jared."

Still bent over, breathing roughly, he pulls his phone from his pocket and turns the screen toward me.

The picture shows Jared lying unconscious on the living room rug with his eyes closed.

I recognize that rug immediately. It's the patterned rug in Renato's living room.

An icy chill races through my body. Not that, everything but not that!

"So… what do you say, little brother? I've got him. What've you got?"

This is the moment I started preparing for six years ago.

The moment that demanded a Plan C.

I always knew it might come because Rocco isn't someone you can predict. Like every psychopath, he comes up with ideas no sane person ever would.

I sign a few words.

Then maybe we should trade my True Mate… for yours.

Silence fills the cabin.

I know that got his attention.

Rocco's black-haired head remains lowered, so I can't see his face. He just stares at the floor, his fists still planted against it.

The silence stretches on.

Maybe what Moon said was true, that everyone wants to find their True Mate… or maybe it isn't. With Rocco, you never know.

So I have to build the picture for him. I need to make it visual. Make his fated real.