Page 80 of His Pet

We’re in a large open space of what looks like an abandoned factory. Windows line the walls where sunlight shines through. Shards of glass litter the floor beneath a broken window and dust gives the room a musky smell.

My eyes find Settimo’s, and I shrink into myself. They’re full of rage. His jaw is tight, and his nostrils flare. He glares at me a few moments before turning his scowl to Valentine, who’s standing next to me. Four men stand around Settimo, and I recognize one of them from the party.

“We picked her up in front of the police station, but don’t worry, she hadn’t gone inside yet. She was in your brother’s car. Otherwise, I would’ve thought nothing of it.”

Settimo says nothing, just stares at Valentine with a look in his eyes that hints at the fury underneath.

My eyes narrow, and I turn to Valentine. He’s fucking lying.

Blondie must sense my disdain, because he steps behind me and shoves a gun into my back. Message heard, loud and fucking clear.

It’s pointless for them to lie anyway. Settimo already wants me dead.

“I asked the girl what she was doing, and she lost it. She started begging for help and was inconsolable. Said something about your brother holding her captive?”

Settimo turns his eyes to me, and it’s like he’s peeling back my skin to look into my mind. My skin crawls, and my mind tells my legs to move. Run. Get away. The gun at my back persuades me otherwise.

“Of course, that isn’t exactly surprising,” Valentine goes on. “What I’m really confused about is why he let her go. According to her, he gave her his car willingly.”

“I don’t have an answer for that,” Settimo says, his voice far calmer than the murderous vibes he puts off.

“I do,” Valentine confidently says. Settimo meets the asshole’s stare once again. “Lorenzo has become unhinged. It’s been quite some time since he’s been reasonable in our dealings, and now he’s not even considering his ownfamily’swell-being. If he isn’t handled, he’ll cause irreparable damage for you, and you know it.”

“Why is this your concern? He killed two of your lackeys who you sent to handle your business. It wasn’t personal, it was a warning. One you didn’t listen to. If they were so important to you, you should have come yourself.”

Valentine tenses, and I can feel his anger before I see it. I turn to peer at him, his hard jaw and bloodthirsty eyes rivaling Settimo’s.

“Actually, itwaspersonal,” he sneers. “One of the men your brother killed was my nephew.” He grabs my arm, his fingers digging into my flesh so hard that I yelp, and he jerks me into him. “The girl is a peace offering foryou. If you choose not to deal with your brother, we will no longer be in business together.”

Valentine breathes in through his flared nostrils and flexes his fingers out of fists. The attempt to ease his rage doesn’t appear to be working because his expression never changes. “It would be too dangerous dealing with people swarming with cops. What do you think would’ve happened if I hadn’t gotten to the girl?”

“What wereyoudoing at the police station?” Settimo asks, the accusation evident in his tone.

“Driving by,” Valentine lies. “It was Lorenzo’s car that piqued my interest.”

Settimo moves his eyes to me, and the gun digs into my spine. I cringe.

“I’d like to speak to the girl alone,” Settimo says.

Valentine exchanges a look with Blondie and hesitates before nodding. “Of course.”

The gun eases from my back. Valentine and his men leave the large, empty space. Settimo gestures for his men to follow. Soon it’s just me and Settimo, the men barely audible on another floor.

Settimo steps up to me, his eyes serious and not quite as angry as before. Still, I find myself backing up into a column. He stands within inches of me and sighs.

He rubs his temples, and after a few moments, he drops his hands to his sides. None of the anger from earlier shows in his eyes now. It’s more like defeat.

“Do you love him?” he asks.

I open my mouth to respond, but no words come out. I’m struck with a blend of confusion and fear.

“Because he loves you… clearly.” He looks me up and down and shakes his head like he isn’t at all pleased by it. He meets my eyes again and waits.

“Well?” he asks when seconds pass.

I swallow. “Yes.”

He nods like he’s reluctantly accepting it.

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