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“How?” I’m intrigued and Troy says evenly, “He married a woman who is purer than freshly fallen snow. An angel if you like. Together, they portray a united front and donate millions to charity as well as their time. Killian is the CEO of Gold Hawk Enterprises, a blue-chip company that is pulling in billions of legitimate money. However, he still inherits the title of Don Vieri when his grandfather dies along with his seat as the Supreme Ruler of The Dark Lords.”
“Is that such a bad thing?” I’m not sure why I’m defending someone I’ve never met, and Troy raises his eyes.
“Why?”
“Because he’s cleaning up his act. Perhaps the, um, mafia side of their business will die along with this, um, Don Vieri.”
It’s as if I’m talking about people with no connection to me, but they do. I am fascinated to learn more about them and want to believe good can come out of evil.
Troy laughs out loud.
“I haven’t told you about Shade Vieri yet.”
I fall silent as he frowns. “Although Killian will become the don, Shade is very much in charge of the mafia side of their business. He reports to Killian but does all their dirty work himself. He’s a bastard with no morals and not a man I ever want to meet.”
“I see.” I remain silent as he exhales sharply. “So, I saw a way to solve the problem. To get them to walk away from The Dark Lords by playing them at their own game.”
I say nothing at all as he reveals something I already know.
“I discovered their secret and saw a way to remove them from our organization. Their family history is a bloody one and Don Vieris’ daughter didn’t escape her fair share of it.”
I must tense because he whispers, “I’ve got you, Laura. Remember that.”
He leans back and drags me with him and whispers, “She was …”
I sit up and pull away, staring down at the white carpet, and say in a low voice, “Raped at a frat party by several guys.”
It’s as if he’s not here at all as I continue in a voice devoid of emotion.
“She told her father; Don Vieri and he got his revenge. He wiped them from existence in retribution. His daughter was mentally scarred and lost her mind and the result of it all was a small baby. Me.”
He places his hand on my shoulder, and I shrug it off and stand, walking slowly around the closet as I continue my confession.
“They feared for the baby’s life. The mother didn’t want it and would harm the child, so they removed her. They had her adopted and sent her away to live with strangers. They paid for her upbringing and purchased the home the couple were living in. She had everything a young child would need. Fancy schools, decent clothes, and a home to go back to every night, but she didn’t have it all, Troy.”
I turn and stare into his eyes that are brimming with compassion.
“She existed, but she never had what the other kids had. Love to a degree. Siblings, a sense of belonging and knowledge of who she really was. She lived, always wondering why she felt like a square peg in a round hole. She couldn’t put a reason on what it was, but she always stood on the edge of the crowd looking in. She was one big evil mistake who wasn’t wanted by anyone except the two people who couldn’t have children of their own and really didn’t understand what an emotional bond was.”
I drop down before him and take his hands and he stares at me in surprise as I say with a small laugh.
“I amthatchild, Troy. I’m the product of evil. That’s what I learned the last night in my apartment. It was the reason for the meal and that was why I showed up broken.”
I smile ruefully. “As it turns out, I was born evil, Troy, and its a hard lesson to learn. My real parents are dead, murdered in violent ways because of their evil deeds. That is all I can think about because what if I’m just like them? I could be rotten to the core and not even realize it. One day I may snap and become the person I was always meant to be?
I lean down and lay my head on his lap and whisper, “It’s why I went along with this. I knew you were using me to get at themand I couldn’t give a fuck. I feel safe here. I can hide away from the world and pretend I’m not the daughter of psychopaths. So, do what you must, Troy. I kind of understand your reasons and when you have got what you want, don’t feel bad about me, because you have given me a freedom I needed at the most difficult time of my life. No hard feelings and all that. Just tell me what you need me to do.”
CHAPTER 44
TROY
Laura has broken my heart in two.
She knew all the time and yet she is here now, on her knees before me, telling me it’s okay.
For the first time in my life, I’m speechless. I have never met a woman like her and despite going through some life-changing shit, she still shines like the brightest star.
I am in awe of her and revenge on her family is the furthest thing from my mind now. It surprises me to learn that I don’t care about the Vieris anymore. They can go to hell as far as I’m concerned because all that matters is building a life with this woman and making my business successful.
