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His eyes turned sharp. He was so transparent, clearly taunting me, but I wasn’t about to fall into his trap. Tatum and I hadn’t been excessively careful, and while we thought no one besides Alex and his brothers knew, Grigore could have potentially spied on me. He may know nothing, or he may know we lived together, but he could only presume the rest. Not knowing must be killing him.
“I didn’t like him from the beginning,” I stated, keeping it vague.
He gave a disbelieving little huff. “That changed in New York.”
“Somewhat,” I conceded while maintaining ambiguity.
“Then it’s a good thing I got him out of the way—"
Brows slamming together, I swiveled in his direction. “What?”
One side of his lips cocked up in a mocking smirk.
“My dear, don’t you know?” he asked with an edge of disdain I did not appreciate.
I shook my head in confusion.
“His father was involved with the Bratva in the plot to assassinate Alex’s father. Tatum knew and kept it from Alex all this time. Naturally, when I found out, the only proper recourse was to tell Alex.”
My heart slammed against my ribs, pounding as if attempting to escape. What the fuck? This was the reason Tatum broke up with me. My eyes narrowed on Grigore. Because of him. My world imploded, my heart was ripped out of my chest, my relationship with Tatum severed because of him. I fucking hated him.
His hand snaked over mine, and this time, it was his turn to give me a patronizing little pat. “You look pale. Something wrong?”
My skin flashed hot, cold, hot. Goose bumps burst over my skin like red-hot flames, searing me. Goddamn the fucker. Somehow, he’d dug up Tatum’s secret and thrown it in Alex’s face as revenge for Simu. Tatum was a dead man, and he’d purposely tried to make me hate him.
My mind reeled. Oh God, he could be dead. Dread gripped me by the throat. No, no, no. I breathed through the sharp stab of pain. I had no proof. Locking down my panic, I refused to unravel in front of Grigore.
Until I learned otherwise, Tatum was alive.
I gulped.
Alive, but excommunicated, for sure.
This wasn’t the time or place to dissect my feelings. Throwing up a mask of disinterest, I refused to allow this snake to get the better of me. He dropped this bombshell to get a reaction out of me, but I’d outsmart him if it killed me.
Giving him a megawatt Hollywood smile, I said, “Not at all. If anything, I’m impressed by your slyness. You got your revenge in the end. Just as it should be, Grigore. Congratulations for a job well done.”
You putrid, sewage-loving snake.
His face faltered for a split second before he regained his balance—he always was quick on his feet—and bent his head in false modesty, maintaining his pomposity.
“Only doing my duty,” he murmured.
You scheming, conniving snake.
“You did well,” I commended him. “I assume my father has rewarded you.”
“I haven’t spoken to him of this, actually. I thought it would be my special gift to you,” he said falsely.
Gift, my ass.
“I’ll be sure to put in a word of your good deed. Anything for the family, I know that was your intention, of course,” I feigned.
Of course not. I seethed with fury. He hurt Tatum. Ruined his life. Destroyed his relationship with Alex and the Lupu brothers. Tore him from his clan, his mother, and his sister. Star. I promised to watch out for her, and my right-hand man was the one responsible for tearing her world apart. Shaking with bottled-up rage, I fantasized about eviscerating this man, slashing him from his throat to his cock, tearing out his intestines, and stuffing them in his mouth.
Today, he would live. Enjoy it buddy, because your days are numbered.
“Of course,” he replied smoothly. “Anything for the Hagi clan.”
I had to get out of there before I throttled him to death.
Checking my cell phone, I exclaimed, “Oh, it’s getting late, and I’ve been gone all day visiting people.”
I drained my drink and stood up. “What a great ending to a long and tiring day, but I must get back home.”
We kissed each other on the cheek, and I gave a shout of goodbye to Georgina, who hurried into the foyer to see me off, standing beside Grigore like the couple they were.
Knowing he could be watching from the window, I maintained my expression until I turned around in his driveaway and had my back to his house.
The instant I was out of sight, I let out a string of curses. I was going to kill both men. Grigore, for ruining the lives of his mother and sister. And Tatum, if he was still alive, for the way he handled this situation. Instead of confiding in me and letting me help him, he’d sacrificed our relationship to protect me. Stubborn man. I wanted to kiss him and strangle him at the same time. Hopefully, I’d get the chance to do both. But first, I had to find out if he was still alive.
