My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 71

Raphael

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I didn't look at anyone as I stormed out of the red mist. They saw the look on my face and moved out of my way like sheep running from a wolf. My arms were wrapped tight around Gianna. She was shaking against my chest, her breath coming in tiny, broken gasps that made my blood boil.

I reached the edge of the stone patio where my men stood guard, their hands resting on their holsters.

"Find Ciro," I ordered, "He’s out on a drop-off for Dante. I don’t care if he’s in the middle of a deal. Drag him back here. I want him on the floor of my study in ten minutes."

"Yes, sir," they said in one voice.

I kept walking. I kicked the heavy doors of the mansion open, the wood slamming against the stone walls. The music was still thumping, but I didn't look at the crowd. I didn't care about the party anymore.

I carried her up the back stairs, my boots loud on the marble. I pushed into my private study and kicked the door shut behind me. I tossed her onto the deep leather couch. She sank into the cushions, looking tiny and pale against the dark hide.

I didn't say a word. I dropped to my knees on the floor between her legs. I grabbed her ankles. I saw the way the wire had dug into her soft flesh. My jaw tightened until it ached. I hated that she was hurt. I hated even more that she had been out there for some other animal to find.

I started to pull her sneakers off, I threw them across the room, not caring where they landed. I ran my thumb over the edge of the wire cut, watching the way her skin flinched.

"Raphael..." she breathed.

Her voice sounded different. It wasn't just fear anymore. It was soft, airy, and strange. I looked up at her. Her eyes were wide, the black centers growing until there was hardly any color left. Her skin was turning a soft, glowing pink.

I reached for her feet and ripped the white socks away. My blood turned to ice. There was tape wrapped around her arches, cheap, white medical tape and it was soaked with fresh, dark spots of red.

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