“Of course I know.” He grins. “Nicholas Chandler isn’t your father. Your real father is the reason why you’re here, just like last time. I told you that, I believe.”
Real father? Who? What does he mean just like last time?
I’ve been trying not to remember what happened last time, but now I have to. What did Sergio say to me before?
Remember.
As I clear my head, something comes to mind. A photo of a man. Sergio kept showing it to me and saying that man was the reason for my suffering. Was that my real father?
“He’s an old friend of mine,” Sergio goes on. “You could say it’s thanks to him I got this new face.”
I want to know his name, but I don’t want to ask for it. I can’t let Sergio know I want anything from him. He’ll just dangle it in front of me. I’ll just have to hope his tongue slips.
“He’s still alive, you know, but barely. I heard he’s very sick, that his heart is failing. Maybe when he finds out I have you, his poor heart will stop.”
So that’s why Sergio kidnapped me again? To kill my father?
“You’re a coward, trying to get rid of a sick old man like that,” I sneer at him. “Let me guess. You waited until now to kidnap me because you couldn’t beat him when he was healthy. That’s why your plans fell apart last time. You didn’t stand a chance against him.”
The scowl that twists all of Sergio’s features lets me know I’m right. His hand clenches into a fist.
“And that’s why you’re using me instead of facing him directly,” I add.
“Enough!” His voice thunders through the attic as he swings his arm.
His palm strikes my cheek. The force of it sends me crashing down into the cardboard.
Shit. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone that far.
I hear him panting as I, too, try to catch my breath and fight the pain. Then he opens the door.
“Mario!” he calls.
A younger man enters.
“Take a picture of this woman so we can send it to Orso with warm regards.”
Orso?
Mario takes out his phone and snaps a picture of me. The flash makes me squint.
He shows the picture to Sergio and he grins.
“Good,” he says. “I like it. This one will break her father’s heart.”
I frown.
“And if it doesn’t work, I have another idea.”
Sergio kneels in front of me and grasps my chin. I look away.
“I couldn’t touch you when you were a little girl. Even I am not that monster. But you’re not a girl anymore, are you?”
He lets my chin go and runs his fingers down my side. I squirm and try to kick him.
“Get your hands off me!”
Sergio laughs. He stands up and strokes his beard.
“Yes. I can see the picture now.”
I sit up.
“If you think Grae will pay you a single cent if you lay a finger on me, you’re out of your mind,” I warn him.
“Oh, don’t worry.” Sergio waves a hand. “Only your father will get to see that picture. Although I suppose I could give you a copy if you want to show it to Grae later. Besides, all he said was that he wanted you back in one piece, which you will be.”
Bastard.
Someone else comes into the room. Taller. Slightly older. He has a gold chain around his neck.
He whispers something in Sergio’s ear that makes him grin even wider.
“Bene,” Sergio says.
The man starts to leave.
“Gil, wait.” Sergio grabs his arm. “I haven’t introduced you to my guest yet. Alyssa, meet my friend Gil. He’s an assassin.”
I look at Gil and snort. “Should he be telling me that?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t waste my time trying to catch him if I were you.” Sergio pats Gil’s shoulder. “Gil is just as good as your boyfriend. He can very easily kill you and everyone you love.”
Does he mean Cain?
“Cain doesn’t kill,” I say.
Well, he did once, a long time ago, but that was only because he felt he had to.
To my surprise, both Sergio and Gil laugh. My eyebrows furrow.
“What’s so funny?” I sneer. “The fact that there’s a man out there who isn’t a piece of scum like the two of you?”
Sergio laughs louder. “You are funny, my dear. So pathetic it makes me laugh.”
Me? Pathetic?
“Not only don’t you know who your father is, you don’t even know what your boyfriend is.”
“I know him better than you do,” I say.
“Really? And yet you didn’t know that Cain Archer is a killer just like Gil. One of the best, actually.”
Is he saying Cain is an assassin? No.
“If you mean he’s a killer because he killed a lot of men during his time in the army…”
“Oh, that’s not what I mean.” Sergio shakes his head. “I believe he’s killed more men after his time in the army.”
What?
Sergio glances at the man beside him. “He very nearly killed Gil some years ago.”