Not. Ever!
“Layla, I’m happy that you are feeling more like yourself, but I need you to listen to me. I need you protected. To ensure that, you will marry Giovanni tonight,” Reaper stated firmly.
“Where is Dylan? I want to speak with Dylan.”
“He is unable to talk at the moment.”
“Then let me speak to Kitty.”
Reaper didn’t move. He didn’t even flinch as he stayed rooted on the plush sofa, saying nothing.
“I’m not part of your fucked up club. Yes, Kitty and I created this stupid fucking plan and enacted it, but nowhere in that plan did I say I would follow your fucking order and marry a man I didn’t love. So, fuck you!”
“God damn, you’ve got a fucking mouth on you.”
“You ain’t seen shit, bitch,” I growled.
“Watch it, little girl. I am not above whipping your ass.”
“You and what fucking army, asshole. Kitty warned me about you. I know all your tricks. You can go be some big fucking badass somewhere else because that shit ain’t gonna fly with me. I’ve taken on bigger fuckers than you and won.”
“Okay, this isn’t helping,” Ghost interrupted, getting to his feet. “Layla, what you don’t know is that there is a lot of stuff going on right now, and Reaper, well, he’s just trying to protect you.”
“I know more than you think,” I rebuffed. “I know that Reaper and Dylan are related. I know that his mother is a cunt and has ties to the Vultures. She has been trying to bring down the club for years. I know she is fuck buddies with my biological father, Angelo Capribella. For years this club has been nothing but a fucking pawn. I know members of this club tried to have Kitty killed before she was even born, then took her brother and hid him away. I know you believe you know who’s holding the strings, but you are wrong. You don’t know shit. You are still getting it wrong. You see, Kitty wasn’t the only one with knowledge. I was the one who came up with this plan. I was the one who sent the message to the Vultures to let them know where I was. I also know that Jekyll isn’t who you think he is.”
“What are you saying, Layla?” Ghost asked, looking from me to Reaper. “What is going on? What aren’t you saying?”
I laughed and said, “You wouldn’t understand. You still don’t get it. After everything that has happened, you still don’t see it, do you? Tell me, did you kill Caroline?”
“Dylan took care of her,” Reaper stated, watching me intently.
“Well, thank fuck for that. What about Diablo?”
“He’s in Chicago. Gio has eyes on him.”
“Are you sure it’s Diablo?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, Diablo has a cousin from the old country. They look a lot alike. Minus a scar on the guy’s chin, nobody would ever be able to tell them apart. They look that much alike.”
“Who is this guy?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Enough!” Reaper roared. “I’ve had it! No more secrets. No more lies. Tell me what the fuck we need to know right now, or I swear I will keep Dylan in a fucking coma for the rest of his life!”
That stopped me dead in my tracks.
What did he just say?
“Reaper, don’t,” Ghost said, moving closer to him.
“I’m done with this shit! I can’t take anymore. My brother is lying in a coma, hanging onto life. His wife is fucking dead with a bullet in her head, and I don’t know how to tell my brother that his wife’s heart is beating in his chest. I’ve killed men that I considered my brothers. One actually watched my woman, Ghost. My Remi! Who I haven’t seen in weeks. She’s pregnant, Ghost. I need to be with her. Instead, I am here dealing with a fucked-up mess I never asked for. I’m done with the deceit and lies. I want the truth, and I want it right fucking now!”
“What?” I gasped and took a step back.
He had to have misspoken.