“Seriously?” I reach for the phone.
My sister clicks her tongue. “It’s not my fault.”
Her tone is nonchalant, and I can totally picture her with her little pout and shoulder shrug.
“Hey, Luna.” Gemma uses this opportunity to come closer.
“Hey, Gem.” Luna’s voice is noticeably warmer while she talks to her new friend. “Don’t worry about anything, you hear me? I’m going to figure out this whole mess. You just stay with my brother, so you’re safe.”
Gemma’s eyelashes flutter, and she blinks at me, mere inches separating us now.
Her “okay” is no more than a whisper, and it barely registers that she says goodbye a few seconds later before Luna hangs up.
Seeing her slumped shoulders and her blank features tugs at something in my chest. It urges me to say something that’ll make her smile, do something that’ll take her mind off this newest obstacle in her life.
I'm incapable of resisting her, the pull I feel toward her too strong, just like the ocean is powerless to withstand the moon’s pull.
Having her in my life seems to come with a bunch of complications, adding even more to my plate, but whenever I look at her, the only thing that matters to me is keeping her safe.
“I want to see them.” The words come out strong and sure.
I don’t answer her. Instead, I study her then step aside.
Her choice, not mine.
Her eyes widen, like she actually didn’t expect me to let her have this, and that knowledge uncurls the anger that’s continuously been building toward her father. That man clearly doesn’t believe his daughter is capable of much else than he wishes her to be, and he’s been keeping that role for her very narrow and beyond powerless.
The more she relies on him, the less likely it is she’ll step out of line.
Gemma’s towel brushes against my arm as she walks to the desk. She’s motionless for several moments, just taking in the sight in front of her. Then she picks up one picture after the other. Her breath hitches a few times—especially when she gets to the one on the deck, where she’s mid-orgasm and the wordsShe’s mineare scrawled over her body. Her chest rises faster than before, but other than that, she shows no emotion. No reaction.
That is until there’s only one photo left. It’s turned over, so she hasn’t seen it yet.
I know which one it is though, and I can’t help but put my outspread fingers over it. “Maybe you should skip this one.”
She blinks but shakes her head. “Let me see. I have to.”
I don’t know why she feels the need to torture herself with these, but I take my hand away.
Her throat bobs, and she picks up the last one to stare at it for a very long time. It’s the one with the bunny. The asshole wroteOopson it next to her crumbling body.
She moves the pictures around in her hands, shuffling them into a neat pile of fucked-up grotesqueness.
After placing the stack on the desk, she faces me with her chin tilted up. At first glance, she appears hardened and tough, but I still see the hint of softness in her eyes. Although she grew up in this world, she hasn’t seen much of it, always having been kept away from the business dealings. Sheltered from the violence.
“I obviously know there are bad people out there, but I’ve never wanted anyone to die until now. I don’t know why he’s doing this, but the thought that he finds pleasure in doing these kinds of things to others makes me sick.”
Lifting my hand to her chin, I cup her jaw gently between my fingers. “We’ll get this bastardo. He will not get away with this.”
Her tongue darts out to lick her lips, and she gazes up at me. “Promise?”
I nod before I even think about her question. “Promise, passerotta. No one messes with what’s mine and gets away with it still breathing.”
There’s a gleam in her eyes, like she’s trying to conceal she actually enjoyed what I said as if she’s not supposed to like that I’m going to kill the person behind all of this.
Because they will pay with their life.
I touch the curve of her bare shoulder, following the slope down her arm. Goosebumps follow my touch, and I revel in the knowledge that she reacts like this to me. When I make my way back up her arm and trail along her collarbone, Gemma barely suppresses a shiver.