By Frenzy I Ruin

wished my body wouldn’t always heat with longing whenever I thought of how Nevio had claimed me with the handle of his knife. Even just thinking about it again made my thighs clamp up, and my core tighten.

When Kiara and Serafina got up to clean up the dishes and take them to the kitchen, I did as well. I was glad for the distraction as I helped them.

I loaded the dishwasher while Kiara filled the sink with hot water to clean the pans.

“I love my son, but I know he’s quite a handful, and that’s putting it mildly,” Serafina said suddenly from behind me, almost giving me a heart attack.

I straightened with a tight smile. “I’ve known him all my life. I know who he is.” Yet I had to admit part of my previous perception of Nevio had been grounded on infatuation. Unlike in my fantasy, Nevio hadn’t miraculously turned into a doting and loving boyfriend. He’d become the insistent, obsessed hunter more fitting for his personality.

Kiara dried her hands and came to Serafina’s side, both of them bestowing me with understanding smiles. “We know you do. We just want to make sure you know we won’t judge you if you want a bit of distance from Nevio.”

I swallowed hard, wondering if they knew what had happened. Serafina touched my shoulder. I nodded. “I’m fine, really.” I focused on the dishes once more. They probably wouldn’t judge me this kindly if they found out I’d helped Nevio keep his child from them for weeks or possibly months.

After the conversation, I was glad when my parents, my brother, and I left the Falcone mansion. We crossed the premises as there wasn’t a fence between our land and theirs, but I was too agitated to go inside yet.

“I’d like to stay outside for a bit,” I said.

Dad glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late. You should stay the night, and I’ll take you to your place in the morning.”

I couldn’t do that to Carlotta. Battista’s sleep pattern was still erratic. “No, I promised Carlotta

Bullshit.
Our favorite psychotic killer has that knife.
Fuck, he probably even sleeps in a bed with

I remembered how she’d been before the war, before something happened and she married Maximus instead of a man she’d originally been promised