By Fate I Conquer (Sins of the Fathers #4)(15)

A figure moved behind the foggy glass. Driven by curiosity, I pushed my hands into the gap and slid open the door, and I froze.

A girl in a light-pink tutu was dancing to the music. She appeared weightless and in a world of her own. Her black hair was piled on top of her head but a few curls framed her face. She looked like a doll come to life. Heart-shaped lips, porcelain-smooth skin and fairylike features.

Something seemed familiar about the girl, but I couldn’t pinpoint what exactly.

She was so lost in the music, she seemed oblivious to me. Her eyes were closed. I’d never thought I’d enjoy ballet but watching this girl, I couldn’t imagine tearing myself away. My mind turned blank, my heartbeat slowed and every violent thought drained out of me as I slowly walked further into the room, drawn to her.

A yap sounded somewhere, tearing me from my reverie. The girl’s eyes snapped open and her poise fell as she turned to me. Eyes as dark as bitter chocolate. Those eyes reminded me of the person who was at the top of my to-kill list if peace between the Famiglia and the Camorra ever ended. Nevio fucking Falcone.

And this was no other than his twin Greta Falcone.

Terror twisted her face. “No!”

I tensed, raising my arms. She didn’t give me a chance to explain anything. Instead she rushed past me, just out of arms’ length, only leaving a whiff of vanilla in her wake, as she fled the house. I whirled around, watching her sprint up the slope leading toward the mansion at a speed I hadn’t thought possible with her petite frame.

“Fuck!” Had I just terrified Greta Falcone enough that she was running away screaming?

Remo Falcone wouldn’t give me a chance to explain. He’d just put a bullet in my head. If Dad didn’t kill me first.





I sprinted after Greta. With my much longer legs, I soon caught sight of her again as she dashed down a staircase into the basement.

Not even stopping to think, I chased after her. She was probably leading me into a dungeon where her evil twin could torture me to his heart’s desire.

“Stop!” I shouted.

She didn’t. Instead, she turned another corner and another, and then disappeared into a room. I rushed after her but she was already on her way out again. I couldn’t stop anymore and she barreled into me, bouncing off my hard chest like a ball. My hands shot out, grabbing her arms to stop her fall. My fingers closed completely around her slim upper arms. Her body became tight as a bowstring, her eyes widened, mouth falling open, and she recoiled violently. I released her and she stumbled backward then fell to the floor.

An earsplitting alarm sounded and I whirled around. The toe of my shoe hit a wood wedge, but I was busy trying to figure out how to stop the howling.

“No!” Greta shouted, pointing at the heavy steel door, which fell shut with a loud clang. The keypad beside it glowed red once, then turned off, and a few moments later the sirens stopped.

“What the fuck is this shit?” I snarled. Had this been Falcone’s plan all along? Trapping me in a cell in his basement? Had this been a trap?

Then I remembered something, or rather someone.

I turned away from the steel door and lowered my gaze to the girl cowering on the ground.

Huge dark-brown eyes peered up at me, set in the most beautiful face I’d ever seen, and framed by dark hair. The girl was petite but with an aura so overpowering that it magnified her physical presence.

Her brows snatched together as her eyes took me in and she scurried backward, bringing more distance between us, acute nervousness flashing across her face. She definitely knew me.

I couldn’t stop staring at her heart-shaped face.

If this had been Falcone’s plan, it had seriously backfired. I could only imagine how he’d react if he found out I was alone with his daughter.

“Can you unlock the door?” I asked. My voice was rough, from running, from adrenaline, from my previous fight, and Greta’s hands began shaking. Was she scared of me? It seemed ridiculous considering she’d been raised by the madmen of Las Vegas. Brutal men were her constant companions.

But unlike them, she didn’t know me except for my reputation, which was probably why her brother hated me so much. I stole his show in the brutality department on occasion.

“You don’t have to be scared of me,” I said quietly, softening my voice, something I never did for anyone, and I wasn’t sure why the hell I did it for her, but I simply didn’t want her to be scared of me.

She tilted her head, regarding me quietly. The tension didn’t leave her body. “I know who you are,” she said simply. She touched her ear, eyes flitting to the keypad then to me again.

“And I know who you are, Greta, so you’re safe by default. Not to mention that I’d never hurt a woman. You don’t have to be worried.”

“I’m not scared of you,” she said, which I seriously doubted considering her reaction to my proximity so far, but I allowed her the lie. “There’s blood on your face and shirt.”

I reached for my mouth and my fingers came away red. My tongue. Glancing down at my shirt, I saw a few droplets of blood on the white material, which had spread due to the fabric’s wet state.

No wonder she’d run away screaming. She’d probably thought I’d come to murder her, or worse. I could only imagine what kind of horror stories Nevio told her about me.

“Fuck.” My eyes flitted up to find Greta still watching me. “I apologize. I shouldn’t curse in front of you.” Had I really just said that?