Highest Bidder Collection - Lauren Landish Page 0,243

that life. I’m a different man.” The confidence in Joseph’s voice makes me proud of him. I find myself nodding my head, although my heart is still begging me to get the fuck out of here.

The man in black lets out a harsh laugh. “You’re not done until the la familia’s says you’re done.” His quiet answer makes me want to peek around the table. My fingers grip the edge, but I can’t do it. I’m frozen in place. “You can lie to yourself all you want to, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’ve killed in the name of la familia. That’ll never go away, no matter how hard you try to forget, or no matter how many lies you try to tell yourself.”

My heart stutters. Joseph’s killed people. Goosebumps run over every inch of my skin.

There’s a moment of silence and I swear the only thing I can hear is the pounding of my heart. I’m afraid even Joseph and the man in black can hear it. Maybe that’s why they’re quiet; they know I’m in the room.

“You have 10 seconds to get the fuck outta here,” Joseph growls suddenly, his voice dark and deadly. My blood chills at the note in his voice. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him so angry, so ruthless. It lets me know that whoever this man is, he has really gotten under Joseph’s skin.

There’s another pause, almost a hesitation, as if the man is wondering if he should press his luck and call Joseph’s bluff. Please don’t. My pointer finger steadies on the gun in my hand, although I’m too afraid to even open my eyes.

I can barely hear the man respond, “La familia will be waiting for you.”

He turns to leave, and when he does, I dare a peak from behind my hiding place. I catch a glimpse of dark hair, dark cold eyes and handsome features that remind me of Joseph’s, except his are marred by the absolute ruthlessness stamped on his face.

For an instant, his cold eyes meet mine.

Fuck.

I sink down almost immediately, but I think he saw me. I know he did.

I can hear Joseph rise and follow the man out, the sounds of their shoes smacking against the ground, so much softer than the sound of my wild heart. He saw me. Fuck!!

Before I can even move, Joseph returns and closes the door.

I sit there, clinging to the gun, my heart pounding, wondering what I should do. I’m fucking scared. I don’t know what kind of shit Joseph is in, but I want no part in it. The man claimed Joseph killed before. He killed people.

After a moment, I decide to remain hidden until Joseph leaves the room. However long that takes.

But I don’t get the chance.

“You can stop hiding now, flower,” Joseph says, the sudden sound of his voice making my heart jump.

I close my eyes, swallowing thickly, and then slowly rise to my feet as a feeling of dread and two words run through my mind.

Oh fuck.

Chapter 22

Joseph

I can’t stand the look in Lilly’s eyes. Accusing me. All this time she’s been reading my journal. Looking at me as though I’m a wounded animal. I don’t want her sympathy. But her kindness and the sweet side she’s given me has been addictive. I’ve grown to crave it.

Now she sees me for who I really am. What I represent and where I came from. As if she didn’t know. How did she think I got this fucked up?

You can’t have one without the other.

“Hand me the gun,” I hold out my hand and she’s quick to look down at her hands as if only now realizing what she’s holding. She rises slowly, her shoulders hunching in slightly and takes a step forward, handing it to me and quickly backs away. She looks around the room, still processing everything.

I gently set the gun on the table before turning back to her.

“What did you hear?” I ask her. More for her own safety than anything else. My brother isn’t going to let up. I need to know what she heard.

She doesn’t answer me. She stares at me wide-eyed with a mix of fear and something else.

I raise my voice and give her the command again, “what did you hear?” My heart hammers in my chest. I hate the look in her eyes. The way she’s looking at me. I want my Lilly back. My flower.

“Nothing,” she barely answers. Her voice only just above a murmur. I