The Holy Ghost - M.E. Clayton Page 0,44

of dark jeans.

When their height finally cleared the ceiling, I saw the guy who met me at Robbie’s door followed by the one man I never expected to see.

Randy.

Randolph Masterson, Robbie’s boyfriend.

I couldn’t help the despair that threatened to take over. If he could do what he did to Robbie, a girl who’s been nothing but good to him, then I didn’t stand a chance.

“Ah,” he said, smiling, “you’re finally awake.”

I couldn’t keep the loathing from my voice. I hadn’t liked him when Robbie started dating him, and I sure as hell didn’t like him now. “What is this, Randy?” I asked, cutting to the chase.

Footsteps momentarily distracted me as I turned my head to watch another pair of feet descend the stairs. The third man made his way over the second one, and I immediately dismissed them. I didn’t recognize either one of them, so I didn’t bother with them. Randy was running this show. It was him I needed to concentrate on.

He dropped onto his haunches, so we could be face-to-face. I hated that he wasn’t a bad-looking guy. His looks should match his soul. But they didn’t. He was a decent-looking guy with light brown hair and dark brown eyes.

“A little birdie told me that you are the infamous Francesca Mancini,” he answered casually. “The Church to the unholy Holy Trinity.”

My heart dropped as I realized I never bothered to tell Robbie not to say anything about Phoenix, Ciro, or Luca. I never told her to keep the newfound information to herself. I hadn’t thought of it at the time to ask her to not say anything and, of course, why wouldn’t she say something to her boyfriend? Significant others often tell one another other people’s secrets without realizing it.

I wasn’t going to bother denying it. I knew the guys didn’t want the news that I was back spreading, but they couldn’t keep me a secret forever. They wanted me to take my ‘rightful place’, but that couldn’t be done from the shadows. I was going to have to be strong enough to walk among them, so I might as well start now.

“So?”

His brows shot up as he stood. He folded his arms over his check, trying to distract from his obvious surprise at my reply. “So?”

“So, I’m Ciro Mancini’s sister, Luca Benetti’s best friend, and Phoenix Fiore’s wife,” I retorted, not caring about the information I was giving up. These three would be dead before the morning sun rose tomorrow. It wouldn’t matter what they knew. “What does that do for you?”

He smirked, but it was in disgust. He hated that I was standing up to him regardless of being strapped to a chair, seemingly helpless. “It brings me ten million dollars,” he spat.

My brows shot up, and my voice rang of pity. “Is that all?”

I didn’t see the attack coming.

My head snapped sideways, and pain rang in my ears as he yelled, “No, that’s not all!”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, I had to push the pain aside. Blood trickled down the side of my mouth, but I didn’t care. I had to keep him talking, and even if he were beating me while he was doing it, at least I wouldn’t be dead.

“Then what else?”

His dark brown eyes took on a wild look and, for the first time, I considered he might be high. It was no secret he partook in drugs, even though gambling was his demon of choice. “What else?! What else?!” he yelled. “I get to do what no one else has ever been able to do. I’m bringing those three fucks to their knees.”

A moan from across the room stole our attentions. Robbie was coming to and when she finally lifted her face, the damage was worse than I had suspected.

“Oh, Robbie…” I whispered.

Randy strolled her way saying, “She caught me texting you from her phone.” He grabbed her by her hair and yanked her head back, causing her to cry out and gain full consciousness. “She took exception to my plan, and so I had to force her cooperation.”

“Fuck you,” Robbie rasped out, her voice raw and cracked. Randy brought his fist down and slammed her in the jaw as if she was a grown man.

I’d never been so repulsed by another human being before. “What a tough man,” I sneered. “Beating a defenseless woman. Afraid she’ll kick your ass if she has half a chance?”

Randy jerked his head towards the man who answered Robbie’s door,