His Passion (6 page)

Did Brittany find something sharp and reopen the wound at Cole's neck?

Did she turn the sharpened edge on herself?

I imagined blood streaked on every surface, Cole cradling his sister's dying body. By the time my eyes focused and there was nothing awry, my heart had already stopped beating. I had to take a few moments to breathe, to erase the picture my mind painted and accept the reality before me.

Brittany was huddled near the shower, burying herself in a robe, her face clean of makeup but still covered in the marks from her life in Eichmann's hell. Cole was at the sink, both of his hands gripping the thing like it was taking every ounce of self control not to rip it from the wall. When he let out another chilling howl, worry ghosted down my spine.

Brittany finally noticed me, tugging her robe tighter. “Can I help you?”

She would be no help at all, so I turned to Cole instead. “What's going on here?”

He hung his head, shaking it slowly like he'd just received the kind of news that changed a person's life forever. “How could she? What kind of monster...” He balled his fist and slammed it into the counter.

Brittany gasped and jerked toward him, pulling on him. “Stop it! It's over now. I'm out and-”

“It is not over,” Cole snapped. “It's tattooed on your fucking skin!”

This was all about some tattoo? “You've gotta be kidding me.” I turned to go. I wanted out of this mess. Brittany was free, and now, so were me and Leila. “You two are on your o-”

“Show him the tattoo, Brittany. Show him who paid Eichmann to take you.”

I stopped. My interest was piqued, but I didn’t turn back to them. I wasn’t sure how that information was monumental enough to make him scream bloody murder.

Brittany made another appeal, dropping the hard ass role. “Cole-”

“SHOW HIM!”

I whirled back to them, for a moment worrying that Cole had snapped and would do God knows what to the girl if she didn't comply.

“Maybe you should show me, Brittany,” I said tightly, watching my brother like he was a cornered animal that could bite at any moment. “Then we can all get out of here and get on with our lives.” I glanced at her and infused some kindness into my voice. “It’s okay.”

I couldn't believe I was trying to comfort her. But she looked so genuinely afraid, so worried that I couldn't help but feel pangs of sympathy. I guess I had a heart after all.

Brittany whimpered something and reached for Cole, but he shrugged her off. He didn't look at her. He didn't look at me. He was looking at the sink—but I knew he was imagining the person who had paid the fee that led to Brittany's forced imprisonment. I hoped the person had their affairs in order, because there was death coursing through the veins that flexed as he squeezed the countertop.

Brittany shuffled in my direction, not looking at me before she pivoted and pushed the terry robe off her shoulders with a sigh. I looked past the raw bruises on her neck, my eyes dropping to her shoulder blade.

I read the name once.

I read it twice.

The third time I stumbled backwards, the name finally sinking in.

I opened my mouth and it fell out like a curse. “Alicia.”

~

T
hank you for taking the time to read His Passion (The Billionaire Dom Diaries, Part Three)! Please consider leaving a review. xoxo, Ava

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T
he Billionaire Dom Diaries Series

His Need (The Billionaire Dom Diaries, Part One): March 13

His Desire (The Billionaire Dom Diaries, Part Two): March 27

His Passion (The Billionaire Dom Diaries, Part Three): April 10

His Love (The Billionaire Dom Diaries, Part Four): April 24

A
va Claire is a sucker for Alpha males and happily ever afters. When not putting pen to paper or glued to her e-reader, Ava likes road tripping, karaoke, vintage fashion, and fantasizing about her favorite book boyfriends.

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