The Don’s Venom

Chapter 4

(Kieran)

I stared in shock at the screen, a disbelieving chuckle ripping out of my throat.

“Are you sure you do not have it mixed up? This cannot be Lily Payne. At least not the Lily Payne I know.”

Marco held out a couple of pictures to me. “She is Lily Payne. Her information matches the one you gave us. Her sister’s name is Rose. She’s from Ojai, attended the same college as you. Is 25.”

“It’s really her,” I muttered disbelievingly. “It’s really Lily.”

“It’s crazy though how she applied for the job just when you asked me to look into her. Isn’t that suspicious?”

“Or it could just be a coincidence,” I shrugged.

“She’s good though. If you hadn’t called the rest of the men off, she probably would have injured them as well. I also went through her file, she topped her set at the academy and was reported to have insane endurance levels. Her stats are off the charts.”

“That’s…surprising,” I confessed. “Really surprising.”

“How so?”

“The Lily I knew was…not strong. She was peaceful and nice and… Just nothing like this. She seems like an entirely different person.”

“She’s coming in for the second round of her interview this morning.”

“I’ll attend to her myself.”

“But—”

I shot him a glare that cut off his protest.

“She arrives in an hour.”

When Marco left, I remained rooted to my seat and watched the footage of her kicking my men’s ass all over again. Everything about her was different.

I snapped out of my surprised state and returned to my room to prepare for the day’s work. I slid the closet door open and settled on a navy-blue suit and crisp white shirt. Dropping those on the bed, I grabbed a silk tie and selected fresh underwear.

As the water cascaded over me, my mind flashed back to the last time I saw her before seeing her again at the funeral. I remembered it like it was yesterday. I had just gotten off the phone with my dad and he had made very colorful threats about harming Lily.

And there she was, in a pair of brown pants and green wooly jacket. Her curly ginger hair was pulled up in a messy bun. Her face was bare, save for a layer of clear lip-gloss that made her full lips pop. She was beautiful and I was in love with her.

My chest tightened painfully at the thought of what I’d have to do. I knew I needed to let her go. If I didn’t, not only would she be in danger, but her entire family would as well.

“You’re weak. Pathetic. How can I ever trust that you can handle yourself when I’m not there?”

It was the dumbest thing I ever did. And even now, I regretted it. I should have fought for her. For us. But I took the coward’s way out and I’ve had to live with the consequences of my wrong choices.

I snapped out of the sad thought and rinsed my hair and body. I quickly checked the time and realized she’d be arriving in twenty minutes. I slipped on the cloths and styled my hair about six different ways.

I laughed out loud at the absurdity of it all. I was the terror, the Don and here I was fretting over my look like I was some high school boy about to approach his crush. By the time I was done getting ready, I had ten minutes to spare.

Giana was downstairs scrawling away into a book when I got to the living room. I kissed her forehead and ran my hand through her hair. She looked exactly like her mother, except for the eyes. She had my eyes. Striking blue, the shade of crystals.

Even though Amanda and I’s marriage was one of convenience, I respected my wife and always made sure she was happy. And when she died, it broke my heart and Giana’s. I had to watch my little girl adjust to the fact that she no longer had her mother.

“Tesoro mio, what are you up to?”

“Papa. I’m writing a letter.”

I chuckled and swept her into my lap. “To who?”

“My friend. She suddenly stopped talking to me.”

The smile faded from my face. “Do you know why?”

She shrugged. “I’m writing to ask.”

Marco walked into the room and signaled to me that our guest had arrived.

I placed one last kiss on my daughter head and walked out of the room to confront her. When I arrived, she was standing by the terrace overlooking the huge garden.

“Marco, I need to do this alone. Stay out here with the rest of the men,” I instructed.

“Are you sure?”

“Affirmative.”

I took in a deep breath and walked out into the open space I used for informal meetings. I cleared my throat to get her attention.

I instantly registered a flash of recognition on her face but she quickly masked it with a stoic expression.

“You’re hired.”

“Just like that? I came here for an interview,” she protested.

“I’ve seen everything I need to see,” I stated matter-of-factly. “Your combat skills are insane. I am confident you’ll do a good job protecting my Giana.”

“Giana?”

“My daughter.”

She blew out a breath. “I was expecting some questions or an assessment.”

I know what she was trying to do. Pretending like she didn’t know me. But I wasn’t having any of that bullshit.

“I know all that I need to know about you, Lily,” I stated. “It’s a bonus when my deadly venom can pull off a thousand-dollar dress and heels.”

I trailed a finger over her cheek. She felt exactly like I remembered.

Soft. Warm.

“I am not your anything.”

“Lily. My fragile little flower.”

“A bomb is fragile too, you know.”

“I am not—”

I reached out and softly caressed her lips and dropping my voice to a whisper as I said, “Not my anything. I know. At least not yet. Let’s see how long you can last until you’re moaning my name as I make you ache in places you did know existed.”

“Kieran,” she said in protest.

“Not yet, my deadly venom. We have all the time in the world.”