AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And you think one of my men was involved with this?”
“Yes, and I don’t know how you didn’t suspect one of your people to begin with. This place was designed to be Fort Knox, and yet an assassin was able to get in without tripping any of the security points that you have here?”
I cupped the sides of her face with my large hands. I had only ever touched her when I was ready to ravage her. The softness of her skin beneath my calloused palms eased the lust within me, until it softened to something warm—foreign.
“You’ve done it your way for nine years, now allow me to take the lead here. I’m not here to steal your power or try to take what you have built. But you belong to me now and I protect and guard what is mine jealously. You’re coming to Manhattan with me, end of discussion. Even if I must drag you there kicking and screaming.”
She was used to getting her way, but so was I, and I didn’t plan on backing down.
“The choice is yours, bruja.” I kissed the top of her head and left her standing in the middle of her father’s study.
Chapter Fifteen
Andres’ POV
“You promised her what?” Valerio had been staring at me in utter bewilderment the entire drive to the city.
“It’s not that big of a deal, and I don’t understand why you are making it into something that it clearly isn’t .” I had informed him of my promise to my wife. And though at the time the words had tumbled from my lips on their own accord, I had every intention of living up to my vow now.
“It is a big deal. This is not just some act of righting a wrong. You promised to find her father’s killer. The same person who has evaded Dimitri for over a decade.”
I gave a curt nod looking over the spreadsheet of new shipments that had been sent to me. “Dimitri is not the great huntsman that so many claim him to be. Besides, I have my suspicions when it comes to him.”
“What do you mean?” Valerio leaned back in his seat and moved his gaze to his phone. “Don’t tell me you think that he had a hand in the murder of his most trusted childhood friend?”
“I do.” I switched off my iPad and rubbed the side of my temple. I could feel the headache coming on. “If not him being involved, then I think he already knows who killed her father and he is simply not saying. Which would then beg the question of why he would hide it. I have never known Dimitri to let a man get away. He is like a bloodhound, once he catches the scent he doesn’t let up until he finds what he is looking for.”
“That’s a bold claim, brother.” Valerio's blue eyes connected with mine. “There are few people that your wife trusts, and Dimitri has to be number one on her list. If what you’re saying is true, then we must prepare for the catastrophe that is to follow.”
He was right. One thing I knew about my wife was that she believed in the saying ‘blood was taken so blood must be given’. It was an ancient practice that stemmed from her earlier ancestors. Was it slightly barbaric? Yes, but it was a rule that the Italians lived by, and one I very much respected.
But knowing what I knew of her now, I knew that if I was right this would shatter her. She put on a brave face, as she should as the Head of one of the most powerful Syndicates in the state. But there was always that childlike innocence that floated in the back of her pupils. There was this little girl who had been left shattered, and broken, and marred by the very world she had sworn to protect.
“And let’s say that he is a part of the crime, what will you do?”
I turned to look out the window. The large concrete buildings were in full view now as we crossed the city borders.
“I’ll put a bullet in his head. Treason is treason.” Even I was shocked at my own words. I was even more surprised at the fact that I meant them with every fiber of my being. There was nothing I despised more than a traitor and liar.
“We shall see…”
Indeed, we shall. I only hoped for her sake that my suspicions were wrong.
Valerio and I walked into the basement of our building. Though we had many less morally upright businesses, we did have a few more noble career ventures that we had decided to invest in. One such venture was construction. We had multiple buildings all across the city that we had played a part in erecting.
This side of my work was more of a passion project than anything else.
“It’s him?” We descended the stairs that led to the underground area.
“Yep.” My brother smacked his lips together. “We caught him trying to cross state borders. He isn’t talking much.”
“He’ll start right now.” We came to the door with two of my men standing guard. They nodded and opened for the two of us.
Bound to a chair in the center of the concrete room was none other than the great Reaper. The man had been a legend back in the days of the Russian reign. He claimed more souls than the Devil himself. Killing was his specialty, and torture was his favorite pastime.
His head hung low, his shirt was torn in various places, and his feet were bare. The only indication that this little fucker was still alive was the low groans of pain that escaped his lips.
My men had done well to warm him up, but now it was time to get a taste of what true torture was.
