Page 60 of High Stakes

As they lead Milo down the stairs, Maria appears at the bottom of the landing. Her eyes widen in horror as she takes in the scene. “What’s happening?” she gasps, her voice trembling.

Milo doesn’t stop walking, his eyes on her. “Call Leone,” he orders, his voice steady despite the fear I feel. “Tell him to get home.”

Maria’s face pales as she nods and rushes off, leaving me alone with Dante and Lorenzo, who shove us down the basement steps. I shudder at the thought of being down here. Milo steps into the room with a shake of his head, clearly annoyed. “You’re making a mistake, Dante,” Milo tells him as Lorenzo shoves me into the room.

Dante’s sneer returns as he turns to me, the loathing in his eyes making my skin crawl. “You think you’re clever, don’t you? Manipulating both of them like that?” He steps closer, his hand raised.

I don’t have time to react, Dante’s hand cracks across my face, sending me crashing to the floor, pain explodes across my cheek, and I taste blood as my teeth bite into my tongue.

“Dante, stop!” Milo shouts, trying to lunge toward me, but Lorenzo is faster, pressing the gun against Milo’s chest and forcing him to step back.

Dante chuckles darkly, his gaze shifting from me to Milo as he towers over him. “You’re going to pay for this, Milo. Finally my father will see how unfit Leone is when he can’t control his own men,” he says, his voice low and dangerous.

He swings his fist, landing a brutal punch to Milo’s stomach. Milo doubles over with a groan, his body crumpling under the force of the blow.

“Dante, don’t fucking touch her,” Milo gasps, trying to catch his breath.

But Dante doesn’t care. He just laughs, a cold, heartless sound that sends shivers down my spine. “No, Milo. The mistake was my brother trusting you,” he says, nodding to Lorenzo.

Without another word, Lorenzo steps forward and kicks Milo in the face; my scream echoes off the walls as Milo reels backward, his blood spraying the walls when Lorenzo starts beating Milo with ruthless efficiency. Milo’s groans fill the room, each sound tearing at my heart.

I try to push myself up, to do something, but Dante’s hand in my hair holds me down on the ground, forcing me to watch.

Dante watches with cold satisfaction, his lips curling into a cruel smile. “Take your time, Lorenzo. I want him to suffer,” he orders, his voice devoid of any emotion as if he’s talking about the weather.

Tears blur my vision as I watch Milo being beaten, his body slumped against the wall, barely able to hold himself up. This isn’t supposed to happen. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.

I have to do something. I can’t let this happen. But as I try to crawl toward Milo, Dante steps in front of me, blocking my path. He crouches down, grabbing me by the hair and forcing me to stare up at him.

“Don’t worry, Fallon,” he whispers, his voice dripping with malice. “This is just the beginning. Your turn will be next.”

He shoves me back down, my head hitting the floor with a sickening thud. Darkness threatens to pull me under, but I fight it, clinging to consciousness by sheer willpower. I have to stay awake. I have to find a way to help Milo.

But as Lorenzo’s fists continue to rain down on Milo, I realize with a sickening dread that there’s nothing I can do. Not now.

All I can do is pray Leone gets here in time.

“Dante, no!” I scream, my heart pounding in my chest as Lorenzo grabs Milo by the arm, dragging him out of the bed. “Please, don’t do this!”

Milo struggles against Lorenzo’s grip, but he’s no match for the giant of a man when one eye is swollen shut. He’s forced to his feet, his eyes locking onto mine with a mixture of fear and desperation.

“Fallon, it’s okay,” he says, his voice strained as he tries to reassure me. “I’ll be okay.”

But I know he won’t be. And the thought of Milo being tortured, being hurt because of me, is unbearable.

“Please, Dante, call Leone!” I plead, my voice breaking as tears spill down my cheeks. “He didn’t do anything wrong!”

Dante’s gaze finally shifts to me, his eyes cold and devoid of any empathy. “He betrayed my brother,” he says simply, as if that justifies everything. “And he’ll pay for it.”

Before I can react, Lorenzo drags Milo over to the chair and starts strapping him down. My mind races, panic gripping me as I try to think of a way to stop this, to save Milo. But I’m frozen, paralyzed by fear and helplessness, when my eyes move to the open door.

With a surge of desperation, I make a run for the door. I don’t care about my nakedness, don’t care about anything except getting Milo help.

I hear Dante’s shout behind me, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop.

I run through the mansion, my feet pounding against the floors, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Moving quickly, I head for Rocco’s place out back, praying he’s there and that he can help me. But when I reach his door, I pound on it with all my strength, screaming his name, but there’s no answer.

Panic claws at my chest, threatening to choke me as I turn and run down the driveway, looking for one of Leone’s men, the cold air biting at my skin. I’m desperate, my mind a blur of fear and desperation. I don’t know where I’m going, don’t know what I’m going to do, but I can’t stop. Not until I have to find someone—anyone—who can help me.