When Lorenzo pulls up the driveway of my parents’ place, I don’t see the car Mom usually takes and let out a breath of relief.
The moment he parks behind Dad’s car, I shove the door open. Seeing John, I ask, “Has the fucker said anything?”
“He says he’ll only talk to you. Your father is going to town on his ass. There’s no stopping him.”
“Jesus,” I snap as I jog toward the cottage that’s on top of the cellar. When I walk into the living room where the guards take their breaks, I see Uncle Milo and Uncle Marcello. “You left him alone with the guy?”
“You know there’s no stopping your father when he’s angry,” Uncle Milo replies. When Lorenzo comes in behind me, my uncle looks at his son. “Are you okay?”
“No. Augusto almost died on my watch,” Lorenzo grumbles.
I leave them and hurry down the stairs. Santi is standing outside the soundproof door, and when he sees me, panictightens his features. “I tried to stop him, boss, but your father kicked me out.”
When I yank the door open, I’m met with the sound of flesh being pulverised with a bat.
“Dad, come on!” I say as I pull the door shut behind me. “I need to get information from the fucker before you kill him.”
Dad drops the bat on the concrete floor where blood is pooling beneath the Asian man hanging from the chain bolted to the ceiling.
“Christ.” Dad darts toward me and shoves my shirt to the side. When he sees the bandage, he lets out a growl, and I have to move fast to grab hold of his arm before he kills my prisoner.
“I’m fine, Dad. It’s just a scratch. Calm down so we can question the fucker.”
“This is as calm as you’re going to get. No one tries to kill my fucking son and lives another day, so ask your questions so I can end him.”
I look at the man and get right to the point. “I’m not falling for the inscription on the round. Who do you work for?”
Blood and spit dribble from his mouth as he answers, “Tanaka. He said to deliver a message to you.”
“What?”
“You never apologized for all the men you killed. He’s offended.”
I let out a dark chuckle as I shake my head. “Yeah, I don’t believe that either. Who’s behind the attack?”
He tries to lean his head against his arm so he can look me in the eye as he says, “Tanaka.”
“You get one more chance,” I growl. “Who’s behind the attack?”
Unable to keep his head up, his chin drops to his chest as he mumbles, “Tanaka.”
Looking at Dad, I let out a sigh. “He’s not going to talk.”
Dad picks up the bat again, and letting out a brutal roar, he breaks it against the man’s head, killing him.
“Do you feel better now?” I ask.
He shakes his head, and pulling me into a hug, he holds me fucking tight. “You need to be more careful.”
“Okay.”
Pushing me away, his eyes drift over my face. “First Riccardo and now you. I’m going to die of a heart attack this year if another one of my children gets hurt.”
“I’ll add more guards to everyone, and I’ll wear a vest from now on,” I say to put his mind at ease.
Dad looks at my ruined shirt. “I’ll get you something to wear.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
