Marcus sighs as he pulls onto the highway. “I don’t think any of them are going to count it as a win. I sure the fuck don’t right now.”
“Well, to be fair, the ambulances were a much better idea than a pizza delivery.”
With a disgusted sound, Marcus shakes his head. “Just…sit there and shut up. And maybe start thinking about how you’re going to explain, to the Bosses and your Dom, why they shouldn’t kill us.”
I open my mouth, but at Marcus’s glare, I shut it again. Crossing my arms, I look out of the window. I try out various arguments in my head, discarding each one. Somehow, the truthof “It sounded fun” doesn’t seem like it’ll go over well.Fuck. We’re so screwed…
“Have you had enough time to think things over?” I ask as I stand across from where Cristian still hangs.
“I’ve thought about how big of an asshole you are,” he grouses.
I huff and smile at him. “That was a given. But I’m guessing you don’t feel the need to apologize to your son, your ex-husband, or even to Allesandro for getting him into this mess.”
Burning dark eyes meet mine. “I’m not sorry.” He grimaces. “Though I suppose I do owe Ignacio an apology, for allowing things to go so far.”
“You don’t regret gutting him, do you?” I ask softly, almost unnecessarily.
He glares. “No, I can’t. I did what I had to do in order to protect my son. Do I regret letting it go as far as it did? Yes. The plan wasn’t to kill him, just to put him in his place.”
“I don’t like him. I’ve never hidden that, I’ll never hide it. But even I am not so callous and vengeful. There are other ways to get your point across. Hell, I wouldn’t have blamed you had you asked your precious Il Padrone for help or ideas, but to take matters into your own hands…that isn’t you, Cris.”
He jerks in his chains, though it’s a weak fight, the hours of hanging wearing on his muscles. “Do not pretend you understand my position, or where I’m coming from.”
“I don’t. I simply know what right and wrong is, and you, Cris, are so far from right, it’s disturbing.”
Walking over to the crank, I let him down, watching as his legs give out and he falls unceremoniously to the floor.
“You know,” I tell him, watching as he tries to stand, chains and weak muscles weighing him down. “I’m kind of impressed. I didn’t think anyone would make you turn on your husband or son, and yet, Allesandro managed.”
“I didn’t turn on them,” he argues, managing to make it to his feet.
“No? I believe they’ll tell me something different. Shall we call them and ask? Though, Carter is a bit…tied up, I believe. Getting shot and all is hard work. As is falling in love.”
Pain crosses his face for a moment, but he doesn’t respond to my bait, which is a pity.
“Of course, I’m sure Roman would be happy to tell you exactly how he feels. After all, he has never held his opinions back.”
“No.” Cristian shakes his head. “Roman…he’ll get over it. Once he understands, after he’s been the Boss for a while. He’ll understand that choices have to be made sometimes, and it’s not always easy.”
I snort and make my way to him. “Roman is so much stronger than you are. I can’t wait until he gets a chance to stand in front of you and prove that he’s never needed your approval.”
“He can’t see me like this…”
“Why not?” I study him carefully. “Don’t want him to see you weak?”
“I am not weak. I never have been.”
I smile. “Agree to disagree on that. You’re as weak as your uncle was.”
He tries to attack me, but being still attached to the hook and chains prevents him from doing so.
Stepping back, I shake my head at him. “I should let you tire yourself out, it’ll make my job so much easier.”
“What’s the plan here, Ten? You can’t break me, you know that. I grew up with you and your tricks.”
I hum as I circle him, enjoying the game and the fight in him. For as much as he keeps claiming I won’t break him…we both know that’s not true; I already have.
His bravado is simply that. A mask he’s hidden behind for far too long. Tearing it off is going to be fun.
