Now I know.
One of my men—Matteo—betrayed me many years ago. It took me a year to track him down after he ran. WhenI finally did, Papa and I made an example of him. Strung him up in a warehouse and let every man watch while we tortured and killed him. That’s what happens when you betray us.
Matteo had a brother—a civilian, someone outside this life. But he’s been holding a grudge. I killed Matteo, and I don’t blame him for hating me. But Matteo sold out Tess’s location to the Russians. She almost died. Kai almost died. Nico did die. Matteo got what he deserved.
“Follow me,” I tell Izzy, leading her out the back of the house and toward the outbuilding. Normally I’d use my apartment’s basement for this sort of thing, but I didn’t want to bring her back there. And I knew she’d want to be part of this.
The heavy metal door screeches against the concrete floor as I shove it open.
Thomas Bianchi—Matteo’s stepbrother—hangs in the center of the room. His eyes glint with malice when he sees me.
“You’ll pay for this,” he snarls, spitting at my feet.
Izzy glances between us. “What’s this?”
“This is the man who’s been feeding intel to Lucas.”
Her eyes widen.
“He’s the reason Lucas has been one step ahead of us every time.”
Izzy scowls, brows furrowing. “What’s the plan?”
I grin. “Thought we could have a little fun.”
Izzy places a hand on my chest, pressing gently. “Does he deserve this?”
Good to know she’s got a conscience.
Placing my hand over hers, I interlink her fingers. “Not only did he sell your location to a sex trafficker, but he’s also got three rape allegations against him.”
Izzy’s eyes darken dangerously, anger thrumming through her at my words. She nods, moving away to let me proceed.
I step closer, with Izzy trailing behind me, and eye the tray of tools laid out neatly on a steel table. Nothing else fills the cold, concrete box of a room.
I tap my chin. “Where should we start?”
Hours later, Thomas is barely clinging to life. I know exactly how to hurt a man—how to make him wish for death but keep him alive until I decide otherwise.
His breathing is labored—strained. His whimpers no longer echo.
“Let’s end this,” Izzy says.
“You sure?”
She saunters toward me, sliding her arms around my waist. The blood spattering my face and chest doesn’t faze her—probably because she’s drenched in just as much.
“I can think of more fun things we could be doing with our time.” She winks.
Yeah. Time to call it a night.
I pull the trigger without looking. The shot cracks through the room, final and absolute.
For a beat, there’s only silence. Blood and smoke. Then Izzy’s smile curves, wicked and wild, and I know there’s only one thing left I want tonight.
She starts to step back, but I drag her closer, my hands locking under her thighs as I lift her against me. Our chests heave, breaths colliding, eyes burning.
Then we’re a clash of tongues and teeth, devouring each other. Izzy moans into my mouth, and I groan into hers.
