Chapter Forty Four
Gio
When I'd seen what that fucker had done to Carly, I wanted to rip him to shreds. The pain in her eyes made me feel like I'd failed her. I should have found her sooner.
I was grateful to the Doc for giving her something for the pain. After what she'd gone through, she needed to rest.
Watching her sleep, my hands curled into fists. I wanted to hit something. No. I wanted to hitsomeone. Thebastardowho'd hurt her. I itched to make him suffer for his crimes. I craved it. But right now, Carly needed me. Thepezzo di merdawould have to wait.
A light tap at my bedroom door had my head turning in that direction. Mama stood there motioning to me. With a heavy sigh, I leaned over, pressed a kiss to Carly's brow, and left.
Neither of us spoke on the way downstairs to my office. I wasn't surprised to find Pop waiting for me.
"Talk to me. What happened?"
"Carly was taken from the employee parking lot at the club. She had a stalker and we, I, thought he was the one who took her. When he showed up at the club, I assumed he was trying to make it look like he was innocent. I wasted an hour of precious time questioning him."
"Who is he, this man who took her?"
"I honestly don't know, Pop. Not yet. When we tracked them down, all I could think about was getting to her. He carved her up, Pop. The Doc had to stitch he up. I lost count after 100. She'd lost so much blood she’d needed a transfusion."
"We will find out why he did this. You focus on Carly. Help her heal. I will personally see to it he suffers greatly. He will beg for death."
"I want to be the one to end him, Pop."
"Si, you will,mio figlio. His death is yours."
"Grazie." Pop could have denied me but he understood why I needed to be the one to do it. Carly was mine and thatbastardohurt her. It was my right to watch the life drain from his eyes.
"Let me know if she needs anything,mio figlio. She will have it, like this."
Mama snapped her fingers and I smiled, just a little. "I will, Mama. I'm going to go curl around her so if she awakens, she isn't afraid."
I kissed Mama's cheek, shook Pop's hand, and headed back upstairs to my woman. I knew Pop would make sure the house was locked up tight when he and Mama left.
Back in my room, I changed into a pair of sweats and crawled into bed. Moving carefully so I wouldn't hurt her, I pulled Carly into my arms and held her tight. I'd failed to protect her, but lying there holding her, I made a silent promise to never fail her again.
