“I’ll tell him,” I cut him off. “I promise. It’s my news. Just not—I need to do it my way, and it shouldn’t come from you.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. “That is not protocol. I am to deliver all medical news related to the Demonio family interest personally to the party most directly impacted. To not do that would be catastrophic.”
“Please.” My voice cracks. “Please not yet.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking me to do.”
“I do. I understand. I’ll fix things with Tommy if it comes to that, but I will tell him. Soon.”
He looks at me for a long time, then nods once, reluctantly. “Soon,” he repeats and sighs as he heads back into the bedroom to pack everything up.
I heave a sigh of relief, but when I look up, Una is standing in the hall doorway hesitantly, her eyes on her tablet. I watch her carefully, wondering if she overheard. Her expression is neutral, but her eyes flicker up from the screen just long enough for me to question.
My heart is pounding, and the noodles I just ate suddenly feel like a boulder in my gut. I retreat to the bathroom in a rush and lock the door.
And then I break. Sobs as quiet as I can make them, ugly and raw. I press my forehead to the tile and let myself fall apart,crying until there is nothing left. Then I curl into a ball and give myself permission to do nothing. Nothing at all.
26
Tommy
The Edge is cavernous in this part of the maze-like underground building. The usual smells of bleach and blood are mixed with the tang of metal and rot that seeps into your clothes and stays there.
It’s way too fucking quiet for it to be comfortable. This is where we bring everyone we take prisoner, whether we just need information or blood. Usually there’s a refrain of men screaming or moaning, but today there’s nothing but the low hum of overhead lights and the occasional metallic groan of the pipes running through the walls.
I guess we’ve all been busy elsewhere lately—or maybe it’s just me.
Vin walks ahead of me, jaw tight, knuckles split and swollen. He doesn’t say much until we round the corner, his voice grim.
“I have a surprise for you.”
Doesn’t sound like it’s a good surprise.
We pass the room where Antonio’s locked up, and I kick the door just to be an asshole as Vin stops at the next cell. The door’s open, and inside, a man hangs from chains bolted to the wall, his arms spread wide, his wrists bleeding where the shackles cut into the skin.
He’s wrecked. One eye is swollen shut, his lips are split, and dark blood crusts along his temple. He has railroad tracks of stitches traversing his arms and legs. Looks like Dr. Rossi sewed him up just enough to keep him breathing.
Vin crosses his arms. “This guy was one of the guards assigned to Giovanna at the island where she was held captive.”
I frown. “We killed everyone there.”
“Yeah, well, not him. He was off site when we ambushed the place. One of our guys caught him coming back.” Vin gives him a hard kick to the thigh. The man groans, his chains rattling. “And he’s got a lot to say, don’t you, asshole?”
The guy’s voice comes out broken, hoarse. “Please—please—”
I take a step closer, crouching so I’m level with him. “You were there.”
His one good eye flicks up at me, terrified. He nods once, heavily. “I didn’t—I didn’t touch her, I swear—”
Vin leans against the wall, lighting a cigarette, staring back out through the doorway like a bored executioner. “Tell him who did.”
The guy swallows hard, trembling. “Abbiati. I haven’t been with Aurelio long, but I think the guy’s name was Abbiati. And it was only him. No one else.”
It’s not new information, but it still feels like a kick in the gut to hear the words out loud. My jaw clenches. “You work for Aurelio? What were your orders?”
He shifts against the wall, pulling against the chains until the skin breaks. “I was just there as backup in case anything wentdown. I don’t have anything against you guys—or the girl. It was just a job.”
“You heard Aurelio give the order to rape the woman?” Vin asks. I give him a sharp glance. I don’t know why that’s relevant, but he gives me a look that says that the answer is important.
