“I almost didn’t come back,” I whisper.
“But you did. And he will.”
I jump to my feet, unable to sit there any longer.
“Ari—,” Lil starts.
I hold my hand up. “I just… I just need a minute.” I walk out of the office, up the stairs, and into our room. Tears start to fall as soon as the door closes behind me. I throw myself face-first onto the bed and scream into Luca’s pillow.
If it’s more money he’s after, there’s a chance we’ll get my husband back, and hopefully, mostly in one piece. If it’s revenge and hatred fueling this… Luca could already be gone.
And I will burn everything to the ground.
I might just do that either way.
Chapter 82
Fuck
Luca
For what feels like hours, I slide in and out of consciousness. At one point, I realize I’m in the back of a van. My arms are tied behind me, my legs are tied together, and someone is pulling a goddamned tooth out of my fucking mouth. Pain sears through me as the root is ripped from my gums.
“Wait to toss them out the window until you have both,” someone calls from the front. There’s at least three men because one is driving, one is holding my mouth open, and a third is holding the pliers. My eyes focus enough that I recognize the one going in for another tooth. He’s the guy who was stationed in the locker room. Gino. I glare at him. Fucking traitor.
Fuck.There won’t be a single tracker on me. The second tooth is wrenched out. The asshole grins at me, then punches me in the jaw. I pass out as my mouth fills with blood.
When I regain consciousness again, I’m not in the van anymore. No, I’m upright with my arms tied above me and my chin on my chest. My feet are tied to anchors attached to the floora couple of feet apart. I keep my head down and act like I’m still out of it.
My mouth and jaw hurt like a bitch. So does my head where that fucker hit me in the locker room.
“DeVille’s found the teeth by now, I’m sure,” a voice says. I think it’s the same voice I heard from the front of the van before. “And that stupid little princess must know I have her husband. Must know I’m going to gut him if I don’t get what I want. But I’m going to gut him anyway. Teach her a fucking lesson. Make her watch him die. I wonder if stabbing him will be even more fun than stabbing her was.”
My blood goes cold. Ariana’s birth father wants to hurt her by hurting me.
And it will work. It will destroy her. Just like it would destroy me if this was happening the other way.
A pair of shoes appears near my feet, then a face as the guy crouches down. “Hey Fred, guess who’s awake.”
I recognize this guy, too. Another one of the newer crew members, like the one who pulled my teeth. Another traitor. Another fucker to add to my list.
“Good, let’s take a picture before we mess up his face some more.” Fred’s voice gets closer until he’s standing in front of me. I still keep my head down. “Wade, make him look up.” A hand grabs my hair right where Gino hit me earlier and yanks it roughly, forcing my head up. I grit my teeth and try not to hiss in pain. Try not to pass out again.
I’ve seen pictures of Fred, but they weren’t recent. His gray eyes are similar to Ariana’s but without the purple tint. And instead of the love, kindness, humor, and spirit hers hold, his are filled with cruelty and hatred.
He grins at me and smacks my swollen jaw almost playfully. “Not so bad yet, right, son?” He smacks it again butharder, making a tsking sound. “You didn’t ask for my blessing before marrying my daughter.”
“I asked her real father for it,” I say before I can stop myself.
His grin gets bigger. “That’s no way to get on my good side, Luca.”
“I didn’t think you had one.”
Fred laughs loudly. “I kind of like you. I’m almost sad that I’m going to have to kill you. You know, I never expected them to actually want to keep her. Figured they’d get sick of her after a few days, pay us to take her back, and then get their kid a dog or something. Didn’t want her back, mind you. She was an annoying little pest. But damn, if she hasn’t been a bit of a cash cow for me over the years. Now, smile.”
I don’t smile. I do something more like grimace because Wade squeezes my jaw as Fred holds up a burner phone and snaps a picture.
“Perfect. Too bad Gino and Wade didn’t think to get the princess’s number off your phone before they dragged you outside. I would love to send this directly to her. Oh well, Marco will do.” He shrugs and walks away. Thank god these traitors don’t have the girls’ numbers. They aren’t high enough in the food chain.
