My head is hazy.
I’m languid and safe with my pack.
My husbands.
Epilogue
Hawk
Another Two Months Later
Grigoryan is hanging on by a thread, but by the looks of it, he wishes he was long dead. He’s missing an eye, all of his fingernails, both big toes, and he has more broken bones than I care to count.
I almost feel bad for anyone else who gets tossed down here with him. He smells like death, but the professional Moretti hired kept his word. He said Grigoryan wouldn’t die until Emory made the call.
In the beginning, I could see the merits of keeping him alive. He was spilling information left and right in hopes of finally being put out of his misery. That ended weeks ago, and he’s still just barely alive.
We’ve gained a new prisoner from that round of secrets.
Moretti let Julian stew down here for three days while having to smell Grigoryan and hear his daily torture sessions.
Julian is still full of fire and convinced his sons will come to save him. That won’t be happening, but his spirit hasn’t been broken yet.
I lean against the wall as Moretti finally gives the order for Grigoryan’s execution. It’s been three months of misery for the man, but if Hell is real, I hope he ends up there to suffer for the rest of eternity.
Moretti has Julian brought out of his cell and into the main room where the torture sessions occur. He’s shackled to the floor and gagged but glaring at Moretti like he can will him to drop dead where he stands.
“It didn’t have to be like this,” Moretti says, pacing in front of Julian. “Of all people, you had to know how things would turn out if you got into bed with Grigoryan.”
Commotion fills the air, and my head whips toward the doorway.
Vanessa stands in the open space with her mouth hanging open.
Magnum was supposed to keep her busy.
He failed.
He comes to a stop right behind her, but Vanessa takes off toward her father.
Moretti steps aside, offering her the space directly in front of the chair.
It’s a battle not to stomp across the room, toss her over my shoulder, and get her out of here. I hate when she comes down here at all. She should never be this close to the ugliness that goes down in this basement.
Vanessa stares at her father for a few seconds before turning to Moretti. “He was involved?”
Julian screams, but it’s muffled by the gag. When that doesn’t force her to look at him, he rocks the wooden chairagainst the plastic sheet. It’s a luxury to even have a chair, and it can easily be taken away.
“He abused you for years. That alone is enough to secure his space down here,” Moretti says, avoiding her question.
Before Vanessa even speaks, I know that’s not going to distract her.
“I didn’t ask what he did to me,” she says, planting her hands on her hips.
“Your marriage to Grigoryan would have solidified their business deal.” Moretti stares straight into her eyes as he speaks. “As far as we can tell, he wasn’t selling human beingsyet, but he intended to.”
“Kill him,” Vanessa says, bringing her hand to cover the side of her face where Julian is. “He deserves to die, and I don’t want it drawn out.”
Moretti doesn’t hesitate. Reaching into his coat, he pulls his gun and puts a bullet in Julian’s brain.
