“We could go to Arsenio Moretti’s villa. It’s only an hour away,” says Everest. “Carmelo said we could stay there.”
Again she tenses, which makes me more open to the suggestion, even though my initial reaction was to refuse.
“The don isn’t there,” Everest reminds me.
“I don’t care if he is or not.”
“Right. I just mean, you don’t have to worry. They’re not expecting her back yet.”
“Why the fuck would that make me worry? IwishI could hand her back. Iwantto get her off my hands.”
“Oh. Sure.” He doesn’t sound like he believes me, but when I slam my hand against the steering wheel, making Lia jump, he clears his throat hastily.
“Right. Right. Well, the Morettis aren’t there. Just a few guys to hold down the fort. We can just sit tight and wait. It’ll be more comfortable than the warehouse, that’s for sure.”
“Fine.” Sighing, I take the exit toward the sprawling forest that surrounds the twin cities of Astley and Oakley, past the Astley mountains.
My stomach is clenching with nerves by the time we’ve left the main roads and are driving down the narrow, bumpy country road that leads into the heart of the forest. The trees are so thick that the sun is all but blotted out. It’s hard to know if it’s morning or night, and I always get an eerie sensation when I’m out here.
Luckily, I don’t go to the villa all that often. Carmelo Morettilives out in Oakley and I answer to him mostly, not his father. Though sometimes it feels like he’s the one answering to me. I can tell it makes him fucking pissed, and he takes out his sadistic rage on those weaker than him. It doesn’t surprise me that he beats Lia.
The thought makes the bile rush to my throat again. I find myself actually thanking him for having insulted Everest, because I don’t think I could have held it together much longer, and it gave me an excuse for blowing a fuse.
We reach the thick walls that surround the place, and Everest gets out of the car to input the code. Moments later, the doors swing open, and we pull into a large courtyard.
I unbuckle my seatbelt, go around to the other door, and grab Lia by the arm. She doesn’t protest this time when I yank her up while Everest gets Aurora. The villa seems to have an oppressive effect on her. She stumbles after me, the little squeak that slips out of her throat the only sign that she’s struggling to keep up.
Everest was right: the place is almost deserted. The Moretti family has gone to Idaho, and their thugs are out trying to figure out who’s responsible for killing Stefano and Tito.
One of the few guys we pass hails me as we enter the sprawling villa.
“Ehi, Logan! Got Carmelo’sputtana, huh?”
My grip tightens around Lia’s wrist, and she bites down on a yelp.
“Yeah, Armando. We’re gonna stay for a night or so, until he tells us where to bring her.”
“Fine. You can take your usual rooms. And you should probably lock her in the cell.”
I grit my teeth, already regretting having brought her here. “Not sure that’s a good idea. I need to keep an eye on her.”
“Nothing safer than the cell,” he says, winking at me. “Wecan all take turns watching her, you know?”
I do know.And if you try anything like that, you’ll be dead before you hit the ground.“Not sure Carmelo would like that.”
He lets out a loud guffaw. “Well, you got it all wrong. Carmelo would love that. And he’d love it even better if we filmed it. He’ll send it to the whole family. He’ll play it over and over again while she gets eaten by the dogs.”
I look at Lia out of the corner of my eye, but she’s staring resolutely ahead, her face pasty white.
“How about the kid?” I say at last. “What should I do with her?”
“Well, I think Carmelo wants to keep it,” says Armando. “His progeny and all that. So just keep it alive,ehi, Logan?”
He tosses me three sets of keys, two for the rooms, the third for the cell. Then he wanders off, chatting with another guy who’s just walked toward us.
This time, Lia doesn’t try to keep up as I lead her into the large house. She falls to her knees, and after dragging her that way for a few feet, I stop, my body tense with anger.
“You’d better get up,” I growl at her.
