Page 101 of Blood in the Water

“Get over it, asshole. Sorry that I’m smarter than you.” He gaped, and oh, how I loved seeing him speechless because of me. One of my new favorite things. I blew him a kiss as the elevator doors closed. “I’m so glad I’m your newest client!”

His shouts of anger fueled my laughter up to the next floor.

36

CASPIAN

My head bobbed on my chest as my eyelids struggled to remain open. How many days had it been? Three or four? A week?

I’d lost track. Endless beatings made everything blur together.

But Max still hadn’t broken me, so that was a fucking win.

At some point, he had dragged me out of that shit warehouse, and somehow, we ended up at the old mansion. Memories tainted every corner of this place. For example, this basement was where the Don taught Max and I how to torture our enemies. In fact, his little table of tools still stood against the wall.

Max thought dragging me here would make me weak or unsteady. But all it did was settle in my bones how deeply Leona needed me.

When Elio went to town on my body—with the Don’s old tools no less—I kept my mouth fucking shut. Just like Luciano had taught me.

How fucking ironic that here I was, sitting in the same seat where Max and I had learned how to be enforcers in the mafia.We’d tortured men here. Killed them. Forged the bonds of brotherhood.Yeah, right.

It was probably only a matter of time before I suffered the same fate, but I struggled to care at this point. My brain was fuzzy, with only memories of Leona bringing me clarity.

I’d hallucinate her to pass the time.

I’d lean my head back, close my eyes, and let the visions roll over me, pushing me to sweet oblivion.

In my dreams, Leona would stand before me, simply chatting, just like she did when she was a teenager; all she needed was someone who listened.

Her father never listened. Max never listened.

But I did, even when she talked about nothing. In my hallucinations, she would chatter away, and I’d listen with a silly grin on my face because even theideaof hearing her talk kept me from losing my mind.

Or maybe I had already. It was hard to tell.

Because right now, the vision I had in front of me was not the usual laughing, smiling Leona.

This Leona was pissed the fuck off. A dark frown marred her usually carefree features. Her hair was pulled back tightly in a braid, and she wore a zipped-up leather jacket… were those blood splatters?

This was nothing like my dreams. I waited for her to disappear in a mist like a ghost.

“Wake up,” ghost Leona demanded.

I sighed and leaned my head back again. I loved sassy Leona, but damn if I didn’t want sweet Leona right now. I wanted her to kiss me and make me forget all the pain until Max finally decided he’d had enough and shot me in the head. Then, I could dream forever.

“Cas,” ghost Leona hissed. “Wake. Up.”

I blinked again. The Leona in front of me took on a more corporeal shape, but something still wasn’t clicking. “What?”

Something tugged at my wrists, but everything feltblurry. Out of touch. Slow motion.

Probably the concussion.

A hand grabbed my cheeks and steadied my lolling head. “Caspian.”

The voice was firm. Warm. Real.

Not a dream?