Page 42 of Devour (Blood and Roses #1)

Luca

I ’ m sitting on the floor with my back pressed against the side of Noah’s bed.

I know he’s safe—I’ve stationed more guards around the house and inside—but I can’t bring myself to leave his side.

Maybe it’s not just for his sake. Maybe I need him too.

He’s, my anchor. Seeing him keeps me in check. Keeps me from unraveling.

He’s finally asleep. It took an hour of soft whispers, made-up stories, and lies that left a bitter taste in my mouth.

He kept asking for her. Where’s Mum? Why isn’t she back yet? Why are the big men in the house? I told him she went on a girls’ retreat with her friend, so the two of us could spend more time bonding.

That she’d be home before he wakes up. That the “big men” were just my friends helping out. But even as he curled into his pillow, clutching his plush toy close, I knew he didn’t believe me.

He’s too smart. Too much like her. I throw my head back against the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Then I steal another glance at the burner lying on the floor beside me.

I’ve been doing that for a while now. I’m expecting a call from Alessio, I had him start tracking Vito’s location. I know it’ll take time, but time is the one thing I don’t have.

My most trusted allies in the family, Dominic, Axel, and our men, are already combing the van’s last known location. So far? Nothing.

I don’t trust Vito not to hurt her. Even if I give him exactly what he wants, he’s the type of spiteful bastard who would still harm her. And I’ve only got a few hours left before the 24-hour deadline runs out. I need to make a decision. Now.

An idea crosses my mind. Maybe I will give him the location of the warehouse where the cargo is stored…Then double-cross him. I reach for the phone—Right as it starts ringing.

“Dominic.”

“Don, we found the van.”

I’m on my feet the second the words leave his mouth.

“And there’s a phone with it,” he adds. “Only one number on it—caller ID says, ‘Send Location.”

“Fuck,” I hiss.

Vito’s playing smart. He left a burner so I can’t trace him. He wants me to use that phone to send him the location of the goods.

“Send me your location. I’m coming.” As I step out of Noah’s room, I’m met by Adrian.

“Sir—there’s someone at the gate. She says her name is Claudia.”

Claudia? What the fuck is she doing here? When I got shot, she didn’t even call. I know her people kept her updated. But now—now—she shows up?

“She says she knows where Mrs. Ariel is.”

I don’t trust her. She could be lying to stall me, keep me from making a move. Still, I grit my teeth and say: “Let her in.”

I wait for her in my study. By the time she walks in, I’m pacing, completely out of patience. “If you know where the fuck my wife is, you better tell me now. I don’t have time for your games.” She walks leisurely over and sits cross-legged on the lounge, like she has all the damn time in the world.

“I can’t.”

“What do you mean you can’t?”

“If I tell you, you’ll charge straight into a trap. And if by some miracle you make it out alive, do you really think he’ll just hand her over?”

She gives me that smug look, the kind only someone who’s survived too many lies can pull off.

“I know Vito better than you do. He’s cunning, cruel, and always two steps ahead. He wants you to lose control. He’s counting on it. Look at yourself, you’re a fucking mess. You think you’re in any state to make the right call?”

“And what would you have me do? Sit on my ass while he does god knows what to my wife?” My voice rises. “You know what? I don’t have time for this. If you know where she is, say it. If not—get the hell out.” I point to the door, jaw clenched.

She doesn’t flinch. Her tone softens, but it doesn’t lose its edge.

“I know you won’t believe me when I say this, but I’m here for my grandchild. If something happens to you, he’s next.”

I stare at her. I don’t believe a damn word. If she really gave a shit, she would’ve been around during Noah’s hospitalization. I know her spy kept her updated. Maybe it’s about time I root the bastard out.

“Shouldn’t you be happy about that?” I sneer. “If something happens to me, you’ll still have an heir, one you can mold to your liking.”

“I know you don’t believe me, but I want to help.”

She takes a breath.

“I had my men track down Romano. We found him vacationing in Bled, Slovenia—off-grid, heavily guarded.” “He’s a hard man to talk to, but I managed to get a meeting.

He didn’t know what Finn was up to. Left him in charge when he left.

He was planning to retire when he got back—name Finn as head of the family. ”

She pauses.

“Now he’s pissed. Betrayal doesn’t sit well with him. There’s a bounty on Finn’s head.”

I stay silent.

“Romano also told me about one of his old hideouts. Said Finn is stupid he’ll still use it.”

“Where?”

She rattles off the address. I’m already striding toward the door, reaching for the burner in my pocket when her hand closes around my arm. I stop. Turn my head slowly to look at her.

“He doesn’t expect the cargo back,” she says carefully. “But he wants something in return.”

She holds my gaze.

“Tell him I want a meeting. Then we’ll talk.”

I glance down at her hand still on my arm. She finally let's go. I walk out without another word. As I reach my car, I call Dominic.

“I know where they are.” “I tell him the address. Secure the place. Do not engage until I get there.” I hang up, start the engine, and drive.

“They’re in there,” Dominic tells me as soon as I arrive.

“How many?”

“Two guards at the entrance. We don’t know how many are inside.”

They picked a decent hideout, abandoned cars and scattered metal spare parts everywhere. We can use that to our advantage. We’ll be on them before they even see us coming. We spread out.

Someone steps out. I can’t see his face clearly in the dark, only the faint outline lit by the moonlight as he walks toward the rubble near where I’m hiding.

The two guards at the entrance are distracted, watching him. As he gets closer, I notice he’s swaying on his feet, probably drunk, sloppy. They’re celebrating. He thinks he’s got me cornered. He is not expecting us.

I signal to Dominic and Axel to take down the two guards while I handle the one heading my way.

I zip up my biker jacket. It’s a good thing my outfit from this morning is all black, except for the white undershirt.

I hadn’t thought of changing before, all my thoughts had been centered on saving Ariel.

I draw my blade—I don’t need a gun for a close kill like this. As soon as Dominic and Axel make their move, I turn toward my target. His hand is at his fly when I creep up behind him and press the blade to his throat.

“Move, and I’ll slit your throat.” He freezes, hands shooting up.

“Please—don’t kill me—I don’t know anything,” he stammers, trembling. I hear a faint trickling sound. The fucker just pissed himself.

“How many?” I growl against his ear. He doesn’t speak—just starts shaking and holds up five trembling fingers. “Words.”

“Five…” As soon as the word leaves his mouth, I drive the blade clean through his jugular and wipe it on the edge of his shirt. He gurgles, clutching his throat as if he can stop the blood from spilling out.

I don’t give him a second glance as he collapses to the ground. I jog a few feet to the entrance and signal to my men—just five inside. Easy pickings.

Judging by how drunk the one I took down was, this will be like cutting through paper. I switch my blade for my gun and signal Axel to fully open the door.

The moment it swings wide, I take out the first man who turns his head toward me, reaching for his weapon. Axel and Dominic move fast, dropping the two beside him with clean shots. Across the room, I spot Vito diving behind the chair he was just sitting in as my men rain bullets in his direction.

“Vito is mine!” I shout over the gunfire. “I want him and Finn alive!” The shooting stops. I scan the room. No sign of Finn.

The bastard must’ve escaped like a coward. “Find Finn!” I bark. I step forward and call out, “Why don’t you come out, Vito? You’re surrounded.”

He shouts from behind the chair, “If you kill me now, you’ll never find your wife!”

I train my gun on him as he slowly crawls out, hands raised in surrender.

“I surrender! Kill me, and she dies.”

I’m tempted to take the shot, put a bullet through his skull and watch him chock on his own blood.

After everything he’s put me through, I finally have my chance. All I have to do is pull the trigger just one pull, and it’s over. My finger tightens. But then—A hand clamps down on my shoulder, it’s Dominic.

“He’s right. She’s not here.”

I watch Vito’s smug expression for half a second before Axel steps forward and cracks him across the face with his gun, knocking him out cold. One of my men enters, dragging Finn inside.

“I told you I wanted him alive.”

“He’s alive, just unconscious. I caught him trying to escape with this.”

He hands me a bag. I unzip it and find it stuffed with bundles of cash. Something feels off.

“Let me torture them,” Axel growls. “I’ll have them talking in minutes.”

I’m tempted to let him, but this is personal. I want the satisfaction of breaking them myself. “No. I’ll do it. Bring them to my basement.”