Page 27 of The Madman and his broken Princess

I tore my eyes away. They were making sure he lived so he could be tortured more.

“Once we’ve gathered all the evidence, you can burn down this place if you want.”

“No,” Nestore murmured. My eyes widened. No? “This is my house. It’s where Amelia and I will live, where we’ll rule.”

Remo chuckled. “I like it. It takes a certain type of person to remain in a place like this.”

Nestore remained silent. Something in his hand caught my eye, and when I looked down, a cry lodged itself in my throat. He held a bone covered in blood and flesh in his hand. My father’s bone.

I closed my eyes, tears squeezing out.

“You and the girl should rest. The house is clear. Pick a bedroom and sleep. We can discuss the details in the morning. Nino will patch up Lamorgese so you can enjoy him for a while. And if you want, Nino will treat the girl’s and your injuries.”

“Yes,” Nestore said. I looked up at him. He looked exhausted and a little lost, as if he couldn’t believe we were finally free.

“Where are my stepmother and brother?” I asked.

“Upstairs, locked inside a bedroom,” Nino said as he straightened. My father remained motionless on the floor.

“We’ll question her later to determine her further fate,” Remo said.

“Don’t hurt her. She’s innocent.”

Remo narrowed his eyes at me, and I backed into Nestore for comfort. “I highly doubt it. She’s guilty of cowardice at the very least.”

“She endured more than you can fathom,” I whispered, rage and respect of the unhinged Capo filling me.

“Don’t assume you know anything about what my brothers and I have endured to be where we belong. Our blood and suffering will be the foundation of a new Camorra.”

“Flavia Lamorgese helped us. Without her, neither Amelia nor I would be alive. She falls under my responsibility as Underboss.”

Remo tilted his head. “Tomorrow, when you accept the tattoo of the Camorra, you’ll be Underboss, and then she’ll be yours to deal with.”

Nestore gave Remo a nod.

He took my hand again.

“Nino will take you upstairs and show you the rooms. We made sure they are all clear.”

Walking the corridors of the place that had been my home and prison for three years felt strange with Nestore by my side. This place felt haunted, as if the walls were whispering about the horrors they had seen over time. I didn’t want to stay. I hoped Nestore would eventually agree.

Nino opened the door to the primary bedroom and motioned for us to go in. Nestore waited for Nino to step back before he led me inside.

“That’s where Lamorgese slept?”

“I doubt he found much sleep here in the past few months since my brother and I began burning down everything he valued to get to him,” Nino drawled. Something about him set my teeth on edge. He appeared too emotionless, as if none of what happened today had made his pulse spike.

“Can I go to Flavia?” I asked, gathering all of my courage.

Nino looked at Nestore, then at me. “You should get cleaned up and rest. I’ll be back with a first-aid kit to treat your wounds in thirty minutes.”

He left and closed the door.

“Go ahead, take a shower. I’ll wait here and make sure you’re safe,” Nestore said. He wasn’t looking at me, though. His gaze lingered on the bone still clutched in his hand.

“Nestore—”

He shook his head. “There’s too much noise in my head right now. I need to…” He trailed off as if he wasn’t sure what he needed, what would help him.