Page 32 of Their Stolen Obsession

After Johnny calmed down, he said, “The Pitrone family.”

Sebastian Chamberlain was involved with the fucking cartel. Shit. This situation had escalated. Fast. We needed to find Liv. Now. The Pitrone Mafia was a well-known criminal organization that had gone under the radar for years in the city. They hadgotten away with too much shit and everyone knew it, but they remained untouchable. Until the motherfuckers took Liv.

I glanced at Saint, and we knew what we needed to do. I took out my switchblade from my pocket, held the sharp blade against Johnny’s jugular and let it nick the skin. Blood oozed from the wound, and he tried not to move a muscle as Saint held his hands behind his back in the chair.

I whispered in Johnny’s face, “Time to die.”

“No! Wait!” Johnny screamed with wide eyes, and he rambled on to save his miserable life. “There’s going to be a deal tomorrow at noon. Extra cash the boss wants to make besides the usual shipment through Cuppabeans.”

Bingo. We had the Pitrone’s right where we wanted them. All we needed was one last piece of information.

“The address, Johnny, please!” Saint pleaded sarcastically. “Before he takes your life!”

I pressed the blade into Johnny’s delicate flesh. The wound opened more, and the gratification was intense. I was ready to break a vein wide open and watch the blood pour from it until he was limp. Dead.

“Okay! Okay! Give me your cell phone, and I’ll show you the address!” Johnny exclaimed, panicked.

I released the knife from Johnny’s neck, and he eagerly pressed his hand against the scratch.Pussy. I only nicked him, for fuck’s sake.

“Hurry, Johnny, before I change my mind and end you where you sit!” I roared at him and handed him my device.

I watched Johnny’s hands tremble as he made his last act before it was time for him to leave this earth. Poor man was about to meet his maker, and I had a feeling he wasn’t about to go to the gates of heaven. Hell would welcome him with torture for an eternity.

“There. I did it.” Johnny breathed heavily and gazed up at me. “Can I go now?”

I took my phone back and checked out the address on the screen. It was a warehouse outside of the city. The perfect place for an illegal deal to go down.

Thatta boy, Johnny!

“Sorry. No can do,” I said before I snapped Johnny’s neck.

I closed Johnny’s wide eyes and knew he had accepted his fate right when he took his last breath. No need for words, only the sound of a crack. Quick. Easy. Almost effortless.

The bonus?

Johnny was good. He didn’t piss or shit himself before his tragic end.I must have a fucking horseshoe up my ass.

There was only a limp body to discard, blood to mop up off the floor with some bleach, and new shoes to purchase. We had a job to do before we crashed the deal, but poor Johnny wouldn’t be able to attend. We would. Along with a finger and the Pitrone family ring.

Eighteen

Their Universe

Liv

“Rise and shine, Liv.”

I woke up to Zane leaning against the doorframe of my dungeon. A princess locked away in a fortress filled with demons and waiting to be saved. My dark knights would rescue me before I met a gruesome fate. But that was only a dream.

Preston’s henchman had come to order me around. The smoke from his cigar made a cloud around his face as he puffedO’s into the air. I could smell the mix of chocolate and spice, a hint of the flavors on the tip of my tongue. God. I could use some food right now.

“What do you want?” I muttered sleepily and wiped crusty sleep from the corners of my eyes.

My stomach growled as belly pains hit from the lack of food. I ate, but barelythroughout the days that had passed. Water was scarce, and I must look frail. I was woozy, but still able to concentrate. Enough to know Zane appeared impatient, almost on edge. He had nothing for me, and I knew he needed to take me somewhere. I could use the freedom to stretch my legs, but I’d rather get the hell out of here.

My time would come,I reminded myself as Zane stood up straight and put out his cigar. He flicked the stogie in my bucket and came over to me. Fuck. He was fast. He loomed over me in a matter of seconds.

“The brothers want to see you,” Zane answered as he held out his hand, but I didn’t take it. “Come on, I don’t have time for this shit.”