Page 19

I lean against the doorway, watching Carter play with Cole. It’s a heartwarming scene, and one I hope can happen again after all this chaos dies down. While Il Padrone takes an interest in Cole, Carter seems to embrace a grandfather type role—especially if those cookies are anything to go by.

When my phone rings, it draws Carter’s attention to me. I quickly silence it as Carter stands up and heads toward me, after murmuring something to my son.

“Everything alright?” Carter asks, his brows furrowed as he takes in my appearance. I’m not as put together as normal, but I’ve been in a rush all day.

“We have a lead on a potential mole on the Martelli side. Surprisingly, from Marcus’s arm of the business. I plan on going with him to check it out, but wanted to duck in here beforehand. Are you alright to still watch Cole? I can get someone else to do it.”

“I’m perfectly fine with him.” Carter’s soft smile, as he glances toward my son, reassures me. I don’t know Carter well, and it’s a struggle to trust Cole to anyone, but he certainly seems to care. “Try not to worry. I love kids. He’ll be fine with me.”

“So, spoiled in other words?” I shake my head at Carter’s innocent face. Oh well, it’s not like Cole isn’t spoiled by the rest of them anyway, especially his Uncle Lio.

Given the way some of the stress lines have disappeared from Carter while he’s actively playing with my son, maybe they can help each other out.

Shrugging, I tap the doorway, diverting Cole's attention to me. Watching him stumble toward me, as he refuses to walk when he can run, I bite back a laugh. Good luck with that, Carter . Kneeling down, I open my arms as Cole runs right into my arms.

“I need to leave with Daddy, but your friend Carter is going to play with you some more. I want you to behave, please.”

Maybe Carter is mimicking my son’s innocent face, although he can’t pull it off nearly as well. I bite back a groan, before deciding it’s Carter’s problem now. “Story?”

“I should be back in time for a bedtime story. If I’m not, I’m sure Carter will read you one.” I smooth Cole's hair, humming as he snuggles into me more. “Love you.”

“Love you!” With that, he’s off like a rocket, the way only a toddler can. Jesus, what I wouldn’t do with that energy…

Standing up, I clasp Carter on the shoulder. “Try not to spoil him too much, and if you have any problems, give one of us a call. Even if we don’t answer right away, we always check, in case it has something to do with him.”

“I have this.” I note Carter’s sidestep from all talk about spoiling, and I roll my eyes before forcing myself to leave. There’s nothing I can do. I need to work, and I’ll trust the Amatos to have this—well, at least Carter. He seems significantly more sane than the rest.

Walking through the labyrinth of a mansion, I roll my shoulders, forcing my thoughts away from Cole, and instead, contemplate my work.

Neither Marcus nor I were happy to see the rumor picked up so quickly.

At least we had coordinated with Ely on this.

As much as the Amatos have been gracious enough to share their resources, including their torture facility, I’d prefer not to owe them that much.

“You ready?” Marcus asks when I meet him at the front door. I nod and gesture for him to exit. I’m not surprised to see my Camaro sitting there ready to go. The level of attention the Amatos have is at least respectful. “I still can’t believe you let anyone touch your car…”

Chuckling, I shrug one shoulder. “You’re not wrong. Right now, I’m trying not to piss everyone off. It’s hard enough living with all of them, their guards, and staff. I feel like I’m constantly tripping over someone, despite the mansion being so large. I can’t wait until we have our space back.”

Slipping into my car, I exhale at the feel of it underneath me.

At least I have this. Once Marcus is safely in, I gun it.

Fuck it, if they have a problem with that.

The sight of Marcus grinning next to me relaxes me further.

We have enough shit to deal with today. Taking time to relax is important, even if it’s the simple joy of letting go while driving.

It doesn’t take us long to get to one of Ely’s warehouses.

With a deep breath, I exit my baby, patting it on its hood.

Marcus curls his hands into fists as he strides toward the entrance.

Shaking my head, I hope he can calm down before he kills first, instead of getting answers.

Lio does not need to rub off on him with that shit.

Marcus murmurs to the guards before he’s let in, and I follow with a nod toward them. Thankfully, they’re familiar with Marcus, even if they’re not with me. Ignacio and Marcus primarily take point with this gang, although I’ve met a few from there before.

Walking in, I’m not surprised to see Ely laughing over whatever Marcus said. I shake my head slightly, happy to see my love interact with her. When her own lover comes closer to me, I offer him a handshake.

“Daniel. It’s good to see you again.” Daniel grunts as he takes my hand in a strong grip. He’s the silent type around me, but that’s fine. I’m not one for chatter anyway. “Thanks for letting us use your facilities.”

“You’re going to owe Ely so many diamonds.”

I laugh, because I know how true that is, even though she’s worth whatever we spend on jewelry. “At least that means you don’t have to buy her as many.”

Daniel side eyes me and snorts. “You don’t know Ely well. This means I have to buy her more. After all, the Martellis bought her so much…”

I bite my lip to hold in a laugh. If Marcus hadn’t warned me how badass Daniel is, I’d think otherwise, based on his reaction. Still, I can’t help but find him a little adorable. Not that I’d ever say that—to his face.

“Ah, Ely, you’re an angel,” Marcus coos as I come closer.

I shake my head at Marcus’s excitement. To be fair, he’s been rather annoyed after going from living separate from everyone, to being inundated with way too many people.

It doesn’t help that people keep trying to steal Cole, even when we’re home.

I thought he’d lose his mind when he tracked Cole down in Roman’s room.

“Just try not to bloody him. The smell lately…” Ely’s cringe has me raising my eyebrows.

Smiling, Marcus bounds to her and wraps her in a hug. “Are you telling me there’s going to be a little Ely soon?”

Daniel growls beside me. Fuck. Desperately, I manage to get out, “You know he doesn’t mean anything by it.”

I watch Ely push Marcus away with a laugh. “I expect a hell of a congratulations gift.”

“Fuck, I know.” Daniel sighs, even as he carefully watches Marcus back away.

“Congrats, man. Kids are amazing.” His content smile says it all, and I clasp his shoulder before stepping forward to intervene further. “Come on, Marcus, we don’t have much time. Let’s get this over with.”

“Of course. And don’t worry Ely—we don’t need to bloody him. There are so many other options.”

Turning to the man tied to the chair, I rake my eyes over him, smiling at the way he’s already sweating.

His hair is plastered to his skull from it, and he’s shaking desperately as he stares at Marcus in horror.

Taking a glance around at the warehouse, I note there’s some solid equipment around, including some scaffolding that’s at the perfect height for what I’d like to do.

“Do you have some rope I can borrow?” I turn and ask Daniel. “If we’re avoiding blood, I think hanging would be an excellent option.”

From Marcus’s demented chuckle, he must agree with me.

Daniel doesn’t say anything as we go through the process of making the noose and hanging it perfectly.

It isn’t stationary. I’ll be able to lift him up by pulling on the rope.

I have a feeling we’ll be enjoying his choking quite a few times before we get to the main event—his death as payment.

Marcus cuts the rope off from where the man’s sitting, and tosses him toward me.

I quickly put the noose around his throat, tightening it so he can’t escape.

Marcus swaggers in front of him, and his smile is all teeth.

The man shakes in front of me, but I push him forward when he tries to back away, pulling on the noose to remind him it’s there.

He quickly stops his movement, as his chest heaves from anxiety and anticipation.

“Now. Michael, isn’t it? I’m very curious.

All of a sudden, a bunch of police were showing up at a house I told you would be the site of an important weapons sale.

The issue here is that’s not one of our known properties, so it wouldn’t have been on the police’s radar, and you were the only one to hear about that.

It makes me curious. And it’s in your best interest to make sure I have answers… ”

Marcus gestures to me, and I immediately lift Michael up, listening to the way he chokes and kicks his feet, his hands digging into the rope like he could escape.

“Now, what you might not know is hanging…well, it wasn’t the quick and easy way people imagined it to be, back when it was used. Unless you break your neck when being hung, it’s a painful way to go. I want you to have a nice taste of it before we chat.”

I let Michael drop, and he’s barely able to stand.

If just that small taste is affecting him so much, it’s not going to take long to break him.

Marcus darts forward and rips off the tape covering his mouth.

Kind of hard to talk with it on, but I did appreciate not having to listen to him scream the first time I pulled him up.

“Fuck! Please!” I frown when I notice his voice is already hoarse. I hope he talks quickly. The last thing I want is to have to figure out what the fuck he’s saying. “They told me I had to pass on any information!”

Oh, thank fuck. He is going to be the talkative type—even if it means whining. Marcus tsks and calmly replies, “And who is ‘they’? I want the exact information.”

“Fuck. It was some woman. I never saw her face!” he says quickly, and I immediately pull him up, not needing to wait for Marcus’s signal.

I count to thirty before dropping him down, enjoying his increased panic. It’ll make everything worse, but it does bring joy to my heart. He gulps in air as he shakes from the adrenaline.

Marcus gestures for him to continue and Michael spits out, “I really didn’t!

But, I know she lives somewhere other than around here.

She was some big shot with the FBI, supposedly.

Some of her goons picked me up, threw me in a car, and had her on speaker.

She said if I do what they say, I wouldn’t go to jail.

That they’d protect me from it, and they’d get my little brother out of prison.

He’s fucking innocent! I know they must have set him up. What else could I do?”

Sighing, Marcus pinches the bridge of his nose. “Come to us? That would have been smarter. We could have worked on things. Instead, now you’re going to pay with your life. I hope your mama is ready to lose both of her sons.”

At Marcus’s signal, I get to enjoy yet another workout.

Michael may be on the slimmer side, and at least I have a leverage point, but dammit does get tiring.

Counting to forty this time, when I let him down, he stumbles and falls forward.

Unfortunately, that puts more pressure on his neck, because he can’t go anywhere else.

I watch him scramble back to standing, his legs shaking so much that I’m not sure how long we can keep this up.

I give Marcus a look, and he responds with a very small nod. Good. He sees it as well.

“You need to give me something more to work with. If you want your brother safe, I need more. And you must have used your limited intelligence somehow.”

“Fuck. Look. I couldn’t find anything out about her.

I did follow one of the goons though. He disappeared into an apartment complex over by the river, on the south side though.

I was surprised by it being such a crappy location, especially after he showed me his FBI badge, but maybe he’s some sort of flunkie, or he was just visiting.

I don’t know. I couldn’t get closer than the apartment building. ”

“I want exact details about the apartment name, and what the guy looked like.”

With a sigh, Michael starts rattling off the data, and Marcus’s fingers twitch, wanting to write it down before either of us forget.

When Michael finally stops, Marcus shrugs at me, and that tells me we’re done here.

I can’t think of anything else to ask. I tighten the rope, and before I pull it, Marcus leans forward and says to Michael.

“Oh, and I’ll make sure your brother is safe from the feds. He can meet you in hell instead.”

Michael starts screaming, and I quickly string him up. Daniel is kind enough to tie the rope off to one of the heavy machines, so I don’t have to bother waiting around—not that it’ll take long, but still, the man was getting fucking heavy.

“Ely, as always, you were a goddess among mortals.” Marcus bows to her. “And make sure we get an invite to the baby shower. I’ll make sure you receive a gift for the bundle of joy—as well as a soon to be mama gift.”

“See, Daniel? Marcus knows I should be spoiled.” Ely’s coy voice has me hurrying over to Marcus and practically pushing him out the door.

“Yes, Dear. I’m so glad he pointed that out. Perhaps I should see them out.”

I hurry Marcus further, and don’t say anything until we’re in the Camaro, where I can glare at him. “Are you trying to get us killed?!”

Snorting, Marcus shakes his head. “That’s their version of foreplay.

If I didn’t deliberately make Daniel jealous, Ely would have been less inclined to help us going forward.

And Daniel really doesn’t give a shit. He knows Ely would never leave him, but this gets them all riled up.

She said they enjoy the sex afterwards.”

My jaw drops, but I can’t think of a damn thing to say. For fuck’s sake . It’s bad enough I know about the shit the Amatos and Martellis get up to, I really don’t want to know about these two as well. Gunning it, I head toward the Amato mansion, but cut my eyes toward my lover.

“Any idea what this may mean?”

“No. I don’t. And unfortunately, I think we need to bring Hollis into it. It’ll be quicker than us trying to go through everyone. I’m tempted to not believe that the goon was FBI. But the woman? Who the fuck knows.”

Both of us fall silent as I continue heading toward the mansion. It seems like every time we get an answer, more questions pop up. We’d better find them soon, or I have a feeling, there’s going to be one hell of an explosion…