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“I told you to come alone, Peter.”
“I was going to, but Angelo caught me. Now tell us where Lucien is.”
Jimmy took a long, rattly breath. For a moment, I thought he might pass out before he gave us the information we needed, but in a barely audible voice, he said. “He’s in Damian’s basement. He’s got fucking cells down there. He’s a sick son of a bitch. I think he kept his wife in one for a while.”
Angelo stared at him, looking as though he didn’t believe him. “You’re saying he keeps prisoners at his house in town? Where his family lives?”
One thing I’d learned was that for most people in Lucien’s world, their family home was sacred ground. That’s where they kept those they loved under guard, and they didn’t bring their business there.
“Not in town. His… big estate.”
Angelo glanced at me. “It’s not too far from our Weston house.”
Jimmy winced as he stuffed his hand into his pocket. Angelo raised his gun, but all Jimmy pulled out was a small key. He held it out to us, and I snatched it before Angelo had the chance.
“What does it open?” Angelo demanded.
“The cell where they’re keeping Lucien. I stole it from the man who did this to me. He had it in his pocket.”
“Tell me everything else you know about who’s guarding my brother, and what their plans are.”
Jimmy’s eyes fluttered closed, and Angelo shook him. “Wake up. Goddammit.” He didn’t move.
“Is he…”
Angelo pressed his fingers to the side of Jimmy’s neck. “He’s still got a pulse for now.” He rose and turned toward the door. “Come on. Let’s go.”
“We’re just going to leave him?”
“He betrayed our family, and he played some part in the attack on DiGiulio’s. So yeah.”
“But he was telling the truth tonight, and he is my cousin.”
Angelo sighed and pulled out his phone as he hustled me toward the car. I heard him tell Ralph to come pick up Jimmy, take him to the ER, and make sure nobody offed him before he had a chance to recover.
“Thank you.”
“If his information is real, and we find Lucien, then he deserves that much from us.”
“And if it’s not?”
“Then he won’t need to worry about the men who already want him dead. I’ll come for him myself.”
30
Lucien
I passed out at some point while Stefan beat me. I’d tried to fight back at first, and then I just tried not to die. Apparently, I succeeded in that objective. I opened my eyes slowly. Every part of my body ached, but I seemed to be alone in my cell. I needed to get out of there quickly.
I tested the ropes again. Stefan had been too keen on hurting me to bother checking them after he was finished. My struggles had loosened them, not enough to get my hands free but close. If I could fray the rope just a little against the cinder block wall, I would be able to pull them apart enough to free myself. I’d have to find something to pick the lock or summon the strength to overpower whoever brought me food and water, assuming they were going to bother feeding me since they thought I’d be dead soon.
It seemed to take ages for me to scoot across the floor and back myself up to the wall. Every movement was agonizing, but I had to get out of there. I had to get back to my family, to Peter. I needed to make sure they were all safe. They depended on me, and I would not let them down. By the time I wore through enough rope to free myself, my hands were torn and bloody, but I ignored the pain and focused on untying the ropes around my ankles. I stood slowly, pressing my hands against the cold, rough wall as the room spun around me.
Get it together, Lucien. You can do this. I took a step away from the wall. My knees wobbled, but I managed to stay on my feet. Each step seemed a little easier. I was nearly at the door when I heard footsteps. Someone slid a key into the lock. Fuck. I was in no condition to fight, but I didn’t have a choice.
I picked up the chair Damian had sat in. It was the only thing I had to use as a weapon. Somehow, I found the strength to lift it.
The lock turned.
The door opened slowly.
I tensed, ready to strike.
A man stepped into the room.
I started to swing, then I realized who it was. I almost dropped the chair, but somehow I managed to set it down quietly so it wouldn’t alert anyone.
“Peter?”
He closed the door softly behind him. “Oh my God, Lucien. What did they do to you?”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. I have to get you out of here. If they find you—”
