AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll deal with you when I get there,” Tommaso ground out.
I pursed my lips at how familiar that sound was as he attempted to regain a level head, turning that burst of anger into a lethal rage.
“Giana,” he breathed. I swallowed thickly, almost choking on the air with how dry my mouth was. Of course the fucker had to throw the water at me rather than giving it to me … not that I would trust anything he gave me to ingest again. “I’m so glad you’re finally home safe.”
I ignored the cheerful way he delivered those words, as if he’d saved me. But we both knew the truth. If he’d been rescuing me, there would’ve been no need to drug me, let alone have me tied up.
“This isn’t my home,” I wheezed, using what little moisture I had in my mouth to wet my lips, hating how weak I sounded.
“Shh, mi amore. You’ve been through a traumatic experience,” Tommaso soothed, and I bit back the derisive snort that begged to slip from my lips. “I’m flying back from New York. I will admit though, they did do a great job at covering their tracks.”
My throat bobbed as I held back the question I knew he was dying for me to ask. He wanted to cause a rift between us, to make it seem like I couldn’t trust the guys, that they’d lied to me. But none of them had told me about the rest of the plan, no one told me they’d led him to New York. Frustration mounted in me at being left out, especially since they had no idea how dangerous that plan had been. Tommaso very well could’ve gone after Soph as a way to lure me out and none of us would’ve had any clue until it was too late. This had to end, the secrets and the lies, on both sides.
So I stayed silent, letting him stew in the silence, because I knew one way or another he’d let the information slip.
He sighed ruefully but continued, “They made it seem as if they’d taken you back to New York, so I’ve been scouring the city looking for you. But little did I know you were still in town, just under my nose.”
I glanced at Mike in confusion. I hadn’t seen anyone’s faces the night the guys had descended upon the engagement party, and they’d shuffled me into the house. But I’d figured since he worked at the bar he would’ve known before tonight. Mike’s jaw worked at the pointed look, but I didn’t dare look away. I wouldn’t let this mountain of a man intimidate me, and even if he did swing at me, I knew I could take it. I was strong, and I’d been through a hell of a lot worse.
“Unfortunately, I hadn’t thought to pay off anyone at the bar until they took you, and it seems I chose the wrong person,” Tommaso grumbled, clearly sensing where my thoughts had gone. “He hadn’t known where you were until today.”
And judging by the exasperation in his tone, I knew there’d be consequences for the man towering before me. But if I had anything to say about it, he’d be on the floor bleeding out by the time Tommaso even stepped foot into this house.
“You have no idea how much I missed you,” he soothed, and bile rose in my throat just at the thought of Tommaso putting his hands on me again.
“I didn’t miss you,” I purred back, glad my voice wasn’t as raspy anymore. I needed some water but at least some of the moisture was returning to my throat. “So why don’t you do us both a favor and tell this meathead to let me go?”
A rumble shook from Mike’s chest and his face contorted in rage. Stepping closer, his hand lowered slightly, about to chuck the phone away—
“Don’t let her rile you, Mike,” Tommaso cut in, his tone light, yet there was a real warning to his words. “She’s only trying to get you to do something you’ll regret.”
Mike stilled at that lethal tone, seeming to realize that only death would await him if he took another step. Some of the anger fled his expression as he retreated slightly.
“Now, what did I say would happen if I saw you around them again, mi amore?” he asked, his tone wicked and bloodthirsty. I had no doubt he’d just been waiting patiently for this opportunity, for the chance to fulfill his promise of killing the two of them for stepping foot near me again, and now he had it.
“Don’t you fucking touch them,” I seethed, ready to break through these bonds and break Mike’s neck just to get to them.
“Oh I wouldn’t dream of it,” Tommaso jeered, my chest turning to ice at his tone. “At least not until I can make you watch me put a bullet between their eyes.”
Mike chuckled in response, apparently attempting to save his ass by sucking up to Tommaso.
“Now be a good little wife-to-be and wait for me to get home,” he huffed out on a breath of amusement. “If you behave, I won’t even draw out their deaths, I’ll make it swift and almost painless. My wedding present to you.”
“You’re sick,” I seethed, refusing to let his words take hold. I would get out before he came, and I’d make sure the guys were safe.
“I thought that’s what you liked,” he taunted smugly, and I bit back the scream that vibrated through my throat. I hated that he knew anything about me.
I’d been scared of him before, held fear for the darkness that shrouded his soul. But I realized it wasn’t the darkness I was scared of. No, the dark called to me, singing sweet lullabies coaxing me into the abyss. Tommaso was a monster because he wanted to own me, control me like I was his property. He could as easily turn on me as his enemy. But not my demons, they were just as dark—hell, maybe even more so—but I was one of them, my own person with my own thoughts and feelings, my own free will. I wasn’t a trophy to keep locked away, suffocating in a musty bookcase. I was a part of them, I was their devil and they were my demons. And I would gladly burn in hell with them by my side.
“You’re nothing compared to them,” I sneered, vitriol leaking from my every word. “You’re just a jealous little boy who hates being told no and likes to order people around to do your dirty work.”
“Oh, mi amore, I can’t wait to prove you wrong,” he growled, the line disconnecting cutting through the silent room like the crack of a whip.
I let that scream out then, the sound rasping in my throat, still parched and aching, but I didn’t care. The sound echoed off the walls and Mike took a step back, his hands clasping over his ears. I screamed for the girl who would’ve cowered to Tommaso just a few weeks ago, the one who had forgotten her strength, had pushed aside that dark side he’d alluded to. I’d pushed away that attraction to the violence and bloodshed out of fear I would become sucked into that life, that I would forget the people I’d left behind.
But I could see the difference now. The Barones did everything they did for money and power, killing people without any purpose other than serving their own means. But the Devil’s Demons were meant to combat that force. Neither was good or right, but I knew they wouldn’t kill someone innocent or cripple an entire town’s ability to live just to gain a few extra dollars—truly chump change in the grand scheme of their investments for the Barones. But it was a power move to keep everyone subservient to them.
“You’re lucky he said I can’t touch you,” Mike growled, before stalking back off to the kitchen, muttering something under his breath.
