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I took the cordless drill into my hands, enjoying the feel of its weight. When I turned toward our prisoner, his eyes briefly flashed with terror before his pathetic mask fell back into place. That was my favorite part. Watching just how quickly they broke.
“We don’t have to do this, my friend. Just tell me what your boss is planning, and this can all be over quickly.”Please, please don’t.
He glared at me through glassy black eyes, then spit at me.
I love it when they act tough.
I revved the drill and buried the tip into his knee, pushing the drill bit down into bone and cartilage.
Hysterical wails filled the room.
The drill was highly effective, so I didn’t have to go too deep before they started talking. Once I heard his cries, I stood back and looked at him expectantly. The man’s face was lowered, obscuring it from view.
“I don’t have all day, asshole,” I deadpanned.
When the man lifted his face to mine, what I’d thought were sobs was, in fact, maniacal laughter.
“I hear congratulations are in order,” he said, his words lightly accented and raspy from pain. “The Mancini girl is quite the prize. Would be a shame … to lose such a … sweet little cunt.” He could hardly hold up his head but still managed to smile triumphantly because he knew he’d struck a nerve by the vengeful wrath that darkened my face.
Rage like I’d never known seized me, stealing all rational thought and launching me into action.
I pulled the gun out from the waistband of my pants and shot him in the gut. I couldn’t help myself. I had to punish him for spewing such filth and having the gall to speak to me about my fiancée.
“Well, shit. You really shouldn’t have done that,” Bishop said over the Albanian’s screams.
Yes and no. I’d wanted to end his life then and there, but I wouldn’t deny myself the pleasure of knowing he suffered. “You have any idea how long it takes to die of a gut shot? We still have plenty of time. And maybe, if he asks really,reallynicely, I’ll put a bullet in his brain before it’s all over.”
Bishop chuckled. “Guess I better settle in.”
I grunted, feeling a smidge better. Not only would the Albanian die but he’d probably also tell us everything we wanted to know by the time he took his last breath, and I’d be able to send him home with a maggot-infested wound and pain etched into every crevice of his ugly face.
Life was all about finding the silver lining.
I receivedan unexpected text from Shae that afternoon asking me to join her for dinner. The prospect of time out of the house with a friend was so compelling that I risked angering my father to ask for permission. I crafted a note explaining how it would be important for me to make my place among the Irish women and showed it to him along with the text. He agreed, but only after his usual barrage of thinly veiled threats and the order that Umberto was to chaperone.
I was in terrible need of a distraction after my disaster of a morning, so I didn’t care what restrictions he shackled me with. I needed out of that damn house and away from my own maddening thoughts.
We met at a quaint French restaurant with low ceilings and shimmering candles at each table. Umberto was seated across the room from us. Shae eyed him curiously, and I was reminded of the way a child might study a sandcastle right before leveling it to the ground.
“You take your muscle everywhere?” She looked just as gorgeous as she had the first time we met. I wondered if she ever had a bad hair day and wore sweats or if she was naturally perfect. It seemed exhausting, but I was also a tad envious.
I took out my notepad, not ready for the rest of the world to know I could talk. Hopefully, Conner had kept that little nugget between us.
Unfortunately.I slid the pad toward her.
“It’s good that your father wants to protect you,” she conceded.
I wished that was all it was. Umberto had morphed from protector to jailor the day my mother died.
Thanks for the invite. It’s good to get out of the house.
“Of course! We didn’t get nearly enough time together at the club.”
I raised my brows in question.Does Conner know you’re here?
He’d been pretty clear that he didn’t like the idea of Shae and I befriending one another. I didn’t give a crap about his ridiculous orders, but I didn’t want her to get in trouble.
“No, but it’s fine. He’ll get over it.” She grinned mischievously.
