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He roughly grabbed my arm and pulled me back toward the house. Now that I was outside, I wasn’t giving up so easily.
I shoved at him and managed to slip his grasp. I took off at a run, not knowing where I was going and still barefoot.
But he easily caught me, yanking me back toward him and slamming my back against his chest, the impact making me cry out. He slung his arm around my torso and started carrying me toward the house.
My arms were restrained under his but I could still kick back with my heels. But it didn’t seem to do much good. My helplessness against him, and the prospect of escape being snatched away from me, made tears of anger sting my eyes as I watched Jacob and Cornelio being dragged away by Alessio.
When we reached the foot of the stairs he flipped me over his shoulder, further humiliating me by demonstrating his complete power over me. He easily carried me back up the staircase that I had moments ago been escaping down.
He strode back to his bedroom and after entering the room he tossed me roughly onto the bed’s mattress.
As soon as my back bounced on the mattress I scrambled to sit up. I pushed myself up against the headboard, as far away from him as I could get, panting in fear and exertion.
I could see that he was furious with my rescuers. But he was also furious with me.
“What are you going to do to them? Please don’t hurt them, please!”
I probably should have apologized for trying to escape. But those words wouldn’t come out of my mouth—all I cared about was what was going to happen to Jacob and Cornelio.
But Marco didn’t answer me.
After staring at me, he turned on his heel and left the room, locking the door behind him.
I don’t know how long I sat like that in the dark, worrying about what was going to happen to Jacob and Cornelio. And what was going to happen to me?
MARCO
We took the intruders to our garage block. We walked them past the SUVs and sports cars parked on the main floor, taking them through the back into a cavernous area. This was our torture room. This was where we came to have fun.
We separated the men, putting them into different holding rooms.
As I watched Jacob being dragged into a room, he stared back at me with eyes so similar to Juliana’s. And for some reason it made my fury rise further—it was as if he was taunting me with his familial bond to Juliana, telling me that she belonged to him and the Società more than she belonged to me.
I stood with Alessio and Camillo. “We’ll split them up and question them to find out everything we need to know, including how they got in and how much they know about our security system.” I gave a twisted smile. “And while they’re here, we may as well torture details out of them about the Società’s plans and dealings.” My heart raced at the thought of getting my hands wet with blood.
Alessio nodded. “The Società are eager to have Juliana back, irrespective of the contract. So much so, they would risk the lives of their men.”
“The fuckers—they know Juliana is mine under Mafia laws and that nothing can change that now.” I would never let her go. “I’ll take her brother, you two take the other guy,” I ordered.
Then we set to work. Despite the late hour, all traces of tiredness had been banished from my mind and adrenaline was racing through my veins at the prospect of spilling blood.
***
A few hours later I reconvened with Alessio and Camillo. My sleeves were rolled up and blood was on my palms, fists, and forearms.
“We’ve got all the information we need for tonight,” I said. I’d left Jacob bruised, bloodied, and battered. He’d put up a lot of resistance, but he’d eventually given up some information as he tired and the pain took over, although he’d not given up nearly as much as the other guy. Jacob would one day be an Underboss and his father had obviously trained him hard—he’d probably tortured his own son to toughen him up for his future role.
Camillo was pouring us each a glass of whiskey.
We raised our glasses. “To the Kings of Chicago,” said Alessio.
“Long live the Kings,” my voice and Camillo’s echoed.
It was our usual toast and something we needed after the shitshow of an evening we’d had. I knocked back my drink in one gulp and then wiped my hand across my mouth.
“Let’s assemble again tomorrow morning to finish things off.” Forcing information out of Jacob Bonardi had helped me get some rage out of my system, but I still had Juliana to deal with and I had plenty of rage left for her.
I made my way back into the house and up the stairs. My mind was racing. I was furious with the two Società men but even more furious with Juliana.
