AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He towels me dry and carries me into the bedroom, where he lays me down. He finally pulls out, and I groan in protest. He uses the towel to dry himself off as he speaks.
“Chellie, I want you and your parents to stay here until I get back. Would they be willing to be here for a few days? Can they take off work?”
“I don’t know. I’m sure they’re going to want to go to the house and deal with the insurance.”
“The house is already repaired. I got the call from our construction team while I was in Uncle Sal’s office.”
“It’s only been a few hours. How’d they do it?”
“They know what they’re doing.”
He says no more than that, and I have to accept it. I nod and sigh. This is a crash course in what part of our marriage will be. It’s frustrating, but I can accept it. I think I’ll get used to it rather than resent it because I know he tells me as much as he can. What he doesn’t, he keeps to himself to protect the people he loves and the people who depend on him.
The shower sex left me wide awake, and I figured knowing he was leaving for an indefinite amount of time would keep me from sleeping. When I roll on my side as I watch him walk out in all black fatigue-looking clothes, I feel a little of his cum drip on my leg. I have part of him with me. I’m out like a light before he probably even leaves the house.
ChapterTwenty-Three
Lorenzo
The last three days have been an utter shitshow. We’ve been chasing our tails like a three-legged dog. The only bright side has been talking to Chellie. I fought with Luca and Marco about it, but I wouldn’t give in. It meant I had to leave the garage where we handle shit no one can know about. I had to drive about ten miles away to make sure that when my GPS went back online, no one could easily connect me to the warehouse’s location. When we go there, our phones get turned off five miles out and don’t get turned back on until we’re five miles away from there.
I was honest each time we hung up. I didn’t know when I’d be able to talk to her again, but I had to make it work. I needed to hear her voice to keep from losing my ever-loving mind with how frustrating this is. But I also wanted her to know I’m thinking about her nonstop, and that I didn’t abandon her to my family. Even though she doesn’t say it, I can tell from her voice that she’s having a hard time with it. She’s trying to make me believe she’s taking everything in stride, but I know she’s scared for me, for her family, and for herself. I can’t blame her. I feel exactly the same.
That’s why I’m about to lose my fucking shit. We’ve worked over five guys who should have rolled on Enrique and given up what we needed. The phrase given up the ghost has never felt more apropos. I’m ready to admit defeat trying to find The Ghost. Motherfucking Simms. But I won’t. I’m being pushed to my limits, but I won’t quit because that means leaving Chellie vulnerable. That’s not even remotely an acceptable option. But fuck, it’s testing me.
As I stand in front of one of Pablo Diaz’s top enforcers, I’m using all my restraint not to just unleash on him because he’s here. We had him strung up for hours, naked and freezing. We have hooks that hang down from the garage doors. When we open them, it feels like our visitors’ arms are going to be ripped off.
The metal chains make so much noise, no one can hear the men scream. Right now, this fuck face is strapped to a chair with his hand nailed to a table. Like with a nail gun to the back of his hand until it passed through his palm and into the table. I have a hammer, and I’ve already crushed his pinky and ring finger on his right hand.
“Give me something, Arturo. Where’s Pablo hiding right now? How’d he get in touch with Simms? Who’s the target?”
“I don’t know. I swear. That’s above my rank and pay grade.”
I swing the hammer down on his middle finger, but I stop just before I make contact. The guy pisses himself. Good thing I’m standing off to the side. It’s not the first time he’s done that in the day-and-a-half we’ve had him here.
“You wanna try again?”
“I’m telling you the truth. I had no idea there was any hit on someone in your organization. I haven’t heard a damn thing. Pablo’s not hiding. He’s in Colombia with Alejandro. They have business down there.”
Pablo is Enrique’s oldest nephew and from his younger brother. He also happens to be the heir just like Luca is our uncle’s heir. Alejandro is another nephew from one of Enrique’s two sisters.
“How convenient.”
“He’s been there for like a month. I don’t think he knows anything about you having a girl.”
“She’s more than a girl. She’s my woman, and your family is fucking with mine. They hired a man to take out one of my family members. It’s the same man who’s targeting the woman I’m going to marry. What a coincidence.”
“Seriously,amigo. Whoever told you this told you wrong. I’m going to die, so what would it matter if I told you the truth or a lie?”
“You’re lying for Enrique’s sake. You’re loyal.”
“I was. But I’m not feeling so loyal now. If myjefecould leave me here to die rather than negotiate with you, then I owe himnada.”
Even if Enrique negotiated — which he hasn’t — it wouldn’t matter. Once someone comes here, they never leave alive. It’s too big a risk. It sucks when we get it wrong like we might have with this guy. But this is how our life goes. You accept death long before it comes to you.
I turn away and head to the office. It has a two-way mirror so people in there can see out, but people out here on the floor can’t see in. I grab a bottle of water and some paper towels to wipe my face and neck. I worked that guy over, and I’m sweating. I toss the used paper towel in a burn bin. No DNA gets left around in case somehow we get raided. I look at Uncle Salvatore and Uncle Domenico, who’ve been observing for the past hour. Uncle Domenico is like a second dad. He’s Papa’s best friend. He squeezes my shoulder as I walk past.
“He knows nothing. I know how frustrating that is. I know you’re scared for Michelle, but she’s safe while you deal with this.”
