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Two of the guards walk into the other rooms.
The screaming starts quickly. They aren’t playing around, dragging things out to torment them. They just want answers. Fast. And since this is information that has no value to the Hands of Peace, I’m fairly certain that they will give it up quickly.
I’m proved right when the guards eventually return and give my grandfather a nod, informing him that both Derek and Sebastian independently confirmed what I told him.
He clears his throat, almost a bit self-consciously, as he turns back to me.
“The keys,” I say, holding his gaze.
Reaching into his suit jacket, he pulls out the keys to Isabella’s manacles and hands them to me.
I take them. And then, at long last, I lower the gun from his head. Sliding the weapon into the back of my pants, I turn around and then crouch beside Isabella.
“Are you okay?” I ask as I unlock her handcuffs and the shackles around her ankles.
She glances between me and Federico before replying, “Yes.”
The locks click open. Metallic rattling fills the gray concrete basement as I pull the manacles off her and drop them on the floor. She rolls her wrists and shoulders. I hold out a hand, helping her to her feet.
Once she is standing again, I turn to the closest guard. “You. Give me your suit jacket.”
He glances questioningly towards Federico.
“That wasn’t a request,” I snap.
His gaze darts back to me, and he immediately begins shrugging off his jacket. I take it from his outstretched hand and then drape it around Isabella’s shoulders. I would have given her mine, if I could, but I’m only wearing a t-shirt.
Isabella doesn’t seem to mind. She lets me put the jacket on her and then wraps it over her stomach, covering herself up.
“Where are her clothes?” I demand.
The guard exchanges a glance with one of the others, who replies, “In the van.”
I stare them down in silence.
“I’ll go get them right away and bring them to a room upstairs, sir,” the second one hurriedly adds.
On my other side, Federico watches me while two guards scramble out the door. There is a small approving smile on his lips.
I shift my attention back to Isabella. She’s just standing there, wearing that oversized black jacket and staring at me with an uncertain expression on her beautiful features. Her hair is slightly messy and those stunning eyes of hers look more hesitant than I have ever seen. As if she doesn’t know what to say or do now. I, on the other hand, know exactly what I want to do while we wait for them to bring her clothes.
“Which one of them tortured you?” I ask her, jerking my chin towards where Derek and Sebastian are still trapped.
Her gaze slides to them, and a hardness sweeps over her features. “Both of them.” She nods towards Derek. “But mostly him. He is also the one who shot your mother. Sebastian killed your father.”
I nod before shifting my gaze back to her again. “Would you mind terribly if I tortured him to death?”
A surprised laugh rips from her lips. Then she clears her throat and gives me a knowing smile. “Not at all. Please do.”
I flash her a matching grin back.
Then I slide my hand around the back of her neck, and pull her towards me, claiming her lips in a possessive kiss. She melts against my body.
“I will never let anyone hurt you ever again,” I whisper against her lips as we break the kiss.
She smiles against my mouth. “Likewise.”
A warm chuckle escapes my chest. I kiss her one more time before drawing back.
