Page 3 of His for the Taking

My uncle leaned forward, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Antonio knows what to do.”

I inclined my head and felt my grin grow. “Gonna make a pig squeal tonight.”

2

ANTONIO

My irritation was still strong within me over the arranged marriage, and I’d use that frustration tonight. I’d purge it from my system.

We’d gotten to one nightclub we owned ten minutes ago and made our way down to the basement. Once in the bowels of the club, I stepped through the open doorway the Family used for less savory endeavors that needed handling.

I saw several of my men already in the room, some with splatters of blood on their shirts, others wearing sadistic grins. I stopped when I was a few feet into the space. The door shut behind me, sealing me in with my men and the rat.

I zeroed in on Lorenzo. He was on a chair, his arms tied behind his back, his ankles secured to the legs of the chair with rope.

His face was fucked up with a busted lip, blood dripping down his chin, and his eyes nearly swollen shut. They were black and blue, and his nose was crooked after being broken.

I could have bitched at the fact they started without me, but I focused on Lorenzo and thought about all the things I’d do to him.

My uncle was already in attendance and stood behind Lorenzo, a grin on his face. Francisco had two sides. One where he was the life of the party and another where he cut off fingers and shoved them down the throats of his enemies.

I walked up to Lorenzo and stood in front of him. He made a gruff sound and tipped his head back. With how fucked up his eyes were, I wasn’t sure the fucker could see me either way.

“Lorenzo.” I said his name slowly as I undid the cuff of my sleeve, focusing on rolling up the crisp, expensive material. “My father filled me in on your extracurricular activities.”

When both my sleeves were above my elbows, I glanced at Lorenzo again. He had dry, rust-colored blood smeared across his cheeks and neck.

Although I was outwardly collected and calm, inside, I felt this brutality building within me.

I thought about Nina. I was to marry her soon, and no matter how she acted or what she looked like, she was still the daughter of a family I despised.

It made that volatile energy build even more, and I bared my teeth.

“Nothing to say in your defense?”

Lorenzo didn’t speak at first, but then he shifted, the wooden chair scraping against the floor. “I have nothing to say in my defense, Antonio.”

I slowly smiled. “It’s funny you actually thought you could get away with it.” I let a low laugh spill from me and saw Lorenzo’s fear come to the surface.

I held my hands out, palms up, waiting expectantly for him to dig his grave faster. “Are you going to tell me what you did was a mistake? That you regret it?”

“You know the truth, which is why I’m here. I don’t regret what I did. I’m just sorry I got caught.”

I laughed at his audacity but inclined my head—the only acknowledgment I gave him. At least he wasn’t being a little bitch or trying to play innocent.

“But let’s keep things real. This isn’t just about you being a traitor, is it, Lorenzo?”

He started shaking harder, and the men all around me laughed.

“That’s right. You think we only knew about you selling product behind the Family’s back?” My voice was deadly low, and Lorenzo’s breathing picked up. “You think we didn’t find out about what you were also doing?”

The room went silent. The air grew thick.

I didn’t stop my growl when he started whimpering. “Shhh,” I cut him off and turned to one man who stood behind me. “Hand me one of the tools,” I addressed no one in particular.

“Which do you want?” one of my men asked.

“Surprise me,” I replied with amusement but kept my gaze locked on Lorenzo.

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