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Castor is on one side, shirtless except for two heavy-duty gloves, holding a set of prongs near a bubbling molten bath. And on my other… the thin Russian who assaulted me is tied to a chair. He grunts and shifts.
“Bitch. There you are,” he growls. “Yuri is going to have both of your heads, I promise.”
“Gia,” Castor purrs. His voice is serene despite the harsh scene. “Come give me a kiss. I missed you.”
A brief weakening sensation blankets my chest, but the scene sucks it all away in a flash. Is this man being tortured? Even though he deserves it for trying to take advantage of me and threatening my life, I don’t want to see it.
“Don’t be afraid. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
Ssss!
Castor dips whatever his prongs are holding into the bath, causing more steam to waft around the room.
I tentatively move toward Castor, peering over my shoulder and covering my ears whenever the captive screams curses in Russian. He leans over to give me his sweaty cheek. His musk is intoxicating. I want to wrap my arms around him and just marinate in it for the rest of the day.
“It’s him, isn’t it?” Castor asks.
“I don’t know how you found him so fast, but yes, that’s definitely him.”
“Well, your artwork was impeccable. The Maserati tip helped too.” Castor grins, eyeing me, then switches his gaze to him. “Okay, back up. Let me get to work.”
My heart sinks. “What are you going to do?”
An angered smile flashes across his face. His muscles are enormous, flexed as he holds the prongs effortlessly. “Ever since the night I saw you at Bangos, I felt something I haven’t felt… maybe ever. A connection of fire and history I never thought possible. Gia, now that I’ve spent some time with you, and away from you, I know it’s real. And I’m not letting go of it.”
My mouth remains agape as I watch him lift a small cylinder with his prongs – the top of which glows hotly orange.
“This man threatened what I care about. You. An innocent bystander in this dark world I thrive in.” He marches toward the Russian – his boots thumping like a soldier’s, hot liquid hissing every step he takes. “I hope you had your fun, little pawn.” He smirks at the Russian, purposely tipping out a drip of the molten gold that sizzles on the concrete floor.
The Russian lifts his feet to avoid the splash, gritting his teeth.
“Castor, babe. No.” I shake my head. “Please.”
“You have to know what happens if someone threatens what’s mine. It’s a declaration, kid. I’m going to protect you no matter what.” He turns slightly so one crystal blue eye locks with mine.
A warm shiver crawls down my spine. I didn’t know such a feeling was possible – to feel secure and horrified all at once.
“If you lay another finger on me, you can kiss your Russian connection goodbye,” my attacker threatens.
It doesn’t slow Castor one bit. His steps are unhurried and harrowing. I didn’t know he had this in him. Whenever I laid eyes on him growing up, up to this very day, he had a commanding presence about him. But I had no idea it was backed by such ruthlessness.
“You, Yuri, your crew, they all made a big mistake dragging in an outsider.” Castor tips out another drip of liquid, this time inches from the Russian’s sneaker. “Where’s your code of honor?” He tips some of the gold onto his leg, and the man shouts a nearly voiceless scream. “How dare you touch what’s mine.” Another drop spills on his other leg, making the Russian convulse in his ties, hands balled into fists stretching against the rope.
“Fuck you, Bullion. Italian scum!” His desperate breaths are shallow. “Ahh!” The gold solidifies over his skin. “Crawl back to your gaudy houses and little scams. You will never—Ah!”
Castor pours a bit more on his thigh, and I can’t bear to watch any longer. I run for the door, and just as I reach for the knob, I hear him – Castor – and it draws my eye before I can get the door open.
“Gia Castellano is off-limits. I hope Yuri hears that through your cries.” Castor holds the cylinder over the man’s face.
The Russian’s tune changes completely. He shakes his head, begging for mercy. My brain screams for me to look away, but for some reason, I can’t.
“Castor!” I yell, tears flowing down my face. “Castor!”
Hsss!
He pours the molten liquid over the bound man, and the scream that tears out of him becomes muffled with a mouthful of fatally hot liquid. His body goes limp almost immediately, and what’s left is a steaming pile of flesh mixed with gold.
My God.
