Page 38 of Temptation: Discreet

“Well, what exactly do we have to speak about when I have men to torture and my girl to find?” Julian crosses his hands uncertain how to respond. He doesn’t glare at me in anger, his emotions are withdrawn like he’s come to terms with me and her. Or is that wishful thinking?

Their childish refusal to speak is fucking infuriating. I approach Rocco, who steps aside to let me pass down the hallway. I glare at him in silence, uncertain what one of my best friends and my childhood best friends are hiding.

“I told you Dario is my cousin, right? But, I left part of the story out,” he confesses, pausing a little too long for my liking.

“Jesus, just fucking spit it out,” I demand, irritated at the way he’s retreating already. It must be serious if he’s hiding like a fucking turtle in his shell.

“Well, my uncle, Don Salvatore Mancini actually sent me to the states. When he passed away, Dario had allowed me to stay because I had requested to remain by your side.”

I furrow my brow. “Can you be any more cryptic? I don’t understand why the head of the fucking mafia would care to send you to the U.S and have you infiltrate the military.” I’m clearly fucking missing something; he’s hiding something else and I’m about to fucking strangle him.

“Your father was Salvatore Mancini. He had me watch over you and report back to him ever since we met. When he passed away, he included you in his will. Dario didn’t know about your existence until then and he had to be sure you could be trusted. He also wanted to protect you from the dangers of this world.”

Rage boils within me. I’ll kill him. I’ll fucking kill him for hiding this from me. My fist clenches, and without giving him a warning I lash out, slamming my fist straight into his jaw. The impact sends him staggering back a few feet.

“Fuck, okay. I had that coming,” he admits, rubbing his sore jaw. “Dario kept quiet about it, because he wanted to ensure he kept his promise to protect Catalina. He was planning on having you marry her as a way to make amends and secure the alliance.”

“How the fuck did he know my interest in her? Did you fucking tell him?” I demand, stepping forward and swinging my fist towards his face again.

“He didn’t. I didn’t.” he stuttered, “He was going to have me marry her, but when he saw you two together in Vegas, he knew. So, he took a chance by getting you that room, hoping to confirm his suspicions. When you both went into your room it was obvious that he was right. He also gave you that room because he’s into the same things, and he hoped you would appreciate it.”

I nod, and slam my fist against his face again before walking back to the room where Julian is slicing up a man’s stomach. His mask and white shirt are already soaked in blood.

“When did you find out?” I ask, taking the knife he offers me. As Julian rises to his full height, allowing the now lifeless body drop to the floor as the other men continue to watch. Fucking Matteo is still alive, still witnessing the torture of his people.

“When we arrived in Italy. Dario was already waiting for us. He asked about you, and our history together. They seemed to already know most of the information we provided but I think it was just to solidify that we were friends. Dario agreed to help, because he wanted an introduction with you so he could meet his little brother. He secured the marriage without telling us who Catalina would have had to marry. We only agreed to renegotiate the terms on a later date. Either I or Marcelo would request marrying Regina, your half-sister,” he says shrugging his shoulders. I scoff, then proceed toslit the throat of the man kneeling before me.

The sight of the man’s blood pouring out causes me to black out, or maybe it all just blurs together. Stabbing, slicing, and punching, until the man is reduced to lifeless fragments of their former selves. Matteo is still unwilling to divulge any information. We at least know that this asshole knows something. Turning to Julian, I prepare to torture the man who betrayed us. Julian’s familiar features trigger memories of our childhood, when we’d gleefully bully and wreak havoc.

The buzzing of my phone brings us both back to reality. Our breathing is heavy as if we’d just run a marathon. It’s been just over 24 hours since Lina and Sierra went missing - the most critical time. Ry’s been working nonstop to find the girls, so when his name flashes on my screen, my stomach drops with a mix of fear and anticipation for the violence that's about to unfold once we get them back.

“Ry,” I answer, wiping my hands on my already bloodied pants. Any attempt to clean it off is futile, but I can’t stop trying. I grab two small towels from the table full of weapons, handing one to Julian. We wait, hearts pounding, praying for good news.

“I found them. Took a bit with the amount of car swaps they did but I found them. They’re holed up in a warehouse about an hour south, heading towards Sloane Canyon. I was able to hack the building's security, and there’s only one camera at the entrance. I pulled up the blueprints and sent them to you.”

“Call everyone and have them meet us there. Julian and I are heading there now. Let Marcelo know,” I say, determined to move fast so I can cut the hour time frame down by half.

Rocco stands by the door, his right eye is already swelling from the punches he endured. He doesn’t move, as if silently asking permission on whether to join us.

“Let’s go. We’ve got motherfuckers to kill. Kill that asshole” I say, gripping Rocco’s shoulder as I point over to Matteo. Julian and I move quickly out of the building and towards the car, still drenched in blood. These fuckers better be prepared to see the monsters we are when we arrive.

Hold on, Princess. I’m coming for you.

Chapter 29

Hours Earlier

The ringing in my ear is the first thing to wake me, followed by the sound of yelling and crying from a distance. My vision is distorted, everything blurry haze, as I struggle to get up from what feels like a prison bed. I groan at the pounding headache, hoping to sink back into darkness if I close my eyes.

The faint cries grow louder, drawing me to open my eyes once more. Three blurry figures come into view, two men dragging in a crying girl, who they handcuffed to a bed similar to mine before leaving. The tortured wailing of my roommate prompts me to rub my eyes, desperate to see her clearly.

Please, don’t be Sierra. Please, don’t be Sierra.

I silently repeat the words over and over in my head, desperately praying against all hope that the cries I hear belong to someone else - that Sierra is safe, and unharmed.

“Sierra?” I ask, my voice is barely audible as I silently hope that it’s not her. But there’s no response, only the unrelenting cries coming from her direction. I’m not sure I understand what’s happening, or where we are. I pray to whatever God there is that Enzo finds me, that he scours the world to save me because I don’t believe I can save myself. Not from this.

The room comes into clearer focus - no windows, the walls practically crumbling. I stare at the ceiling, unable to find the courage to look at my roommate. The fear crawls up my skin each time I consider turning around is overbearing. Her tortured cries finally stop, but she doesn’t utter a word. Part of me knows it’s Sierra, while the other part of me clings to the hope that she managed to escape.

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