Page 9 of Destruction

“We’ll make do. Maybe the Martellis were able to get something useful from their scene.” I go for sounding hopeful, as it’s the only way I can get through this.

“Possibly,” Tennant replies, though he doesn’t sound convinced.

“Go check in with Hollis,” I tell him. “Then do whatever you have to do to make sure we’re secure. I don’t want to stretch our resources too far this early on, but have Enzo check in with the De Lucas.”

“You should probably have Georgio brought in,” Carter says with a sigh. “He’s always suspect number one. Though, this time, I’m willing to believe he has nothing to do with it without even talking to him, since they went after Allesandro as well. Still, maybe he’s heard something he hasn’t deemed necessary to tell us.”

“I’ll have Enzo do that as well,” Tennant tells him. “You want to talk to him?”

“Yeah. It’s best coming from me.”

I let out a breath, glad that Carter at least is still thinking straight. Though he’s dealt with his father’s bullshit for so long, it’s second nature to him now to suspect him first.

“Jude is my Second,” I tell Tennant. “He’ll need your support.”

Ten flicks his gaze to our lover, before looking back to me. “It’s about time you made that choice, Little Prince. It’s a good one. I’ll do my best to mentor him.”

“Thank you.” I didn’t have any doubts, but having Tennant’s approval goes a long way to easing some of my tension.

He nods once and flicks his fingers at Jude. “Come along, we have things to do.” He doesn’t give anyone time to respond before turning on his heel and walking out, presumably to go update Hollis.

Jude goes to follow and I stop him with a hand. “I’ll send Soren to you so he can interpret. I’ll ask the trips if they know anyone who can handle our world and won’t have a problem working for you.”

“That’ll be appreciated. I won’t let you down, Tesoro Mio.”

“I know, now go. He doesn’t have much patience when he’s training someone.”

Jude smirks but says nothing as he follows Tennant out of the room.

When it’s just me and Carter, I let out a long breath that ends on a sob. Carter crosses the space between us and wraps his arms tightly around me. He holds me close, letting me cling to him as I let out all of the emotions I’ve been holding back since hearing the news.

“Shh,” he whispers into my hair. “It’ll be okay, Figlio Mio. We’ll find him, and whoever took him will pay the price.”

I allow myself a few more moments to cry before pulling away. Carter pulls a handkerchief out of his pocket and wipes myface. Taking a few deep breaths to get my shit together, I meet Carter’s gaze. “We’ll make them pay,” I repeat.

He nods and gives me a grim smile. “We will.”

It’s a promise and a plan, all in one.

Shoving the woman into the torture room gives me a vicious glee. Especially knowing that Lio is on his way. While I enjoy torture, Lio has not only learned from the best, but often takes it one step further. It’s only the addition of my Little Mouse that worries me.

I know Lio chose him to be his Second, but fuck, everything in me screams to keep Benjamin safe. And I know if I don’t get over this attitude, not only will my Little Mouse have something to say, so will Lio, and I do not want to piss him off. Especially right now. Not with Il Padrone missing.

Lio is volatile on a good day. Losing his husband-to-be? Yeah, I’m waiting for the fuckery to truly begin. I’d almost pity the woman I’m locking up, because I know she’s going to be the first casualty to his insanity. But fuck that. Not when she is responsible for this whole fucking situation.

Storming into the room, Lio barely glances at me. He must have been on the move right as I texted him. Benjamin enters behind him, a silent presence. There’s a strength rolling off him that I had never thought possible, but it’s there. Now it’s just a question of if he can truly keep up with Lio’s brand of crazy.

Nodding to me, he doesn’t say a word as I back up. The woman is tied to the chair in the center of the room. There’s not an inch of give, and when I circle around her, I have a front row ticket to watching her eyes widen when Lio doesn’t stop moving.

There’s no monologue or anything. He just punches her, blood splattering on her pastel suit as her head snaps back.

Coughing, she shouts as Lio grabs a knife from the table I had waiting. “Wait! Don’t you want to talk?”

“Why the fuck would I talk when I know you helped steal my Master? You think we’re idiots here? And I sure as hell know you’re the guilty one if Ignacio picked you up. He doesn’t make mistakes. Unlike you.” Lio uses the knife to expertly slice the right arm of her suit off. “After all, we can learn everything we need to know from your electronics, you fucking cunt.”

“But no! He told me I wouldn’t get caught!” she screeches, as Lio begins to dig the knife into her skin. It may not be a deep cut, but the blood trickles down, she pulls at the restraints.

I snort at her assertion, and even Benjamin rolls his eyes. Lio doesn’t bat an eye. Instead, he crouches down and cups her jaw, almost tenderly. It’s so at odds with the violence he’s meted out that she flinches. Lio doesn’t allow it and squeezes her jaw, tsking as she tries to move.

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