Page 43 of Wretched Choices

“We don't have much on the attack, but Marco swiped all the cameras that have caught your car.”

Dante types something on his phone before speaking. “One of them is conscious now.”

I down the rest of my drink, standing. “Let’s go.” I look at Gabriel, raising my hand for him to wait. While the others leave the room, I stop with Gabriel. There are important matters he needs to deal with, and they relate to tonight’s events.

“You need to be in Chicago first thing in the morning. I want details about Sabatini and the men he is working with. You don’t come back without information. And tell Nico if he wants our help, this is the time when he can show his support to us.”

“Are you going to be okay with me being away?” He raises his eyebrows in question, motioning to my wound. “Did you take care of that?”

“I will, and my wound is fine. It’s an exit wound. It will heal.” I walk toward the door before I lash out at him, I know he means well but now I need some space from his rationalism. “Go to Chicago, Gabriel.” I exit my office and follow the others into the elevator, where they are waiting for me.

The clinical white room is designed especially for a situation like this. White tiles from the ground to the ceiling, easy to clean with just water and bleach.

The two men are waiting for me in the room. One man is on the floor, still unconscious, and the other is bound to the chair,trying to get free. I walk toward him, inhaling slowly, calming myself. I grab his hair and lift his head.

For a moment, fear flashes across his face when he realizes who I am. Just as fast as it came, the fear disappears and is replaced with disgust.

But that moment was enough. Enough for me to know I can break him.

“Who are you working for?”

He spits in my face. Fucker. “You will talk,” I say through gritted teeth. “But you can choose how. The easy way or the hard way.”

He sneers in my face. “I will never speak. You will kill me anyway.”

“True,” I say casually. “But you can choose. Do you want a quick death or a slow death?” I lean into his face. “And I’m so angry and deranged that I’ll unleash all of my demons on you, and you will beg me to kill you. But I won’t. I will keep you alive for as long as I need, and not just hours. Maybe days. Even if your heart stops beating, I will bring you back as many times as I can until hell is a better place to be than here.”

He swallows hard, the fear swarming his face again.

I grin widely, letting go of his hair. “Strip him,” I order my men.

He struggles when my men approach him. “You sick son of a bitch.”

I laugh loudly, shaking my head. I take the towel from the table and wipe the spit off my face. The monster in me is unleashed. The one I tried to bury for five years. My demons are awake again, and this time, I’m afraid they will not go away.

I take the knife from the tray beside the wall.

I don’t have to wait long until he’s ready for me.

Another slice across his chest, deep enough to make him bleed, not deep enough to lose a lot of blood. Small angry slices across his skin that hurt more than deeper cuts.

His body is beaten to a pulp, and all he has done is call me names that make me laugh. Calling me names is the last thing I care about. Carving his skin hasn’t scared him either.

I take the pliers. It’s time for some more painful work. Beating and carving his skin was for my pleasure. Now it’s time for him to talk.

After ten pulled-off nails and most of his teeth gone, I can’t let him choke on his own blood before I let him speak.

“Stop, please! I can’t take it.” He gurgles on his blood.

Good. He started to beg a long time ago, but my demons won’t let go. They want all his pain and more begging.

“I told you all I know,” he squeals.

“I know there’s more you are hiding. Tell me everything you know.” I grab his neck, squeezing. His eyes roll to the back of his head, surrendering to my grip.

I let go of his neck. I need him alive. He narrows his gaze, hate dripping from his eyes.

“They were wrong. You are just as your father thought you to be. Merciless. A monster just like him.” He laughs like a maniac.

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