Page 58 of Filthiest Of Them All

“Omen went after her.” I turn my head to the side to see Vat and Halo standing there. I nod, unable to formulate words. “She’s eighteen, Alex. This is a lot for anyone to handle. She’s still young and saying things she doesn’t mean.” I appreciate Vatican trying to help but his words mean nothing.

“Her age means nothing,” I grit out.

“You’ve had years of time to live and experience shit, she’s still young and falling in love with anyone is hard, but falling in love withThe Butcheris a fucking tough pill to swallow. The child in her still yearns for the family she was denied. The man she is in love with is about to kill the only person that matters most to her.”

I glare at Halo. “He killed my sister,” I growl in a tone that has him raising his hands in surrender.

“All I’m saying is, do you think she will be able to look at you when you come home with her brother’s blood on your hands?” Halo doesn’t wait around for a reply. Vat meets my stare with an intense look in his eyes.

“Take it from someone who fell in love with a girl that I never got a chance to tell how I really felt. Don’t allow your thirst for vengeance to outweigh what could be your future. She’s good for you, Alex, and I would give anything to have a shot with Ellie again, but you're pissing away your chance with an amazing girl. Don’t blow it, because living with regret is worse than death.”

* * *

I find myself standing here, watching her sleep again. The peaceful look on her face calms the beast inside me. I would give anything to slide under those sheets and devour her pussy like it's my last meal, but getting lost in her won’t solve the problems we both face. She needs to know that I can’t allow him to live even if he is her brother. I care about her deeply but my feelings toward her won’t change the outcome.

I take one last lingering look at her and hope that she will be able to forgive me for what I am about to do. Last night we used each other as an escape, we may be angry and hurting but that just fueled the need to fuck and made sex crazy, hot and fucking messy. She wanted to take control last night but I refused, she needed to be reminded what it was like to be owned and dominated by me. I felt every ounce of her anger last night, the way she took it out on my dick was fucking incredible. She had me busting a nut like a teenage boy.

The second I step outside, I close off all my emotions, my head needs to be clear and in the game. Carlito Vatel has given his word to back the Denver Kings and not to come to the De Santis’s aide if they call. The Torrence, Vanchino and Merkule families have also agreed to stay out of it. Their conditions were all the same, they wanted to know the true face of The Butcher. When I announced who I was, they were outraged that all these years they had met me but had no idea I was the one picking off their top guys and forcing them to bend the knee to Desire before I left. With the four of them out of the game, this will be a fight that will come down to who wants it more and win.

Devon’s intel has proven good. At this time the De Santis family outnumbers us three to one. The odds aren’t great but unlike Desire, all my men have been trained like real soldiers. They know how to blend, hunt, shoot, fight and if needed, they know how to end themselves so they aren’t used to extract information. That is a last resort only. I may be private and quiet when it comes to my life, but not when it concerns knowing everything about each person who joins our ranks. When leaders grow too cocky and stop vetting every person who joins them, that’s how you get rats.

If you treat your men well and listen to what they have to say, as well as compensating them accordingly, they will remain loyal. Never give anyone a reason to turn against you. I’ve had that happen before in the De Santis family when Desire took over, killing my own men isn’t something I relish.

When I reach the main house, I don’t bother going inside. I head around the front to see my brothers waiting for me. Adrian, Marko and Damon are waiting as well. They will be the heads of the three teams we have put together. Each one of them is kitted out with firearms, knives and Kevlar vests. I run my gaze over each of them. Pope and Omen look ready to fight. Halo and Vatican both have blank looks on their faces which tells me they are in the zone and keeping out of their heads. Adrian, Marko and Damon all nod, letting me know they are ready to go. Carnage is the last to draw my attention, unlike the others he stands there looking at me with uncertainty.

“If you aren’t ready to commit to this a hundred percent, then you need to back out now, I won’t have you being a liability for the rest of us,” I say in an even tone.

He releases a breath and shakes his head. “Alex, she gave you two weeks.” I quirk a brow urging him to continue. “You know she is a liar, she would have attacked you by now and taken you off guard.”

“She doesn't know where we are,” Omen states.

Car keeps his gaze on me as he answers. “Something isn’t right, brother. I can feel it in my gut. I know her and?—”

“You want to be a pussy, then fuck off back inside and stay here with Tate,” Halo snaps.

Carnage shoots him a scathing look. “I’m no fucking pussy. Out of all of us, I’m the one who knows that cunning bitch the best and I am telling you something is off.” I mull over his words for a minute and debate changing the plan.

“Alex, we have the men in place waiting for us in Chicago. She has no idea we are coming, now is the time to strike,” Pope hedges.

I nod in agreement but now that Carnage has voiced his worries, I can’t stop thinking he may be right. “Let’s go.” I find myself saying. Car sighs and shakes his head but climbs into one of the cars. I move to follow the guys, but Halo places a hand on my chest and flicks his head to something behind me. I slowly turn and follow his gaze to see Tatum standing in the shadows by the house looking… nervous.

“Say goodbye. I’ll send the others ahead and wait for you in the car,” Halo says. I nod, then head toward her slowly. She really does look like a deer caught in the headlights right now. I hate seeing the war of emotions in her eyes.

Pain.

Worry.

Anger.

… Love.

Before I can get too close she darts her arm and places her hand on my chest, forcing me to a stop. She cranes her neck back and stares up at me with glassy eyes. She’s fighting back her tears and I itch to reach out, cup her face between my hands and kiss her, wanting to ease her worries but I can’t. I won’t pity her.

“Don’t go,” she whispers.

My shoulders hunch. “Bambi?—”

“Just listen,” she says, cutting me off. I nod and watch as she inhales a deep breath and squares her shoulders. “I know what this means for you. I swear I do understand and if I was in your shoes I probably would be wanting the same thing. But I’m not in your shoes and you have a chance to change the outcome. I know what he did is unforgivable and despicable but he is still my brother.” I push her hand away and cup her face. A whimper escapes her when I bend down and claim her lips. Pain ricochets inside me when I pull back and rest my forehead against hers. She grabs my wrists in a vice-like hold and meets my gaze with a pleading edge.

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