Page 27 of Brutal Queen

“It’ll be a cold day in hell when I address a Bianchi don as Rory, whippersnapper,” he says with a warm and rich tone, undermining his usually grumpy façade.

“Fine, but at least call me Aurora. I don’t see you as an employee, Stefano. You’re some of the only family I have left.”

There’s a pause, and I hear him clear his throat quietly. “Evening, Aurora. I take it you’re calling me about Sinclair’s report?”

“Uh-huh. You get a chance to review it?”

“Just finished. We need to tail the entire security detail to establish the true location. There are multiple groups rotating between three potential safe houses. It’s too risky to hit them all at the same time and would divide our manpower.”

“Agreed. Pull Gabriella’s team out of the clubs and get them surveilling the three locations for the next forty-eight hours. When we know which house he’s in, call a meeting and bring in the capos.”

“Anything else… Aurora?”

“Yes.” I pause, not quite knowing how to say this. “Thank you for arranging to bring Enzo home to us.”

“I had thought you might chew me out for letting him leave early,” he says.

“I nearly did, Stefano. However… we needed him home and waking up to having him back was a weight off my shoulders. I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated the gesture. So… thank you.”

“Well, er, you're welcome, Aurora.” There’s a crack of emotion in his voice, but he shuts it down quickly. “I’ll be over tomorrow to go over some of the day-to-day stuff.”

“Any glaring issues?”

“Just some punks we need to deal with at one of the clubs, but Dom will be able to fill you in more tomorrow. See you at 11 am.”

“See you then.”

I hang up and place the phone down on the desk. Pickingup my wine glass, I lean back in my chair and stare at the ceiling.

Enzo has been home for twelve hours and I already feel like the world has righted itself. It’s like everything is coming into focus. However, no matter how careful we’re being in taking a slower approach, gathering intel, and not going after Max, all guns blazing, it makes my stomach roil to know that he’s still out there.

Every day he lives is another day where I have failed.

Another day when someone else suffers. It must have killed him to give up his toy. To release Enzo. I know that means other people will be paying a price for his and my freedom. Without us, Max’s sadistic cravings will be meted out on others who are unlikely to withstand his brutality.

When his time comes, I will make sure he suffers for every one of his sins.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

SINCLAIR

After dinner, the guys hung out in the front room, just talking shit like old times. It’s so fucking surreal having Enzo back, but it didn’t take long for it to start feeling like less of a fantasy. Aurora left us alone and retreated to her study to give us some space. Then we got round to talking about what we’d been working on while Enzo was gone—what we’ve learned about Max’s new organisation, the alliances he’s making with other local criminals, where we’d been today and how close we are to tracking Manny down.

By midnight Enzo could barely keep his eyes open, so we called it a night. Now I’m standing in front of my bathroom mirror brushing my teeth and I have no clue what to do next. I haven’t slept in my own bed for a month. Fuck, I haven’t slept without Aurora either. The idea of crawling into bed alone makes me feel hollow.

I pull my henley over my head before shucking off my jeansand boxer briefs, tossing them in the hamper. As I walk into my room, the last thing I expect to find is Benedict, completely passed out in my bed. Feeling exceptionally naked at this moment, I turn and dive into my top dresser drawer to find a fresh pair of boxers.

They’re on in record time, and I head out into the hallway to find Nico. He’s already heading my way and calls out, “I’m guessing you’ve got a stray?”

We both head back into my room and stare down at Benny, neither one of us making a move to wake him. Nico rubs his palm down the back of his neck and blows out a breath. “So… this isn’t weird at all, is it?”

“I mean… in the grand scheme of things, this is on the low end of our weird scale. We have been sharing a bed for a month now.”

“Do you want me to move him?” Nico says in a tone I can’t read.

“Er… do you want to move him?”

“Fuck’s sake, what are we, twelve? Do you have a problem if we sleep in here tonight?”

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