Page 28 of Curse

Withdrawing my finger, I clench my fist and take a step back, my pulse racing. I have a strict rule about consent when it comes to fucking women, and while she didn’t ask me to search her for the flash drive, she also didn’t ask me to stop when I gave her the opportunity, either.

Besides, that was business. If I touch her again, it’ll be because I want to, not because I need to. Plus, I need her conscious to stop me. Or to beg for more.

Olivia bursts in, her arms full of towels. She pauses when she sees me staring at Siena and smirks. “Into necrophilia now, are we?”

I narrow my eyes at her, stepping aside. “It’s not necrophilia if they’re still breathing, smart ass.”

Olivia sets down the pile of clean towels and pulls on some latex gloves. She opens the glass doors of the cabinets to pull the items needed for sutures.

“I need you to check her for injuries before Doc gets here.”

“Looks like you were about to do that yourself.” She sets the tray down next to Siena on a rolling metal table there for that purpose.

Her teasing grin fades when she sees the look on my face. She glances at Siena, then back at me. “I can check her overbefore Rossi gets here.”

“I cleaned her up, but—” My throat tightens, the words refusing to come. I exhale sharply. “Check for… anything I should know about.”

Olivia knows my past, knows what I’m really asking. “Got it,” she says softly.

“Just fucking get it done,” I snap, stepping back and crossing my arms. “If you actually called Rossi when I asked you to, he should be here any minute.”

“He’s on the way. Relax.” Olivia looks at me. “You don’t have to watch, you know.”

I glare at her and stand my ground. No way am I taking my eyes off of Siena while she’s in this state.

Olivia rolls her eyes and turns back to Siena. I know it shouldn’t, but Olivia’s kindness irritates me.

Honestly, I’m lucky that Olivia is even here. She used to spend most of her time at Aurelio’s house on the Demonio estate, but recently she’s been spending more time here at the Edge with us, cleaning, cooking, or just hanging out.

My guess is that Aurelio’s house hasn’t been very peaceful since everything went down with Mikey.

“She looks okay,” Olivia says finally, her voice careful. “But you can never be completely sure. Some guys… they know how to cover their tracks.”

Her words make me bristle, but I don’t respond. My gaze drifts back to Siena, and that irrational urge flares up, the urge to carry her somewhere far from this mess, somewhere no one can hurt her.

I shake my head. Jesus Christ. Why the fuck am I so invested in this woman?

17

Matti

When Doc finishes stitching Siena up, I lift her into my arms and carry her to one of the back rooms. It’s a dual-purpose space—primarily a torture chamber, but also a makeshift crash pad.

The cement floor is cold and unyielding, the walls bare except for shackles bolted to O rings. A drain is embedded in the floor near the far end. The only furnishings are a large king-sized bed with a wrought iron frame against one wall, a plain metal chair, and a small table with a matching lamp.

The starkness of the room is chilling to the average person, even if you’re not the one shackled to the wall. At least, I’m hoping that’s the effect it has on Siena. She needs to know that she is not a guest here. I need the flash drive, and until I get it, she is my prisoner.

The bedroom furniture was put in here randomly, but we ended up keeping it because it unnerves people more than anything else. I’ve seen grown men eye it like it’s a predator.

Always makes me laugh. They think the worst—rape, humiliation. That’s not our game, not mine, anyway. Andeven if it was, I can’t remember the last time I fucked someone in a bed.

I place Siena carefully on top of the covers, her body limp and unresponsive. Doc says she doesn’t have a concussion, just trauma-induced exhaustion. Still, I tuck a blanket around her.

There’s no need to tie her up again. AJ left open wounds on her wrists and ankles, for one thing, but she’s not going anywhere, anyway. Even if she had the strength to run, this place is a fortress. Steel-bolted doors, tiny barred windows. Even if she could navigate the labyrinth of hallways, she’d find guards at every exit—she couldn’t find her way out if she tried.

But it’s not just her escape I’m worried about. It’s Aurelio. If he knew to look for the flash drive at Alexandra Hayes’ law office, he knows about Siena.

That flash drive she has—orhad—is the key to his interest. If Dante Ruggerio and his goons didn’t find it at the law office, he’ll come for her whether she has it or not. Especially since I know Dante will rat me out for stopping him from killing Siena. Defying his orders always makes the consequences worse. Torture isn’t just an abstract threat with Aurelio; it’s his preferred language.

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