Page 67 of Curse

Olivia nods solemnly, trying unsuccessfully to keep the smile off her face. “She’s really great, Matti. A keeper, for real. Just don’t fuck it up.”

Swatting my arm, Olivia leaves me in the hall in front of Franco’s door.

She’s right: Siena is great. She’s better than great. She’s fucking phenomenal.

I hope I don’t fuck it up.

34

Matti

Ishove the key into the lock on Franco’s door and turn it, expecting to see him either pulling some bullshit because he’s expecting Olivia or nursing the wounds Siena inflicted on him.

A smirk tugs at my lips. Love my girl.

When I open the door, he lunges at me, screaming like a banshee, arms flailing. He’s chained to the opposite wall, so I step back and use the heavy steel door to slam into him.

The impact sends him crashing back the way he came, slamming into the wall and sliding down into a heap, leaving a smear of blood from the back of his head in his wake.

Throwing the door closed behind me with a bang that echoes in the small, barren room, I pull him up by his shirt and shove his face into the mattress.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? Were you planning to pull that shit on Olivia, you stupid fuck?”

Goddamn, Olivia was right: men target women like predators. What would have happened if it hadn’t been me walking through the door?

It makes me want to get back to Siena as fast as I can. I know that there are predators out there waiting to hurt her as we speak. But one of them is right in front of me, and it’s getting harder and harder to justify keeping him alive.

He’s yelling into the mattress, his words muffled. I yank his head up by the hair, driving my knee into his back to keep him pinned. “Speak clearly, asshole.”

“What do you care about Olivia? You’re the one who’s fucking my sister behind her back,” he gasps, his breath hitching.

“You should be more worried about staying alive than who I fuck,” I growl.

I consider dragging him to one of the torture rooms, maybe even Siena’s room, so she can finish what she started. My plan originally was just to talk some sense into him, redirect his attention away from Siena, but now that conversation is going to come with a beating.

Shifting my weight back, I curl my fingers into a fist and pull back to hit him.

“No, wait!” His voice cracks. “If you kill me, Siena’s dead.”

While I doubt seriously this little shit has any information that would be of use to me, I can give him thirty seconds.

“Explain.”

“Aurelio,” he chokes, his voice high-pitched and shrill. “He told me to take her out. Said if I didn’t, he’d send someone else.”

I can barely understand him through his shrieking. “How the fuck does that change anything? That just means killing you takes out one more threat.”

Seeing him pinned to the mattress, bleeding from cuts on his chest, neck, and face, whining for his life, I reconsider. “Not that you’re much of a threat.”

“But if he thinks I’m still on the job, he won’t send anyone else!” Franco’s voice is frantic, desperate.

I snort. “The last time you talked to Aurelio was weeks ago. If you haven’t reported to him that she’s dead by now, he’s already sent other people to get the job done.”

The truth of my words hits me hard. She’s been here for weeks, and no one found her other than Franco. Aurelio would have grabbed her already if he knew she was here.

My agitation increases, and along with it, my paranoia. I can’t stop thinking of her alone and naked in bed waiting for me, and who might find her in that state while I’m here dealing with this fucking bitch.

Franco’s shoulders sag, a pathetic whimper escaping him as he realizes he’s out of cards to play.

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