Page 73 of Curse

“What the fuck? Stop fighting me,” Vin grunts. “I’m trying to keep you alive, old man.”

Tommy enters a beat later, his sharp eyes assessing the scene. Without a word, he joins Vin, the two of them hauling Aurelio to the leather couch.

Siena is on the floor against the wall, penned in by the splintered wood plank in the corner, hugging her knees to her chest. Her cheek is red and swollen, her eye is swelling. Bruises are blooming on her torso, and blood drips from the cuts on her ankles and wrists.

I’m fucking pissed at her for hiding the flash drive from me, for making it impossible for me to protect her and keep her safe, but she looks so fragile and broken that I can barely breathe.

I take a step toward her, but she flinches violently enough to hit her head on the wall behind her. Her eyes, burning with hatred, lock onto mine, and I stop in my tracks.

What the fuck?She’smad atme?

Fine. If she doesn’t want me, she can fucking take care of herself, and I’ll manage the fucked up situation she’s gotten us into.

But I can’t stop my gaze from raking over her battered body, looking for signs of the worst. The thought of Aurelioviolating her in any way sends rage flooding through my veins yet again.

Shrugging off my suit coat, I toss it to her without a word and turn back to the bastard on the couch.

Vin stands protectively in front of his father saying nothing, his hands balled into fists at his side. Vin is the brother I never had, but there’s no fucking way I’m letting Aurelio walk away.

I dive tackle Vin, knocking him back onto his father on the couch behind him, who screams in pain. It’s a sound that gives me a sick satisfaction.

Grabbing Vin around the waist, I drag him to the floor. He’s pounding his fists into the side of my head, and I’m doing the same into his sides and his back as he tries to shift out of my grasp. We roll over and hit the heavy claw foot of Aurelio’s desk, as I pound his stomach and chest relentlessly.

Before I can get Vin to submit, Tommy is at my back, pulling me off him. I grab onto Vin’s shirt with the intention of either taking him up with me or keeping myself in the fight, but Vin takes advantage of the space created between us and pushes both his feet into my chest and shoves me off of him and into Tommy who falls back onto the desk.

As Vin lunges to his feet, Tommy quickly stands and steps in-between the two of us.

“Stop! Fucking stop!” Tommy has one hand on my chest and the other on Vin’s.

Vin and I stare at each other, breathing hard.

“Just take a fucking breath.” Tommy tentatively pulling his hands away from us slowly, turning toward me and then back to Vin with a look that says that now isn’t the time.

From behind him, Aurelio laughs darkly. “Matteo, you disappoint me. Letting some stupid little cunt scramble yourbrain.”

Tommy rolls his eyes but steps back so that I can see Aurelio, who coughs and hacks heavily into his hand. Vin eyes me warily. I ignore Aurelio and stare back at Vin, our chests heaving.

Aurelio clears his throat and groans, holding his bleeding hip. He waves his hand in Siena’s direction. “Kill the bitch. If only she knows where the flash drive is, then no one will ever find it, and we are done here.”

I lunge forward, baring my teeth, but Vin and Tommy close ranks in front of Aurelio, blocking me.

“We’re not killing anybody today,” Tommy says firmly. “She doesn’t have the flash drive. If she did, we’d have it by now.”

He looks to me for confirmation, but I don’t break eye contact with Vin, the flash drive burning a hole in my pocket.

Aurelio snorts at that. “Ha! Yes, I’m sure she was searched. By Matteo, whose mind was on finding where to put his dick next and nothing more.” His lip curls up at me, and his eyes flash with pain and hate. “Her pussydoestaste good, Matteo. I’ll give you that.”

Rage explodes through me, and I shove Tommy so hard that he stumbles back onto the couch next to Aurelio, but Vin quickly steps in front of me, blocking me.

I grab his shirt in both hands, ready to throw him on top of Tommy, but instead of fighting me, he grabs my wrists.

Under his breath, so only I can hear, Vin growls, “Not now. You’ll get your chance. But we need him alive right now.”

We stand nose to nose, glaring at each other.

Tommy, always the voice of reason, gets up from the couch and leans in to us, his voice low. “Take care of Siena, Matti. We’ve got this. We’ll catch up with you later, brother.”

Vin nods imperceptibly, but he’s tense, ready to pounce if I make a move.

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