Page 7 of Omega's Vengeance

His cheek twitches. “You’re here because I want Valentino to come face me like a man.”

“And why would he need to do that?”

Curling his lip, he says, “Because Valentino killed my father.”

It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that Valentino did indeed do that, but it would help if I knew who the hell Alessio was. I frown. “So all that talk about your father at the bar was just for show?”

“Everything I said about my father was true. I did like pissing him off. He was controlling, and he did try to keep me cooped up in his home. But he was still my father, and I want vengeance.”

I grunt. “Who was your father?”

He lifts his chin. “Joseph Abella.”

I knit my brows as surprise shifts through me. “Seriously? You’re Joesph’s son?”

“That’s right.” The flashlight in his hand seems to tremble slightly.

Now that I know who Alessio is, things make a little more sense. Valentino came down very hard on the Abella syndicate after they kidnapped Nico last year. “I heard about your father’s death. I’m sorry.”

He scowls angrily. “Save your condolences. It’s your boss’s fault my father is dead. And you’re not innocent. You helped Valentino do all the shit he did to Dad.”

“I’m definitely no innocent, no.” I hesitate. “But if you ask me, Valentino showed amazing restraint after your dad grabbed Nico. Frankly, I thought Valentino would have your father and his entire family killed. But he didn’t. He just took some stuff away from your dad. It was basically a slap on the wrist.”

“Restraint? A slap on the wrist?” Screeches Alessio, eyes wide. “He took away ninety percent of my father’s business. He humiliated my father, and the shame of it all put him in the grave.”

“Like I said, I’m sorry for your loss, but Joseph fucked up when he kidnapped Nico.”

“My father just wanted a slightly bigger piece of the pie. Why shouldn’t he have had that? He’d worked loyally for Valentino’s family for decades. What would it have hurt to give him a little bigger slice?” he demanded bitterly. “But Valentino wouldn’t do it. He said he didn’t trust my father to control the ports. What bullshit was that?”

“Seems to me Valentino was right about your father. Your father showed bad judgment in taking Nico hostage. It was foolish. A stupid move.”

“He wasn’t going to hurt Nico. He was bluffing,” rasps Alessio.

“Says you. But even if you’re telling the truth, there’s no way Valentino could have known that. You know as well as I do men rarely bluff in our business.” I sigh and sit down on the cot again. I’m feeling weaker by the minute, something that worries me. How am I going to escape if I’m this feeble? “All Valentino knew was Nico was taken, and he could have been killed.”

“Not by us,” Alessio says harshly. “How were we to know Roberto would get involved? We had no idea he hated Nico and wanted him dead.”

“Decisions have consequences,” I say, my voice hard and unyielding. “Your father put Nico in a situation where he could have been murdered. Your father needed to be punished. If you can’t see that, you’re a fool. But I already suspect you are because you grabbed me. Do you seriously think this is going to make things better?”

“I’m not interested in making things better. I want Valentino dead. You’re like a brother to him. He’ll never let anything happen to you without trying to protect you. He’ll come for you, and then he’ll pay for the shit he did to my family.”

“And you’ll die because Valentino won’t forgive your familytwice.”

He leans toward me and snarls, “Fine by me. I’m more than willing to die so long as Valentino dies too. And believe me, he will.”

Anger surges inside of me at the threats he’s making, and I try to grab him. Unfortunately, my coordination is shit, and he’s able to evade my grasp. Curling his lip, he slams the cattle prod into my chest, and I grunt as electricity jolts through me. My insides feel like they’re on fire as the cattle prod sears into me. I’m in agony but grit my teeth against the pain. No fucking way I’m going to make pathetic whimpering noises. I won’t give Alessio that satisfaction.

As I crumple onto the cot, Alessio steps back, scowling. “I guess you want to get the party started early?”

“Fuck you,” I hiss, my chest throbbing painfully. I’ll be lucky if the little shit doesn’t send me into cardiac arrest.

“No thanks. Once was enough.” He backs up and heads toward the doorway. “We’ll visit some more later today. Fair warning, it won’t be pleasant.”

“You won’t get away with this,” I growl at his receding figure. “I’ll kill you with my own hands.” I’m talking tough, but I’m about as dangerous as a lamb right now.

His harsh laughter is his only response as he goes up the stairs and locks me into my dungeon again.

Chapter Two

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