Page 16 of Broken Innocence
Because even though her mind was occupied, an air of melancholy surrounded her in the midst of the party guests’ revelry.
“My brothers and I run two organizations—Blackchapel Incorporated, which is a legitimate Fortune 500 company, andBlackthorn, an underground criminal organization. The don wants to call Blackthorn an ally, and a marriage between us solidifies the connection. Fabian will probably end up marrying some cartel princess or a Bratva daughter to cement those ties, instead.”
Eden’s brows lift dramatically above her amber eyes. “Brothers? Enzo has more illegitimate children?”
Of all the details she could latch on to, she chooses that one. Not the fact that I just admitted to being part of a criminal organization. But I guess that’s to be expected from a woman raised withinThe Family.
“Not that I know of.” A chuckle rumbles free. I hope I don’t have any secret siblings running around the world. One asshole half-brother is enough. “These are brothers-in-arms. We’re bonded by something deeper than blood—revenge against our bastard fathers. But you don’t need to worry about that right now. All that matters is your healing.”
I set the tray with tea and breakfast muffins on the nightstand as Eden readjusts on the bed. It’s been an eventful twenty-four hours for her between her kidnapping and learning about our upcoming marriage, but my girl has taken it all in stride.
Because she’s fucking amazing.
“I’d heal better in my own bed,” she says hopefully, and while my intention is to give her anything her heart desires, I won’t give her this. Eden is staying with me.
For good.
“Nice try, but you need to be monitored. The doctor said so.”
“My mom can monitor me at home.”
“Not gonna happen, Butterfly.” Standing, I tuck the blankets around her, ignoring the stiffening of her muscles at my close proximity. “Get some rest. I’ll be back in a few hours with lunch.”
Eden stares skeptically at me, but I resist the urge to stay longer. She needs time to process.
“Do we know the names of the men who brought Eden to Delaney’s?” I ask upon entering the den a few minutes later. It’s a catch-all room with a huge television and fireplace on one wall, bay windows and bench seat on another, and a long wooden table that we use for planning a lot of our next steps.
“It’s in your email.” Rafe is our tech guy and is a pro at finding information, even if it means hacking into someone else’s secured system. “They’re low-level grunts, Tony Caparelli and Aldo Rossi. Tony and Fabian are gambling buddies. Bluewave Casino is their home away from home.”
I scroll through the names, committing them to memory, then meet Jonah, Rafe, Mathias, and Hugo’s serious gazes one by one.
“Who wants to join me on a scavenger hunt?”
***
We found Tony at Bluewave Casino just like Rafe suggested. Aldo was busy fucking a prostitute in a low-rent motel. Both men failed to put up much of a fight against five of the Blackchapel Bastards.
After combing through street camera footage from the night Eden was taken, we decided to recreate a few things for our unlucky hostages. Punches to the face and gut in a parking lot. Zip ties to the wrists. Tossed into the back of a van for transport.
Tony and Aldo probably thought they’d be dumped somewhere in D’Amora territory as a warning, but I’m not playing games with Fabian. This isn’t a tit for tat. This isYou mess with my woman, death will follow.
No mercy.
No excuses.
The trek through the woods surrounding Blackchapel Manor is chilly with the promise of winter right around the corner. Dead leaves crunch under our boots, attempting to overpower the garbled pleas from Tony and Aldo. My brothers and I havewalked this path numerous times. First, as boys charged with following Conrad for one of his bloody lessons, and now as men who have accepted the crumbling chapel ahead as the home of our violent deeds.
Cracked stone litters the grounds, but we carefully navigate the labyrinth until we’re at the front of the chapel near the altar. Hugo and Jonah toss Tony and Aldo onto the split steps and whip off the hoods covering their heads.
“Do you know why you’re here?” I ask, withdrawing the blade from my belt. It’s a simple pocket knife, not much to look at, but it gets the job done. I like that it’s portable, no-nonsense. Just a good, old-fashioned tool always at my disposal.
Tony speaks first. “We’re sorry about the girl, but come on, man. She’s not worth all this.” He raises his arms, his hands fisted tightly together against the bounds of the zip ties.
Mathias chuckles and relaxes on the front pew, prepared for the ensuing show. “He apologized then insulted your woman within the same breath. What an idiot.”
“He works for Fabian. What do you expect?” An apathetic shrug lifts my shoulders. Squatting low, I address the two bound men. “Tell me, what did Fabian promise you in return for harming my girl? Money? Promotions within the organization?”
Aldo’s gaze slices toward his buddy then back to me. “He paid off our gambling debts.”
