Page 175 of Beautifully Ruined
“I’m aware, Enzo,” Gino says. “And of the people who go and do business there.”
Even though it’s the kind of place I like, I get what he’s saying, the meaning behind it. I don’t think uncle Gino cares about the sex or the kinks. I think he cares about the deals made there. Those particular patrons.
“Violet’s in the center, we’re trying to find Joseph Walsh’s daughter, and we think he had something to do with it, but Vi got caught, and she’s in a cell in that training center,” I say, the words falling over each other. “We need to get in there and help her before it’s too late.”
Gino laughs and shakes his head. “Why didn’t you just say so instead of making me wait? I can help. I’ve got the manpower to bring this place to the ground, and I’ll do it,” he says. “For a price.”
Enzo looks at me but doesn’t say anything. I get it. And this would be on me. While I’m reluctant to do this man another favor because with those sort of favors stacking up, I can see me being in servitude to him for the rest of my life.
“Look, you already fucking owe me, kid. What’s another favor? And how much worse can it be owing me twice?”
Fuck. Without Violet, I’m done. And I nod. I’m in a corner, and he’s the only door, and time is running out. Fast. “Whatever you want, I’ll do. She’s worth it.” Then I lean forward, and I stare him down. “But I’m only doing you your favors…that’s me, not Enzo, and I’m only doing them if my girl gets out alive.”
“It’s a deal.”
Gino makes a call to get his men here, and we pull out our computers and get to work.
“We can loop an image for them. If they go in to see what happened, there’ll be nothing,” Enzo says. “Your name won’t be on any of this, uncle Gino.”
“You think I care?”
I look at the man. “Maybe not, but there’s a lot to be said for a card up your sleeve, and you doing this under the radar is one. We’re making sure the place, when it’s hit, means no one will be the wiser.”
Hopefully, then Thomas won’t be able to call in any favors.
But more than that, I hope we’re not too late to save Vi.
Chapter Thirty-Four
VIOLET
“Wake up,”I say, as I work on my hands. “Please Gianna, open your eyes and tell me you’re all right.”
She’s breathing, but beyond that, I don’t know.
The ropes on my hand rub and burn my skin as I try to get my hands free. I bite my lip and pull hard, swallowing the scream of pain as the rope cuts into my flesh as I manage to yank one hand free.
Warm wetness is on my skin, but what’s a little blood if I can get my hands out?
Now I can get the other out, too, and I scrabble up onto my hands and knees.
I go to Gianna. Her pulse is steady under my fingers. Maybe she got hit with what I did.
Whatever they injected me with had me groggy there for a little too long. I sort of lolled about until reality really sank in.
“This is bad,” I whisper, carefully pushing myself to my feet as I look around. “Very bad.”
The door is locked on the other side, and it seems to be made of metal painted white. The floors fucking cement—there’s that word again—and this time, there’s no cot or water or anything. Just us in an empty, cold room.
This is beyond bad.
It’s terrifyingly fucked up.
I don’t know what’s waiting for me on the other side of the door, but whatever it is, I know I’m not going to like it.
Maybe this is the equivalent of night before the dawn of my execution. I don’t know.
Suddenly, I laugh.
