but I know more are coming. No idea who’s behind this. I’m three miles outside of Florence.”
Bates didn’t ask any questions. He switched into survival mode. “I’ll round up the other guys now to intercept you. Stay on the—”
A tank came out of the darkness and slammed into my car.
My seat belt was off because I’d removed it to duck on the floor. My body went flying with the momentum, slamming into the side as the car rolled from the blow. I was pushed off the road, rolling continuously and hitting my head on every surface. The phone kept flying. “Bates, if you can hear me, I’ve been hit by a tank.” The phone probably broke on impact.
The car finally came to a stop, and I was disoriented. The spinning and the collision had nearly broken me in half. My head beat like a drum, and my wrist felt injured. My gun was on the floor, so I grabbed it and prepared for anything.
The front door opened, and a man took out the two men in the front seat.
Fuck, I was next.
I was the last one alive on purpose. They didn’t want me dead right away, not until they got what they wanted. They would torture me until they broke me. The gun in my hand shouldn’t be used for defense, but suicide. Why suffer when I could just end it now?
But then I thought of Siena and Martina.
I couldn’t give up—not yet.
The back door opened, and Damien poked his head inside. “Mr. Marino, beautiful night, isn’t it?” His eyes gleamed with mirth, like he’d been counting down the days until this moment arrived.
I shouldn’t have shot him in the shoulder. I should have shot him in the head. “I’ve seen better.”
“Awfully arrogant for the last man standing.”
“Just because my men are dead doesn’t mean I’m alone. And so much for that truce, huh?”
“It was a stupid move on your part…and all for pussy.”
My fists wanted to pummel his face, but I had to keep my cool. I had to pretend Siena meant nothing to me—otherwise, they might use her against me.
“I’ve been wanting to fuck that cunt for a while. So I understand your fascination.”
It took all my strength to do nothing. “Do you always talk this much?”
“When I’m in a good mood. Now, get out.” He stepped back so I could climb out of the car. I left my gun behind because there was no point in bringing it along. Once I stepped out of the car, it would be taken from me. Hopefully, Bates was still on the line and had heard that conversation. Even if he didn’t, he would figure out who took me. He’d been suspicious of Damien for months.
I stepped out of the car and brushed off my suit like I still had all the power in the situation. “What now? Dinner? Movie?”
Damien chuckled. “You know what’s next—and you aren’t going to like it.”
I was returned to Florence and their headquarters. I kept looking out the window hoping my men would show up and take me back, but they never managed to intercept me. I knew my brother was doing everything possible to get me back, but once I was inside their fortress, it would be impossible to get me out.
Unless he used nuclear weapons.
That would just defeat the purpose.
Their fortress was new on the outside, but ancient below. It went deep under the surface, making them impenetrable by invasion. Once they got me under the hatch and deep underground, I knew I would stay there until I became a corpse.
I wasn’t scared of death.
I was scared of what would happen to my girls.
Bates would take care of them, I believed that.
But I wanted to be the one to take care of them.
I was taken underground and into a cell made entirely of concrete. There was a small bed in the corner, a chair, and a toilet, so they obviously expected me to last through their interrogation for a few days.
Fuck, how did this happen?
They’d had to wire the cars somehow. That couldn’t have been easy. It was genius—and that pissed me off.
“Sit.” Damien nodded to the metal chair in the corner.
I took off my jacket and placed it over the chair, retaining as much power as I could. Showing fear would only make it worse. Regardless of what they did to me, I wouldn’t cave. I wouldn’t give them any satisfaction. “I should have some time.”