: Chapter 3

“Time’s running out. You have exactly five minutes to fuck her, or we’ll do it and maybe cut her a little while we do. I’ve never tried blood play. Maybe it’s worth the hype.”

I took a step toward Sara. She became even more still if that was possible.

With Jabba’s, Yevgeny’s, and a third man’s keen eyes on us, I moved toward her even if it was the last thing I wanted. I memorized each face for later reference. One day, their faces would be scrunched up in agony and beg me for mercy.

I got down on my haunches right in front of Sara.

“No secret messages or whispering!” Jabba roared.

Sara stared right into my eyes, and I had a hard time not looking away. Her doe eyes killed me with their softness and fear.

“I’ll pretend,” I mouthed, hoping she understood despite her agitated state. I’d never pretend-fucked someone.

She didn’t react, and the fear in her face increased.

I tried again.

She shook her head slowly.

She obviously didn’t get what I meant. This was a fucking mess.

“You only have four minutes now. I guess quick fucks are your thing, Max?”

I touched her shoulder, but before I could push her back, she lay down on her back on the dirty concrete floor.

I looked her in the eyes as I reached under her skirt and grabbed the waistband of her tights and her panties. She tensed as I pulled them down her legs, but she didn’t fight. She knew this was the only chance to protect her from the Russians’ touch and maybe even death. They wouldn’t pretend like me.

She remained still as I unzipped my pants and pulled them down. My cock was limp, but I didn’t need a hard-on for what I had planned. I moved between her legs, shoved up her skirt, then pretended to thrust into her.

Sara closed her eyes with an audible wince. I wasn’t sure if her reaction or my thrusts were convincing. I couldn’t think straight. My thoughts only revolved around two things: killing Jabba and our escape. The assholes had even taken the knife I had in a small holster at my ankle. I only had my own body. I’d been trained for many years to make it as lethal as possible, and it was deadlier than many weapons, but I needed proximity to use it. A sob from Sara made me look down at her again.

Sara’s cheeks turned red, and she looked away from my eyes as I thrust again. My naked skin touched her inner thigh. I hated that she had to experience this.

“You think I’m stupid?”

I froze mid-thrust and glanced over my shoulder at Jabba. His head was purple, and a vein on his forehead throbbed. “That dick of yours isn’t anywhere near that virgin pussy. You have two more minutes to fuck her like you mean it, or I’ll call all of my men and let them have a go at her in whatever sick way they like. And some of them are sick fucks, trust me. And afterward, I’ll throw her in a cage with the bears or the leopard. They’ll be hungry after their long journey.”

“It’s okay,” Sara said in the quietest whisper. I looked at her, but she had her eyes closed, and her face turned away as if she didn’t want to see me.

“You better get her naked quickly.”

The seconds ticked by. Everything in me revolted against what I needed to do.

I closed off my thoughts and acted. I ripped Sara’s skirt away, leaving her naked from the waist down. Then I kicked down my own pants. Would this save Sara from a worse fate? Was I even a better fate than any of the assholes standing in line to fuck her next? This was wrong on so many levels.

My head throbbed, and my dick was still far from stiff. I closed my eyes, ignoring the phone recording what I did and everything around me—even Sara. I couldn’t think of her terrified eyes when I wanted to get it up.

I gripped my cock and stroked myself furiously, imagining all the sexy girls I’d fucked in the past. I wasn’t sure how long it took me to get hard. Jabba’s cackling in the background told me too long. Fuck him. Fuck this.

When I had it up, I opened my eyes, and I wished I hadn’t because the sight of Sara beneath me with her eyes closed, waiting for me to fuck her, almost killed my erection.

“Ten seconds. I’m not impressed.”

I didn’t hesitate. With a deep breath, I thrust as far into her as her body allowed. She let out a choked sob, her face scrunched up in pain and lips pressed together. “This is the most boring fuck I’ve ever watched. I really hope you make her scream, or I’ll be very disappointed.”

“And you don’t want that,” Yevgeny guffawed like a baboon.

I thrust again, and I didn’t look away as I did. I deserved to see the pain and tears on Sara’s face, even if it killed me. I deserved worse for what was happening.

I became numb inside, only aware of the rough concrete against my palms and the fine sheen of sweat on my forehead. Time seemed to stand still as I finally closed my eyes like a coward and returned to a scene with an imaginary woman. During our training to withstand torture, I learned to transport myself to a different place in my mind. It was a sort of hypnosis that could make you ignore pain for a long time. I never would have thought I’d have to use it in a situation like this.

A door banged against a wall. Someone screamed something in Russian. I only understood the word Italians because I had heard it from Bratva soldiers in the past. My fantasy dissipated, and I was back to reality.

“Quick!” Jabba roared. Opening my eyes, I pushed off Sara and staggered to my feet. Jabba and Yevgeny and the third man rushed away from the door through which they’d come in earlier. Yevgeny had his phone with him. I stormed against the bars again and again, trying to tear them down so I could chase them. My head rang from the impact. Blood spurted from my nose and a cut on my head, but I didn’t stop. The pain felt fucking good. It was well deserved. Definitely not enough. They disappeared through a narrow door at the back of the hall. I froze, my head ringing with pain. In my peripheral vision, I saw how Sara pushed herself into a sitting position. Her cheeks were tearstained, and she winced in pain as she moved. The door beside our cell swung open, and several Famiglia soldiers stormed in with guns drawn.

Of course, Romero was one of them. I released a harsh breath, turned my back to the bars, and sank down. I was still naked from the waist down.

The clinking of keys sounded, and Romero entered the cell a moment later.

I didn’t move from my spot on the floor.

His eyes took it all in. Sara’s panties and skirt discarded in a corner of the cell. My half-undressed state. The way she huddled against the wall with her legs pressed up against her body to preserve her modesty. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure out what I’d done. I wouldn’t stop Romero from getting the revenge he deserved. Fuck, I was ready for a bullet from him, even torture. I wouldn’t even try to escape into a fantasy world in my head. I’d allow the pain.

Someone knelt in front of me. For a moment, I thought it was my best friend Amo, but the blond hair quickly told me it was his brother, Valerio. “You okay?”

I stared at him. “Once you put a bullet in my head in mercy, I will be.”

He narrowed his eyes at me and tossed my jeans at me. There wasn’t compassion on his face. He was a Vitiello through and through. Compassion wasn’t part of their programming. “Get dressed. We need to leave. My father’s going to ask a lot of questions.”

I put on my pants, then let him pull me to my feet. My eyes went to Sara. Romero had his arm wrapped around her shoulders. She was dressed again but didn’t look my way as he led her out of the cell. Neither did he, though I suspected for very different reasons. He probably didn’t want to kill me in front of his shaken daughter. I watched them leave, then followed Valerio out of the cell.

“Did you catch any of the Russians?” I asked.

“One of them. A guard.”

“Not Jabba.”

“No.”

I nodded. Maybe Luca would allow me to help them hunt Jabba and his men as a last service. He knew how good I was at my job. He definitely wouldn’t do it out of charity.

Valerio took me to a meeting house in Brooklyn. We were the first to arrive. My skin itched, and my skull throbbed fiercely, but I didn’t say anything. I wanted nothing more than a shower.

Valerio and I went to the room that Luca used for meetings on occasion. I sat on one of the hardwood chairs.

“The doc’s on his way to check on you.”

I shook my head. “He needs to focus on Sara.”

“I think Romero and Liliana will take her to a female doctor.”

I nodded, then looked down at my feet.

The door opened with a soft creak. Two heavy sets of steps sounded. I recognized them. I rose to my feet, then forced my gaze up because I wouldn’t act like a fucking coward. Amo and Luca strode toward me. Like father, like son: gray eyes, black hair. But while Luca’s expression was thunderous, Amo appeared emotionless. Before I got a chance to analyze the look in Amo’s eyes, Valerio was already in front of him. They talked quietly for a moment.

I wasn’t surprised that they kept secrets.

When Amo finally came my way, he looked seriously pissed. We’d been best friends for half of our lives. I’d always known it would take a major fuckup for that to change.

Amo put his hand on my shoulder. “They played the wrong cards, those bastards. The bikers didn’t succeed, nor will they.”

Surprise following confusion shot through me until it dawned on me. “The video?”

Amo nodded severely. His gray eyes searched mine. How many had already seen what had happened? “They sent it to my father, me, and a few others.”

“They didn’t put it up on social media?”

“Not yet. They’re on the run. Maybe that will give us some time.”

“I need to know everything that happened, every fucking detail,” Luca said. The door to the room opened at that moment, and Romero walked in, followed by Flavio and Matteo. Matteo, as Consigliere, would know every detail of what had happened.

“I want to be there,” Romero said firmly.

“So do I,” Flavio agreed. Neither looked my way. Their features, hair, and eye color reminded me of Sara, making it hard to look at them.

Luca frowned, but then he gave a terse nod. Matteo’s eyes only briefly rested on me before he joined Luca.

Amo was still at my side even as the others lined up across from me like a tribunal. I wanted to ask about Sara. I needed to know she was okay, or as okay as she could possibly be, but the words got stuck in my throat. Instead, I turned to Amo. “You should go to them.”

“I’m by your side because you look like you need support.”

“Did you watch the video?”

“I know what happened.”

“No, you don’t, or you wouldn’t be by my side. Watch the video.”

Amo scowled. “I won’t. I don’t need to.”

Luca ran a hand through his hair before he leveled a hard look at me. I held his gaze. I would accept whatever consequences he decided on. I wasn’t usually someone who gave up without a fight, but in this case…

“To dish out revenge as quickly as possible, we need to get as much information as possible as fast as fucking possible,” Luca said. His voice rang with barely restrained fury. He looked more furious than Romero and Flavio. Neither of them was known for violent outbursts unless required, but the tension in their bodies and the tight set of their identical lips told me a flood of emotions sat right under the surface, ready to be unleashed.

“I’ll tell you everything I know so you can punish me accordingly. I’d like to talk to my family before you deal with me, though.” My calm voice was detached, and my insides matched my tone. I felt numb. I’d never felt this way despite the many brutal acts I had to commit in the name of the Famiglia.

Luca released a slow breath, then glanced at Romero and Flavio. “I know this is difficult, and emotions are on the rise.” He paused before he turned to me. “You failed to protect Sara and yourself from being captured. That’s the only transgression I see worthy of punishment. What happened after…” He looked toward Romero, who met his gaze, his eyes full of anguish. “…happened because you had no choice.”

I shook my head, not sure he understood.

“I should have picked her up,” Flavio muttered. “I would have protected her.” Accusation rang in his voice, and when he finally met my gaze, it burned in his eyes too.

I wasn’t sure if that was true. As far as I recalled from my spotty memory, there had been too many enemies. But the fact remained that I had probably been the Bratva’s target, and Sara had only been collateral damage.

“Or not, and then you might have been in the horrible position to do to your sister what Max was forced to do,” Amo said firmly. He still stood by my side. I’d forever be grateful to him for his loyalty.

Flavio’s expression twisted with disgust. “I would have never—”

“You would have let the Russians have a go at her?” Amo countered.

“Would you have fucked Marcella if the bikers had captured you too?”

Amo tensed, his face becoming stone. Luca looked ready to go completely berserk. Jabba had done a good job of sowing discord. Maybe he wasn’t as stupid as I thought. If it came to acts of brutality, he had more creativity than I’d expected.

Matteo crossed his arms and regarded me with a stoic calm. He had been unusually silent so far. His lack of jokes and the fact that he hadn’t bothered styling his hair to perfection like a runway model told me things couldn’t be worse. “This discussion doesn’t lead us anywhere. Maximus isn’t related to Sara, and he did what needed to be done in a fucking shitty situation. Even Sara knew it. You heard what she said to him.”

I swallowed hard at the mention of Sara. “How is she?” I pressed out, my voice rough and low, every word scratching my throat. Maybe that was how Dad felt when he talked.

Nobody said anything for several seconds. Maybe I didn’t deserve to know.

“Liliana took her to a doctor. She’s doing okay… physically,” Romero said quietly. His brown eyes were carefully controlled as he leveled them on me.

I nodded. “Thank you for telling me.” I’d always felt the utmost respect for Romero. He was a loyal and very skilled Made Man. Today, I admired him even more. It couldn’t be easy to stay calm in a situation like this. If our roles had been reversed, I would already have killed him in a fit of rage.

The door swung open. Dad entered the room. With barely a nod toward the others, he stalked toward me. His expression was unreadable. He’d always had my back, but I wasn’t sure how he felt today. Many people said I not only resembled him with my dark hair, tall frame, and amber eyes but also his character. He gripped my shoulder and looked me in the eyes, then he squeezed and gave a slight nod. “I’m here.”

My heart swelled. I gave a grateful nod in return. I wasn’t the type to put into words how much this meant to me, nor was he the type who liked to listen to emotional admissions.

“We need to figure out how to get revenge. This needs to be at the forefront of our thoughts. We can’t change what happened, but we can make sure every fucker involved gets what he deserves,” Amo said.

Luca nodded. “Revenge will be our main focus. It’ll be our first thought in the morning and our last thought at night. I don’t care what it takes to kill every fucker involved.”

Romero met my gaze. “I want you to help us get revenge. You’re one of the best when it comes to hunting and torture.”

My chest constricted. “I will do everything in my power to give Sara and your family the revenge you all deserve. I won’t rest until every Bratva asshole in this city has died the most painful death imaginable.”

Dad nodded. “We’ll get revenge, and it’ll be brutal and merciless.”

“And we need to make sure our enemies realize we aren’t easy prey just because we have enemies in every fucking corner,” Amo said angrily. He didn’t agree with his father’s choice to attack the Camorra and make them the enemy too. “That’s why they picked this moment to attack. They think we’re weakened by too many wars.”

Luca’s expression was tight with rage. He and Amo had butted heads on that matter before. I wasn’t sure if Amo was right, if the Russians had attacked because we had another enemy in the Camorra.

“We’re not any weaker than before. The Camorra never helped with matters in our territory.”

“But we can’t focus on the Bratva like we used to because now we need to watch our backs. Remo will attack at some point.”

“Remo isn’t my fucking concern right now. If you hadn’t started things with Greta, the situation would be very different.”

“I don’t care what led to this point,” Romero said tightly. “All I care about is my daughter, who suffers innocently. I want revenge, and I want it as soon as possible. It won’t help Sara, but since it’s all I can do, I’ll do it.”

I nodded. I couldn’t undo what had happened, but I’d do anything in my power to kill Jabba and his crew. It wouldn’t make Sara forgive me, but I’d never dare ask for her forgiveness anyway.