Eighteen

“ W hat’s up?” I grumble, half asleep, with my phone lying on my chest.

Unfortunately, my brother’s words pull me further from my sleep. “Stephen, Junior’s consigliere, just called and they want us to come to Sinners to discuss a few things.”

My hackles instantly rise, and I sit up, the comforter falling to my waist as I press the phone to my ear. “What kind of things? Vito was on the mend last time I checked.” I practically growl the last part because, unfortunately, with him feeling better, Ashley had to be more careful this week, which, in turn, meant less time with me.

“It sounds like their doctor is staying in Italy longer, and they need to know we can prioritize them if needs arise.”

Relief washes over me, even though I couldn’t care less about helping them. I bet they all must smell the war that’s brewing.

My brother continues. “Sounds like a good way to stay on the inside. ”

“True, but sometimes, when something sounds too good to be true, it is.”

He seems to ponder on that briefly before responding. “You’re right. Let’s see what they ask of us first. If it's unreasonable, then we will agree long enough to get out of there and get Nico involved.”

“Okay, I’m still at Hotel Luxure. Can you swing by here to get me?”

“Yeah, be there in thirty.”

I toss the phone beside me and let out a frustrated groan.

I’m getting so tired of playing this game with Junior and his men. I know we are closer than ever. Nico keeps telling me to be patient. He says he has a plan in the works, which he will have full details on soon. But I’m starting to get antsy every day we get closer to Junior coming back to America.

Snatching the pillow up from beside me, I bring it to my face, wanting to scream out my frustrations, but instead, I take a deep breath, and instantly, a different emotion stirs within me. She left for her mother’s a couple hours ago, but I smell her. Floral… Jasmine…with a tiny hint of cedar.

With my head still buried in the pillow, I picture her beautiful face lying right next to me this morning.

I won’t let him touch her again, no matter what I must do.

Even if it means going off script, I will find a way.

My nose instinctively snarls when I look up at the purple sign on the building just thinking about the way Junior behaved the last time we were here .

The door opens, and I immediately feel the thick tension in the air.

I’m thankful I listened to Trevor when he reminded me to leave my gun in the car, since they only think of us as doctors. But my alarm bells start going off when I realize this is the first time security has ever searched us.

Maybe it’s because Junior is gone, and they don’t know who we are.

But when my eyes meet an anxious Micah across the room seated next to his boss, the head of the New York City Cosa Nostra, I know we’ve just walked into something a whole hell of a lot messier.

Ashley.

I take a calming breath, composing myself. Ash is at her mom’s and Luca will be picking her up soon. He’s got her. She’s fine.

“Surprised to see me?” Junior asks in a tone much too nice for my liking.

Trevor’s steady voice responds, “Surprised to be here. We thought your doctor was back in town.”

He nods to the couch across from him. “Come, make yourselves comfortable.”

Trevor does as he asks while I move closer but don’t sit down. Cataloging the made men standing throughout the room. No patrons or strippers in sight.

No doubt, this is a complete setup. And by the look on Micah’s face, he had no idea either, which means Junior knows a lot more than we want him to.

“My doctor is in town, but you two provided such good services; I wanted to discuss a future together. ”

What the fuck is he playing at?

I need to call Luca and make sure he doesn’t take her home. We can deal with the consequences later.

“Okay, what is the need?” my brother asks, his tone composed, so far from how I feel right now.

Junior snatches my brother’s arm. “Well, first, we need to clear up a few things…” Pushing Trevor’s shirt up, he traces his thumb over the four tally marks. “I should have known you were associated with that scum of an uncle of mine.” I think I knew this was coming the minute we walked in the door, but fuck how I wish we were better prepared.

I know Trevor can handle himself, but I immediately step closer. “Don’t fucking touch him.”

With my brother’s arm still in his grip, he changes his sneer onto me. “Oh, but you love touching things that don’t belong to you, don’t you, Trent Manning?”

“Interesting things you discover when you’re not around… imagine my surprise when my staff mentioned how the good doctor was sneaking around upstairs in my house and entering my wife’s room. Then seeing pictures of you two parading around like some sort of happy couple. You should know better not to play with other people’s property.”

Grinding my molars and clenching my fists, I try my hardest to remain levelheaded. Keeping Ashley’s safety in mind. But the smug as fuck look on his face has my words spilling out before I can shut them down. “She never belonged to you in the first place. In order for that to be the case, she would have had a choice in the matter.” I level him with a stare, and I know I’ve struck a nerve with the way his jaw tics. “You and I both know she hasn’t willingly given you anything. ”

“I don’t know what lies that slut has been telling you. But she’s nothing but a pathetic, uptight bitch.”

My vision goes black, and before my control can set in, I’m ripping him away from my brother and smashing my fist into his face. The only thought on my mind is destroying this piece of shit.

We topple over the top of his chair, our bodies and the furniture crashing to the ground. His guys must move toward us as he scrambles to get on his feet. I see him wave them off. “No. If the doctor thinks he can handle me. Let him.”

Perfect. For the past three years, you’ve been abusing the girl I love and doing God only knows what else while I’ve been training every day to kill you.

Let’s be honest, I had already made up my mind that when I came home, if Ashley wasn’t happy, I would kill him one way or another. The fact he’s an abusive rapist just makes me want to make sure his death isn’t quick.

The thought has me rushing Junior, tackling him to the ground. The image of what he’s put her through creates the rage I need to push my adrenaline along. I feel like I could kill him with my bare hands in this moment. Punch after punch across his face, my knuckles crack across his cheek, splitting the gash there even more.

I stop myself, reveling in the blood dripping down his face and wrapping my hand around his neck. Surprised no one has tried to stop me yet. Maybe Junior’s men are enjoying watching their boss get his ass beat… Maybe his minions are starting to recognize what a piece of shit he truly is.

“You sick fuck. You don’t know how many times I’ve thought of strangling the life right out of your lungs. ”

He bucks, trying to break away from my hold, and I see the panic in his eyes when he realizes he doesn’t have the power to get me off him. “It doesn’t feel good, does it, motherfucker? How do you think she felt?”

I hear a commotion behind me, but my grip continues to tighten, wanting him to know what it's like to feel helpless in this position. A swift kick to my ribs and cold hard metal to the back of my skull loosen my grip.

“Boss. This has gone too far,” the man behind me says to his barely breathing boss lying on the floor beside us.

“Put the gun down.” I hear Micah’s voice, and from the corner of my eye, I’m surprised to see he has a pistol in his hand.

I contemplate my next move, but then a sound, louder than I have ever heard, echoes from the back part of the building. And all chaos breaks out.

An explosion.

The gun is pulled from my head as the Soldati move to help their boss off the ground and scurry out the front door. I briefly register my brother’s words as I watch Junior escape.

“Trent, we have to get out of here,” Trevor yells over the chaos, pulling me by the arm as smoke billows out of the halls on the opposite side of the building.

“What was that?” I ask, keeping my head low and following Trevor to what seems to be a side exit.

“Nico.”

“How?” My mind races, thoughts of Ashley’s safety at the forefront .

“Not sure. I'm assuming Micah gave him the heads up about Junior’s return.”

“Thank fuck,” I say, dragging my phone out, needing to know where she is.

When Luca doesn’t answer, a feeling of dread takes hold in the pit of my stomach. I dial Ashley’s burner phone, knowing she left her iPhone at home last night so Junior couldn’t track it.

No answer.

Again, and again.

“Fuckkkk!! “We have to get Ashley,” I shout to anyone who will listen.

Nico is suddenly in my face, demanding I get in the car. I follow the order, but immediately start demanding he go to Ashley’s mother’s home.

“Trent, breathe… We’re waiting for Micah. Don’t worry, Luca has her.”

I grab his shirt. “Are you a hundred percent sure? I can’t get Luca on the phone either. Where is Micah?”

“Taking care of something. We need to handle this once and for all.”

Any other time, I’d love that response, but right now, I just want to get to her. I open the door handle, but it's locked. I feel like a feral caged animal.

“Let me out.”

“You can’t get to your car right now.” He points to the other side of the building where the smoke is rising from.

I dial her burner phone again, not even sure if she has it .

“We will get to her.” My brother touches my shoulder, trying to reassure me, but nothing but her voice would help.

No answer again from her or Luca. I roar in frustration. “Unlock this fucking door right now!”

“Look, I didn’t want to do this like this, but let me try something,” Nico says, typing on his phone before hitting speaker phone.

Confusion spreads across my face. “Who are you calling?”

The phone rings and rings. No answer.

“Shit, don’t panic. I told her to keep the burner on her while he was gone, but she may have it on silent.”

“What the fuck is going on?” I growl in my boss’s direction.

“Ashley’s been helping me from the inside.”

My mouth hangs open, shocked at his revelation. “Are you fucking serious? And you didn’t think that was important information to tell me.”

The door opens, and Micah jumps in. “We need to get to Santini’s now,” he rushes out, fear evident on his face.

“Drive, Leo,” Nico says, and with no questions asked, we take off. I, on the other hand, have so many, but none of them matter except if she is okay.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, holding my breath.

“Vito just showed up to the house with Ashley and no one knows where Luca is.”