CHAPTER XXXVIII

I walked through my front doors at close to two a.m. when we finished what we’d set out to do.

Lo and I arrived at the entrance of the old mill, where the persistent sound of dripping water echoed as we stepped inside. The air was heavy with the smell of mold and decay, and moonlight filtered in through the shattered windows.

Will, the Ken wannabe who was caught in the hallway of my club, now hung suspended in the air, his crisp polo shirt torn and stained with dirt and blood. The two other men were tied to chairs on either side, unconscious from the beating they received.

He squirmed against his restraints, his eyes round with fear. “You guys can’t do this! My parents ? —”

“Shut up, “Matteo snapped. He pushed off the wall, advancing toward the shit head. “You think we care about your parents? Did you even know you were walking straight into hell?”

“Dude, not even your parents can save you now,” Luca, perched casually on a stool, added.

“Look, I’m sorry,” Will pleaded, his voice breaking. The arrogance he had earlier is long gone. “I didn’t mean to ? —”

“Didn’t mean to what?” Luca interjected with disdain. “Didn’t mean to follow orders? Didn’t mean to go after one of our own?”

“I was just doing what Preston said! He said she was one of the strippers that liked to role play!” he blurted out, his eyes darting between Matteo and Luca.

Luca stepped closer, a cruel smile creeping onto his face.

“She wasn’t a fucking stripper, you idiot. Preston lied. They were going to rape her.”

He swallowed hard, his fear turning into sheer terror. “I swear, I didn’t know she was going to get hurt! Preston just said ? —”

“Yeah, we already know what he said,” Matteo harshly cut through his ramblings.

I took this moment to step out of the shadows, my presence causing Will to tremble like a tree in a hurricane. The front of his trousers was visibly darkening. He was pissing himself.

The stench of his blood and piss was overwhelming.

I gave one glance to Luca. He jumped off the stool and strode over to the metal table. He grabbed the red container full of gas and turned to stand before Will.

“You walked into my club uninvited. You may not have put your hands on my girl without her permission, but the fuckers you were with did. Your cooperation doesn’t mean shit to me.”

“Wait, wh-what are you doing?” Will pleaded. “Please! I—” His words turned into a desperate scream as Luca doused him with the gasoline.

Will’s scream pierced the room. “Pl-please. Don’t do this!” Snot flew out from his nose as he cried.

Turning my back on him, I made my way toward the door, unbuttoning my suit jacket. “Light ‘em up!” I bellowed.

I heard a Zippo lighter flip opened and an agonized wail followed.

“Where to, boss?” Matteo asked.

“Time to pick up the rest of the trash.”

Thirty minutes later, we sat outside of Preston’s house. “Are we doing this or what?” Matteo said from the backseat. They didn’t hesitate to go with me. No one put their hands on any woman in our lives.

Yeah, Winter made the cut.

“Are there any guards?” I asked.

“Nope,” Luca answered. “Just cameras.”

“Let’s go.” We stepped out of the car and walked around the back of the house, hidden behind the shrubs surrounding the iron gate. Like that was going to keep us out.

“We have seven minutes before the cameras turn back on,” Lo explained. We’d be done before then.

We pulled our masks over our faces. Luca, with a gun in hand, was the first to lead us to the back gate that led to the pool house. He turned the doorknob. “It’s clear,” he whispered over his shoulder. Pulling my gun out of my holster, we make our way into the kitchen. Matteo and Lo followed behind, each with a 9mm in hand.

“You two stay here and cover us,” I said to Lo and Luca while Matteo and I crept up the stairs to the door at the end of the hallway. Quietly, I turned the knob and pushed the door open with one hand, the gun in the other aimed right at the fucker in bed. Matteo closed the door and stood guard while I walked toward the piece of shit. I pressed the barrel of the gun against his temple, ready to pull the trigger.

“Wake up, you stupid fuck.” I pressed the gun deeper. His eyes slowly opened and grew wide when he saw me and the gun with the silencer against his face.

“If you scream, I won’t hesitate to pull the fucking trigger,” I said through clenched teeth.

“Who are you?” he stuttered like a pussy.

“Your worst fucking nightmare.” I knocked him out with the gun and pulled a pillowcase over his head. Matteo helped me drag his ass down the stairs, where Luca and Lo were waiting.

“’Bout fucking time,” Luca snarled.

“Shut the fuck up and get the door,” I snapped back.

* * *

“Wakey, wakey,” I goaded the fucker slumped in a chair, wearing nothing but his boxers. When he finally came to, his eyes blinked rapidly, like he was trying to comprehend his surroundings.

“Oh, fuck!” Preston groaned and coughed. “Where am I?” His gaze fell upon a nearby corpse. “Jesus!”

“Say hello to your buddy, Will,” Luca stated while pushing a bin on wheels and setting it next to Will’s corpse. “Seems like he couldn’t handle the heat.”

“What the fuck?!” Preston yelled. He struggled against the restraints, but his wrists and ankles were bound tightly.

The two other men were now awake.

I spun the wooden chair around, straddling it. My gun dangled freely in my hands. “Hello, Preston,” I said, a dark smile forming on my lips.

“You are so fucked, you know that?” He spat blood from his mouth like a cocky motherfucker. “My father will end you for this.”

I smirked.

“Think again, asshole. You’re in no position to threaten me.” I delivered a sharp slap, my ringed hand connecting with his cheek.

Maintaining eye contact, I leaned closer and said, “Let me explain something to you, you piece of shit.” I gripped his chin to make him face me. “I don’t give a fuck who your father is. If anything, he should be afraid of what I can do to him and his family, including you.” I emphasized each word so he understood the truth behind what I said.

“If we tell you what you want to hear, will you let us go?” Guy number one asked, blood dripping down his face.

“Sure,” I lied.

“He’s lying,” Preston said. “He’s going to kill us anyway. Let him stew in his shit and don’t say a word.”

“Maybe.” I shrugged.

The room fell silent, as if everyone had collectively held their breath. I scanned the men’s faces, searching for any sign of guilt or knowledge, but their expressions remained stoic.

“Well, then. You just made this easy for me,” I told them. “Remove their pants,” I ordered Matteo and Luca.

“Wait! What are you doing?” Both men’s panicked pleas were drowned out as Matteo and Luca removed their pants and boxers, leaving them naked and their limp dicks exposed.

I secured my firearm at my waist and advanced. “Hand over the knife, Matteo,” I said, my voice like steel.

The men’s fear turned to sheer terror, their bodies trembling uncontrollably, urine pooling beneath them.

“Pl-please don’t do this! We’re sorry, so sorry!” the first man cried.

“It was Preston’s idea!” the second man screamed in desperation. “He wanted us to rape her, record it, and then send the video to you!”

My vision reddened with fury as I glared at Preston, his smug expression only fueling my rage.

Turning back to the two pieces of shit in front of me, I strode up to the first man and seized a fistful of his hair, yanking him down to my eye level. “You saw my girl naked, didn’t you?”

His silence, punctuated by sobs, was confirmation enough. I brought the blade close to his tear-stained face, and in a single, precise movement, I sliced through the skin of his eyelids.

He let out a pained, guttural scream, and his body convulsed violently, straining against the restraints. Blood began to ooze from his eye sockets, trickling down his cheeks and into his mouth. The sight before me brought a twisted satisfaction, but the rage still burned within. I wanted him to feel every ounce of pain he had inflicted on my angel.

“Fuck,” Matteo muttered.

I held the extracted eyeballs and turned to the second man. “Hold him steady, Luca. Keep his head still.”

The man continued to cry and begged me to have mercy on his soul, but the demon inside me had no mercy, only hunger and an insatiable thirst for vengeance.

“Open your mouth,” I snarled.

He shook his head, trembling as tears streamed down his face.

“I said, open your fucking mouth,” I repeated.

Matteo, understanding my unspoken command, stepped forward and gripped the man’s jaw, prying it open. With a swift motion, I shoved the eyeballs into his mouth.

“Jesus, fuck, Nico,” Luca spat in disgust.

The man’s gag reflex took over, his body jerking like he was having a seizure as he vomited. Stepping away, I fixed my gaze on Preston, his once-smug face now a mask of horror.

Knowing what these bastards did to my girl intensified the rage and guilt with every passing second. I clenched my jaw, my hands shaking with fury as I remembered what I walked into, finding her vulnerable and exposed in my fucking club.

Turning toward the two assholes, I narrowed my eyes, my breath heavy with rage. “And you already had your dick out, right?”

No response, just whimpers.

My lips curled into a menacing grin. “I’m going to chop off both your dicks, then I’m going to kill you.”

They started to thrash against their restraints, begging and crying for me to stop.

I snatched the sharp blade and marched over to the first piece of shit. I gripped his dick and pressed the cold steel against his shaft and slowly moved the blade back and forth like a saw against his skin and watched his dick fall to the dirty concrete floor. He let out a howl of anguish, but I felt nothing.

Turning toward the second asshole, I raised the blade again, and there was another cry of agony that sounded like an animal being slaughtered when the blade sliced off his dick.

I took a step back and looked at my men, my breath ragged. With an unspoken command, Matteo and Luca, each holding a switchblade, positioned themselves behind the two men. A curt nod from me and they slashed their throats, swift and merciless.

Preston flinched and remained silent.

Tilting my head, I taunted him, “Last words, tough guy?”

Anger contorted his face like he was taking a shit, but he stayed mute.

“Nothing to say, huh?” I tsked, and leaned down until we were face to face. I swore he stopped breathing.

He didn’t see the first blow coming when my fist connected with his face, causing his head to fall backward.

Grabbing Preston by his hair, I pulled his face closer to mine. “You sealed your fate the moment you laid eyes on my girl. I’ll see you in hell, motherfucker.”

I steadied my aim, the barrel of my gun pressing against his groin. His eyes darted in panic, and he pleaded as he futilely struggled against his restraints.

I pulled the trigger, and he let out a blood-curdling scream, writhing in agony.

With a furious growl, I threw the gun aside and picked up the blade and brought it to his chest. I applied pressure, drawing a thin line of red across it. He whimpered, his eyes wide with terror. “Please...God, no...” he begged.

I ignored his pleas, my anger fueling my actions. “God isn’t here to save you.”

I drove the blade deeper into his chest, inch by inch, leaving a gaping wound. I shifted the blade, slicing horizontally as his intestines spilled over.

“You good?” Matteo asked.

Without a word, I answered with a sharp nod.

No one will ever touch you again, my angel.

I will always keep you safe.

BACK TO THE PRESENT

I climbed the stairs, my suit jacket slung over my shoulder, longing to hold Winter in my arms and vowing to never again let her out of my sight.

My mother emerged from my bedroom, quietly closing the door behind her.

Her eyes met mine, and she took in my blood-soaked clothes. But I didn’t give two fucks about what was going through her mind. I had done what I had to and had no tears to shed.

Even though we avenged Winter, it didn’t bring me the satisfaction I’d hoped for. The memory of her assault still haunted me.

“How is she?” I asked.

Mom clasped her hands in front of her. “Jacobi said there are no severe physical wounds. Winter will recover from the superficial injuries.”

I turned away. “And the rest? Was she...?” I had to ask because a dick wasn’t the only thing you needed to take someone’s innocence.

“No,” my mother answered, her voice firm. “Thank God.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

My mother placed a hand on my forearm, her eyes soft with understanding. “She’s a strong girl, and she will get through this.”

“How?”

Her smile turned gentle, and she squeezed my arm. “Hold her, listen, but don’t push for details,” she advised. “Be her support, and if she needs it, encourage her to speak to a professional. Offer to go with her if she’s willing.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Thank you.” I kissed her cheek, drawing comfort from her steady presence. She cupped my face in her hands, her eyes searching mine.

“Go, take a shower, and burn those clothes,” she ordered. “The last thing your girl needs to see is the lengths you would go to save her.”

My girl.

A ghost of a smile touched my lips. “Is that such a bad thing? To know how far I’d go for her?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s not. But remember, it’s about how she perceives your actions. Your darkness can be a lot for someone to handle. Especially someone like Winter.”

Her words struck a chord, and I let them sink in. She squeezed my cheeks affectionately and retreated to the guest bedroom. I lingered in front of my door, Winter sleeping on the other side. Instead of entering as I had planned, I made my way to the guest bathroom, needing to wash away the remnants of the night.

After my shower, I dried off and slipped into a pair of boxers. The cool air from the hall brushed against my bare skin as I walked into my bedroom, the familiar scent of clean linen filling the air.

At the soft creak of the door, my dog hopped off the bed, his tail wagging slightly. He stood beside me, looking up with those big brown eyes. I offered him a firm pat on the head. “Thanks for keeping an eye on our girl,” I murmured, and he grunted softly before padding out of the room.

I moved closer to the bed, wanting nothing more than to wrap my arms around Winter, to feel her warmth and know she was safe beside me. But instead, I rolled onto my back, tucking one arm under my head and resting the other on my stomach, staring up at the ceiling.

As if she knew I was thinking about her, Winter shifted beside me. Her hand found its way to my chest, grounding me, pulling me back from the depths of my nightmare. “Are you okay?” she asked.

I turned my head to face her, and my heart drummed against my chest. Her eyes’ magical charm pulled me deeper into her soul. It was innocent, addictive, and worth protecting.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

She looked away for a moment, letting out a quiet breath as if gathering her thoughts. She offered a small, brave smile when she met my gaze again. “In pain, but I’ll live.”

I managed a smile in return, but it quickly faltered into a frown.

“Don’t,” she gently scolded, her gaze piercing through me. “It’s not your fault, nor Enzo’s.” Her expression dared me to argue.

The truth was, I was not angry with Enzo. What was fucking with me was guilt for not doing enough to protect Winter. I should have taken more precautions, but I would rectify that so it could never happen again.

“What do you want in life?” I asked, hoping to steer the conversation and wanting to know more about her and keep her mind off it. I didn’t want to talk about the shit that went down today.

“Um,” she hesitated, clearly taken off guard by the question. “I’ve always wanted to play in a symphony.”

“Oh, yeah?” I raised an eyebrow. “What else?”

“Well, let’s see,” she mused, turning slightly to face the door, appearing lost in thought. “I want to get married and have at least three kids, a dog, and a quiet house in the country with a white porch swing.”

“Not much of a city girl, huh?” I teased.

She shook her head from where it still rested against me, her hair brushing my arm. “Not really. I like the quiet.”

“I want to be the one to give you all those things,” I said sincerely. The words hung in the air, heavy with promise. Winter’s eyes widened, a small gasp escaping her lips. It was a commitment I’d never made to anyone before, not even Selena. But it was time for Winter to understand the shadows in my past and what she was up against so that we could have a future together.

“When I was fourteen, I met Selena,” I began, my voice steadying as I prepared to share the story that still stained my heart with darkness.

I looked at Winter, seeing the warmth in her golden eyes as she listened intently to my story. “We started dating, and I fell hard. You remind me so much of her in the beginning. There was an innocence about her, a sweetness, and she cared deeply about everything.” I paused, a wave of emotion washing over me as I recalled the betrayal.

“Then, one day, I walked in on her and my father having sex. In his office. On his desk. I was twenty-three when this went down.” I held Winter’s hand, bringing it to rest on my chest, and I tightened my grip as I kept talking.

“She’d been seeing my father behind my back for a year. My father .” I grit my teeth. “A coward and a disgrace to the Moretti empire. I beat him to death with a paperweight.”

I sensed Winter’s body tensing next to me, but I needed to get this out so she understood who she was dealing with. The fucker broke this family. A don who was expected to lead his people and show strength turned out to be weak and a disgrace. As for Mom, she was devastated but never once blamed me for killing her husband. In the end, she knew it was the only expected outcome in this world.

“What about Selena?” Winter’s voice was barely above a whisper.

I met her gaze. “I killed her too.” I expected to see shock, horror, or even fear from Winter, but instead, I saw a fierce determination in her eyes, and my breath caught in my throat.

“I would have done the same,” she said, her voice steady. “If you hadn’t, I would’ve ended her myself.”

Fuck. Me.

I glanced down at her, and the shock that spread across her face from hearing her own words almost made me want to burst out laughing.

My thoughts were a jumbled mess when she was near. I needed her like I needed lungs to breathe. She had the power to make me forget all the shit I had to bear every day. What was it about this girl who had weaved herself so deeply in my heart that I felt like I needed her to keep it beating?

Her body was slightly angled toward me, close enough for me to kiss the hell out of her lips.But the bruises around her face made my jaw clench in anger. When I reached for her chin, her muscles tensed with her instinct to pull away, but she didn’t.

Her skin was so soft, like those fleece blankets Nonna always made around Christmas. My eyes followed her natural pink lips as she nervously licked them. I kept one arm firmly around her waist, anchoring her in place, while I gently ran a thumb across her lower lip. “What are you doing to me, Angel?”

“I didn’t do anything to you,” she said, giving me a puzzled expression.

I didn’t realize I was caressing her hand with my other thumb.She tried to pull away, but I held her still, not ready to let her go.

“I wasn’t built to be gentle man, Winter, but fuck, do I want to be for you.”

Her lips curved into a tentative grin. “Good. Because I want that too.”