32. Damian

32

Ipace back and forth in my office, glancing repeatedly at my phone. I have been waiting days for Invicta to reach out, but so far, there's been nothing but silence.

"Where the hell are they?" I growl, running a hand through my hair in frustration. Alexis went missing over a week ago, and Bobby promised to be in touch when they got a lead. But if Invicta couldn't even bother to follow up, this might all be for naught.

"You need to be patient, Damian. Invicta knows what they're doing."

I whirl on Nat, eyes flashing with barely contained rage. "Patient? The longer we fucking wait, the more likely it is that Alexis has been sold and has disappeared forever!" I slam my fist down on the mahogany desk, causing the crystal tumbler on it to rattle.

"Excuse me for not being ‘patient' enough when my girl's life is on the line!"

Nat lifts her glass in a placating gesture. "I know you're worried, Damian," she says with uncharacteristic gentleness, "but rushing in half-cocked could jeopardize everything. Invicta is our best shot at getting Alexis back safely."

I grit my teeth, warring with the part of me that knows Nat is right. But the fear for Alexis's wellbeing is overwhelming, drowning out all reason.

Just as I'm about to pour myself a stiff drink, my phone finally rings. I snatch it up hastily and place it on speaker so Nat can hear.

"This had better be good, Bobby," I nearly snarl into the phone as Nat leans in, her dark hair brushing against her shoulders as she places her forearms on her legs.

"Looks like there's an ‘auction' going down tomorrow night at a hotel outside Chicago. The Brotherhood owns the place," Bobby's gruff voice says.

My fingers tighten around the phone. This may be the break we've been looking for.

"When and where, exactly?" I demand.

"Hotel Du Monde in Naperville, eight p.m."

Tomorrow night? Nat mouths to me, eyes wide.

"Tomorrow night?" I growl. "That's too damn long. Alexis has been missing for over a week already. Who knows what she's going through, what she's thinking?" I clench my jaw. The thought of her suffering cuts me to my core.

Does she even think I'm coming for her? The thought of Alexis losing hope, of her believing I have abandoned her, is almost too much to bear.

My nostrils flare as I shake my head. "The longer we wait, the more likely it is that she's been sold, or worse." I slam my hand on the desk again. "That ‘auction' is our best chance, and we can't wait until tomorrow night. I can't just sit on my hands until then!"

"For fuck's sake, Damian, act like a leader," Bobby snaps. "Think about this logically. We can't just storm the place. We need to infiltrate and act like we're interested in buying. If we rush in, they'll just hide Alexis again and make it that much harder to find her. Use your goddamn head!"

Nat looks at me knowingly, nodding. I want to spit at her. How dare she agree with him?

I clench my fists, every fiber of my being screaming to charge in and tear the place apart. But I know Bobby is right. This requires a delicate touch, not brute force.

And Scarlett will be expecting me to do just that—storm the place. She'll have security galore waiting for me.

"Fine," I say curtly. "Text me the details."

As I hang up the phone, I let out a guttural roar of frustration and hurl my crystal tumbler at the wall. It explodes into a million glittering shards, the sound mirroring the turmoil raging within.

Nat watches me warily, wisely not saying one word.

For now, all we can do is wait and trust that Invicta's plan will work.

But my patience is paper thin, and Scarlett had better fucking pray she keeps Alexis unharmed until we can get to her.

The next day, we converge on the opulent Hotel Du Monde, an exclusive luxury hotel just outside Chicago. As I stride through the lavish lobby, I can't help but wonder just how many of the well-heeled guests would be horrified to learn that human trafficking takes place within these gilded walls.

Or perhaps they simply wouldn't care, so long as it didn't affect them directly.

I push aside these thoughts as I spot Bobby and other Invicta capos, all of them dressed to the nines and exuding an air of casual wealth. Thanks to Bobby's impressive tech skills, their credentials have been expertly forged to make them appear as millionaires and billionaires—exactly the kind of clientele The Brotherhood would be eager to do business with.

With Nat and Edo flanking me, I follow Bobby and his crew into the hotel. Though every fiber of my being aches to find Alexis as quickly as possible, I know I have a more pressing issue to deal with first.

Uncle Vinny.

That fucking traitor. Nat's been right all along about him, and I've been too blind to see it for myself. I was so desperate to have some part of my father still around, I never saw that Vinny was using me.

It's time to turn the tables on him.

Discreetly tapping my earpiece in my ear, I scan the crowd of well-dressed people, searching for any sign of my uncle. Finally, I spot his familiar gray hair and sharp eyes across the lobby. With anger coursing through me, I make my way over, plastering a contrite expression on my face.

"Uncle," I say, inclining my head slightly. "I'm… glad you're here."

Vinny's eyebrows shoot up in surprise, then narrow in suspicion. "Damian. This is a surprise. What are you up to, boy? I hope you don't think you'll actually be able to rescue the girl. She belongs to The Brotherhood, and unless you plan on starting a war?—"

I force a wry smile, even though I'm itching to wrap my hands around his neck and squeeze. "Actually, Uncle, I've been thinking. I've allowed myself to become too enamored with Alexis. It clouded my judgment."

I shrug, a rueful smile playing at the corner of my mouth. "She is a nice piece of ass, I'll admit. But in the process, I've put the Iacopellis in jeopardy."

Vinny's eyes gleam with triumph, though he tries to maintain an air of nonchalance. "Go on."

"It's time for me to step aside as Don," I continue. "The Family would be better off with you at the helm. I've been too soft. I should have turned Alexis over to The Brotherhood right away, instead of letting my emotions get in the way." I meet Vinny's gaze, my expression resigned.

"The Iacopellis deserve a stronger leader. And that's you, Uncle."

Vinny's grin widens, and he claps me on the shoulder. "Well, well, well. Looks like you've finally come to your senses, boy. I must say, this is the first correct decision you've made in a long time."

I nod stiffly, my stomach churning with revulsion and hate. Vinny doesn't believe me for a second—the fucker can smell a trap a mile away. But for now, I have to play along, lull Vinny into a false sense of security.

Once Alexis is safe, I'll deal with my traitorous uncle.

Vinny grabs me by the arm, steering me away from the lobby and toward the grand ballroom. A security guard nods at Vinny and pushes open the door for him.

"Come, nephew, let's get a closer look at this little auction of ours."

I follow, my stomach twisting with a mixture of dread and determination. As we enter the ballroom, my eyes immediately seek out Alexis, and my heart freezes when I see her.

She's one of the last two on the stage, standing next to a young girl, clearly no more than seven or eight years old. The child is shaking like a leaf, clinging to Alexis in obvious terror.

The auctioneer's voice booms through the ballroom. "And now, Lot 44—a rare and precious young flower, ripe for the plucking!"

Bile rises in my throat as Brotherhood soldiers move to grab the child. Human trafficking is bad enough, but to use children?

It's beyond the pale.

I glance at Vinny, who is watching the proceedings with sickening glee. Vinny leans in to nudge me. "Maybe I should bid on that girl. Make her into the type of woman I deserve. Children are just so… pliable. And they so easily want to please."

Rage courses through me, and I have to fight the urge to wrap my hands around his throat and squeeze until the life drains from his eyes. This is the type of man Vinny truly is—a twisted, heartless monster who preys on the innocent.

My attention is suddenly drawn back to Alexis as she fights against the soldiers, expertly breaking one man's nose. My lips curl into a proud, feral grin.

That's my girl.

Every fiber of my being aches to rush to her, to pull her to safety. But I have to remain patient, even as my body screams at me to rip, maim, and kill anyone who dares to harm her. I need to bide my time, wait for the right moment to strike.

Clenching my fists, my gaze never leaves Alexis, my heart pounding with a mixture of relief, fury, and love. I will get her out of this, no matter what it takes. And when I am done, Vinny, Scarlett, and the rest of The Brotherhood will pay dearly for their crimes.

But Alexis is soon overcome and is dragged toward the stage, kicking and fighting the entire way. The crowd murmurs as she's thrust into the spotlight.

"So much fight in her." Vinny chuckles, a cruel edge to his voice. "Just like her mother."

Time suddenly seems to freeze as his words echo in my ears.

Vinny's lips curl into a malicious smile as he continues, "Poor little Alexis had been so frightened after I killed her mother. I was supposed to kill Alexis too, but she managed to escape me. But now, I'm so glad I didn't. She's so much more useful to me now."

The blood drains from my face as the horrifying realization sinks in. My father never killed Alexis's mother. Vinny had. Which means…

Whirling on my uncle, I ignore the orders coming through my earpiece from Bobby. "Invicta didn't kill Mom, Dad, and Alessandra, did they?"

Vinny's smile widens, a twisted gleam in his eyes as he leans in closer. "Let me let you in on a little secret, Nephew. I killed Lorenzo, Josefina, and Alessandra."

A rushing, roaring sound fills my ears as I stare into the eyes of my family's killer. But then something clicks—Bobby had claimed Damian's father ordered the hit on his woman and child. Why would Vinny have killed Alexis's mother and tried to take out Alexis? What's the connection?

My stomach lurches as the auctioneer's voice booms through the ballroom. "—just know you'll be the proud owner of Bobby Shields's daughter."

All hell breaks loose.

The Iacopelli and Invicta crews surge forward, weapons drawn, as I whirl on Vinny, my vision going red with rage. "You fucking bastard!" I roar, my fist connecting with Vinny's jaw with a sickening crack.

Vinny stumbles back, clutching his face, but I don't let him, pummeling him with blow after blow. I can still see my parents' bodies lying on the floor, Dad in his study, Mom in the kitchen. And Alessandra? She had been gunned down in the foyer, her hand stretched out toward the door.

She had been so close to escaping.

"You killed them all! Mom, Dad, Alessandra—and for what? So you could rule the Iacopellis?"

Around us, the ballroom erupts into chaos as Invicta and the Iacopellis clash with The Brotherhood. People scream and attempt to flee the room, but I barely register it.

All that matters is making Vinny pay for his crimes.

In the midst of the pandemonium, I catch a glimpse of Alexis, her eyes wide with terror as she clings to the young girl at her side. My heart clenches, and with a monumental effort, I tear myself away from Vinny, intent on reaching her.

But as I surge forward, a new realization dawns. The auctioneer's words finally hit me.

Alexis is Bobby Shields's daughter.