Prologue

PROLOGUE

SALEM

T he air in Massimo's office felt stifling, thick with tension as I stood before him, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't tear my gaze away from the screen behind him, where grainy footage played on a loop, capturing blurred figures moving through the shadows.

I swallowed hard; my throat was so fucking dry. The footage showed Mateo, Cohen, Lennox, and Cole leaving the apartment building where my brother had last been seen alive. They dragged a hockey bag behind them and lugged it into the boot of an SUV. A sickening dread coiled in the pit of my stomach, yanking me down into the depths of despair.

It felt as though the ground had been ripped out from beneath me. Remington, my brother, had been taken from me by those I had been cozying up to. Those I had been starting to trust. Anguish tore through my heart and tears blurred my vision. How could they have done this? How could they have taken him from me, without a second thought? The torment of loss threatened to consume me whole, leaving nothing behind but a hollow shell of the person I once was.

I could feel my father's gaze on me as I fell apart. His eyes were like steel as they bore into mine. There was no warmth in his expression, only cold calculation, as if he were assessing me like a piece on a chessboard, attempting to determine my next move before I even made it.

I clenched my fists at my sides, trying to steady my emotions as I met his stare head-on. The scent of cigar smoke lingered, a bitter reminder of his presence that made my stomach churn with anger and frustration.

"Why haven't you done anything about it?" I demanded, my voice coming out sharper than I intended. "You have the footage. You know what they did."

Massimo leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable as he regarded me with a cool detachment that sent a shiver down my spine. "Your brother was weak," he replied, his voice low and measured. "He got involved in things he shouldn't have, and now he's paid the price."

I felt a rush of indignation rise within me, threatening to boil over as his words echoed in my ears. Weak? My brother was anything but weak. He was brave. He was kind.

I bit back the retort that threatened to spill from my lips, forcing myself to maintain my composure in the face of my father's dismissive attitude. But inside, my anger burned like a wildfire, consuming me from within as I struggled to contain it.

The silence stretched between us like a taut wire. I could hear the distant hum of traffic outside, and the muffled sounds of voices drifting up from the streets below, but inside the office, it was as if the world had fallen away, leaving only me and Massimo locked in a battle of wills.

I took a step forward, my hands trembling with suppressed fury as I stared at him, refusing to back down in the face of his arrogance. "You may think Remington was weak," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I won't rest until I avenge him. And if you won't help me, then I'll do it on my own."

I met my father's gaze head-on, refusing to cower in the presence of a man who I despised. His eyes, ice and piercing, bore into mine, a silent challenge passing between us. I could feel my anger bubbling beneath the surface, threatening to spill over and consume me in its fiery grip.

"I know you thought Remington's death was my doing," Massimo stated calmly. "But I wouldn't have gone to such trouble to cover my tracks. I would've had you pull the trigger for me. At least now you can direct your avenging efforts at those who deserve it."

His words struck a nerve, igniting the flames of rage within me. "You're a fucking monster!" I spat, my voice trembling with emotion. "I would've never killed Remington. No matter what you did to me."

Massimo's expression remained impassive, but I could see the flicker of amusement in his eyes.

″Ah yes, I did hear you freed your mother. No matter. I have plenty of other ways I can ensure your cooperation.″

He enjoyed watching me squirm, reveling in being a sadistic puppeteer pulling the strings of his marionette.

"Do what you will, Salem," he replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. "But remember, your actions have consequences. And if they interfere with my business, I will not hesitate to put a bullet between your eyes, even if it does leave me without an heir…"

His words sent a chill down my spine, a stark reminder of the power he held over me. I clenched my jaw, fighting to keep my emotions in check.

As I turned to leave his office, I had a new target in mind. I would get justice for Remington, no matter the cost. And if that meant tearing down anyone and everything involved with the Triad, then so be it.