25. Dimitri

25

DIMITRI

Giovanni motherfucking Saccone is going to regret the day he decided to lay a hand on my wife.

If Zara wasn’t currently asleep in my arms, I would have punched a hole through the wall from the level of rage that is currently pumping its way through my veins.

That fucker touched my girl without her consent, and I let him walk away with nothing more than a broken hand. I should have slit his throat when I had the chance.

I won’t make that mistake again.

I should have known he was the reason behind her nightmares.

Alarm bells should have been going off in my mind the moment she started getting sick. The stress has been taking its toll on her body, and yet, I did nothing.

I was dumb enough to let her go into that office every day where Giovanni’s been waiting for her, lusting after her like a starving animal, and she downplayed the reality of what was going on. Of what had happened between them.

How could I have been so blind? Was I not trustworthy enough for her to tell me the truth in the beginning ?

My chest tightens at the thought.

I’ll prove to her that confiding in me was the best choice she could have made. This woman has become my life, and it’s time I start showing her that without leaving any room for doubt.

“Zara…” I press a kiss to her hair.

She snuggles tighter against me, her hand resting on my chest as she sleeps peacefully.

The moment I met her, I knew she was tough, a fighter to the core, but hearing the truth of her past makes me see her in a completely new light. A stronger light. It makes me appreciate her even more.

I’ve known darkness, but nothing like this. I’ve never once felt so helpless, so out of control of my own body.

To have gone through what she did and still be able to look that fucker in the eye day after day, to show up and still do an incredible job while her trauma is staring her straight in the face…

I squeeze Zara tighter, completely awestruck by her strength.

I swallow the lump in my throat as I glance down at her, finally at peace in my arms, and know that I’m completely and utterly in love with her, and I have been for a while. Maybe even from the start.

This was definitely not part of the plan, but getting to know Zara over the past few months has been the greatest gift of my life.

Falling in love was something I didn’t think would ever happen for me, and even less so when I heard of my father’s infidelity. I’ve been compared to him my whole life, so why should I be any different when it comes to relationships?

Zara deserves the world, and I hope she’ll let me give that to her .

But I also have to consider the fact that once Giovanni is dealt with, she’ll no longer need me as a husband. Our deal will be over, and the thought makes my stomach sink.

I’m not ready to let her go, but I can’t force her to stay. That choice is up to her.

My arms tighten around her body, cherishing the feel of her body against mine for a little while longer.

I wish I could take away all of her pain and fill her dreams with nothing but happy thoughts, but while Giovanni is still breathing, she won’t rest easy.

I need to take care of him once and for all.

I just hope I don’t lose her in the process.

I slide my arms out from beneath Zara and quietly climb out of bed.

She stirs, but I quickly tuck the covers in around her and kiss her forehead. She sighs at my touch, and I can’t help but smile at her peaceful expression.

To know that I’m the one to bring her comfort in the darkness makes my chest swell with pride.

I will take care of her, for as long as she’ll let me.

“Sleep well, sladkaya ,” I murmur against her forehead. “I’ll be back soon.”

I sneak out of Zara’s room, quietly shutting the door behind me. Crossing the hall into my room, I head straight for my closet to pull on a fresh pair of pants and a shirt.

I want nothing more than to put a bullet in Giovanni’s skull, to end this once and for all, but that would be too easy. He should suffer just like Zara has been all these years.

After shrugging on a jacket, I push apart the row of suit jackets to reveal the hidden safe where I keep a stash of weapons for emergencies just like this. After tucking a handgun into the back of my pants, I grab two magazines and stuff them in the inside pockets of my jacket.

My fingers trail over the selection of knives that I have stashed away, and I decide on a four-inch blade.

My lips curl as I trace the tip with my finger, imagining slicing Giovanni apart until he’s unrecognizable.

I tuck the blade into the inside pocket of my jacket and close up the safe. As I head back down the stairs, I pull my phone out and dial Mikhail as I cross the living area toward the elevator.

“Mikhail. Get dressed. We’ve got a job to do.”

My brother groans. “Dimitri, it’s one in the fucking morning.”

“I can call Danil instead. I’m sure he’d love to carve up?—”

“Just send me the address.”

I chuckle under my breath. I knew the mention of some bloodshed would get my brother out of bed.

As I step into the elevator and press the button for the garage, I text Mikhail the location of Giovanni’s house, telling him to be there in ten.

Climbing behind the wheel, my thoughts are a mile a minute. I let the roar of the engine clear my head as I pull away.

There is nothing but adrenaline fueling me as I speed across the upper East Side toward Giovanni’s brownstone.

Knowing that he’s sleeping soundly in his bed while Zara wakes drenched in sweat, her dreams plagued by the memories of him, has my knuckles turning white as I grip the steering wheel.

If he wants to be the reason for Zara’s nightmares, I think it’s only fair that I be the reason for his.

My jaw aches from grinding my teeth as I push the pedal to the metal, swerving in and out of the oncoming traffic.

Horns blare, but I barely hear them over the roaring in my head.

I’m going to have to make this quick in order to make it back before Zara wakes up. I don’t want her to wake up alone and afraid. I want her to wake up wrapped up in the safety of my arms, feeling nothing but loved.

That image is enough to ground me.

I’m doing this for her.

No lights are on as I pull up outside Giovanni’s brownstone and kill the engine.

Glancing around, I clock the empty street apart from Mikhail’s obnoxious car parked a few yards away.

Mikhail flashes his headlights, and I climb out of my car, running my hands over my jacket to feel the outline of the knife and ammunition tucked away inside.

Mikhail stalks toward me, and I release a breath. This has to be quick and dirty if we’re to get away unseen.

“Who pissed you off this time?” Mikhail rolls up his sleeves to expose the intricate tattoos covering both of his forearms.

“Turns out a broken wrist isn’t enough of a punishment.”

Mikhail’s dark eyes flash with curiosity, but I don’t say any more. It’s not my story to tell.

“What’s your plan?”

“Oh, this fucker deserves to die, but I want him on his fucking knees and begging for me to slit his throat. And even then, I won’t put him out of his misery.”

Mikhail whistles. “He’s gotten under your skin. I haven’t seen you like this in a long time, brat . You’re meant to be the easy-going one. ”

“That fucker hurt Zara.”

Mikhail’s jaw ticks, but he nods.

“Let’s go.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his gun.

My eyes scan the motherfucker. “Aren’t you happy to be back here, Giovanni?”

Giovanni slumps against the wall of the cell.

We stripped him of his clothes, binding his wrists and ankles together and shoving a gag in his mouth. Looking down at his naked, writhing body on the floor of the damp cell makes me almost feel sorry for him.

I chuckle. “All that money and yet, it’s ridiculously easy to break into your house. If I were you, I’d invest in a new security system.”

Mikhail scoffs. “Not that you’re not leaving here any time soon, but still, something to keep in mind.”

I glance over my shoulder at my brother who has his eyes fixed on Saccone.

I haven’t told him the full truth about why we’re here, but I’m sure he’s worked it out by now from the look of disgust on his face.

Giovanni grunts, and I turn back to face him.

His face is turning red as he tries to fight against his restraints, but Mikhail’s bound him so tight there’s no chance of him breaking free.

“We had to bring you underground for what I have planned. Don’t want to risk anyone hearing you squeal.”

Giovanni fights against his gag, and I laugh at the sight of the drool starting to drip down his chin.

“Look at you. Fucking pathetic. ”

His nostrils flare, and he tries to speak through the gag, but it comes out as nothing more than a deep groan.

“I don’t appreciate having to leave my wife to come and deal with you. But she’s made me aware of some new information which has made me…reassess things.”

Giovanni’s eyes dart around the damp cell, and a flash of fear gleams in his eyes as he looks back to me. His chest is heaving with each breath.

Good.

I want him to fucking sweat. I want him to feel exactly how Zara felt when he decided that her body was his for the taking.

“Do you remember what I promised you?” I tilt my head to the side as my eyes flick down to his limp cock.

His eyes widen,, and I grin as he squirms against his restraints.

“I’m not one for empty threats, Saccone. When I told you I was going to chop off your dick and make you eat it, I wasn’t joking. Though from the looks of things, it won’t make much of a meal.”

The sound of Mikhail’s deep chuckle echoes from behind me, and I smirk.

Giovanni grunts as he kicks out his legs, but the binds around his ankles are so tight, the movement only unbalances him, sending him slumping even further down the wall.

“However, there’s a few other things I want to do first.” I put my hands behind my back as I pace a bit back and forth as if thinking about it. “I thought perhaps we could go in order of the body parts that you used when you touched my wife without her fucking permission.”

The color drains from Giovanni’s face as I glance down at his bound hands .

Having a bound broken hand has to hurt, but when I’m done, he’ll beg to have it all end soon.

He won’t be that lucky, though.

A smile pulls at my lips as Giovanni starts to sweat. His eyes widen as he looks behind me at where Mikhail leans against the wall with a freshly sharpened axe tucked under his arm.

“This might hurt just a little,” I warn.

My body is dripping with sweat from the effort, but seeing Giovanni’s unconscious body makes it all worth it.

I grimace at the stumps where his hands used to be, but it had to be done. I wanted to make sure he would never touch another woman again.

Blood oozes from the wounds, pooling around his limp body. If left, he could easily bleed out in a few hours, but I’m not finished with him yet.

I’m not even close.

I wipe my hands on my shirt. “I need to get back. Get Vince in here to clean an cauterize these wounds. Make it hurt.”

“You’ve gone insane.”

Blood splatters cover his face, and there’s a wicked delight in his dark eyes as he glances down at Giovanni. “You’re not going to finish the job?”

I shake my head.

“Not yet. I want him to think about what he’s done, and he can’t do that if he’s dead. So, call Vince in and get him bandaged up before he bleeds out.”

“You’re seriously leaving me with this fucker? ”

“Feel free to have a little fun of your own while you wait.”

Mikhail grunts but pulls his phone out of his pocket.

“Don’t let him die. Yet.” I slap Mikhail on the shoulder as I head out of the underground cell.

I reek of sweat, and my clothes are stained with blood. I can’t have Zara seeing me like this, so the moment I get back to the penthouse, I make my way into my room and head straight for the shower.

Stepping under the scalding water, I watch as it runs red as all traces of Giovanni Saccone are washed away. Going down the drain like the scum he is.

He better not fucking die because I’m not done with him yet.

Lathering up my skin with soap, I wash twice to ensure that every last speck of blood has been cleaned away.

I stay standing under the hot water until my muscles begin to loosen, and the adrenaline starts to fade.

By the time I’m climbing back into bed beside Zara, the sun is starting to rise.

I wrap my arms around her and pull her flush against my chest, burying my nose in her hair and inhaling the sweet scent.

“Where did you go?” she mumbles, half asleep.

“I just had to take out some trash.”