Chapter Sixteen

A rapid knock on my bedroom door draws my attention. I wouldn't have heard it, but I haven't gone to bed since I can't take my eyes off my little wife who has been thoroughly fucked into a sex-induced coma. I slip on my boxers and go to the door.

I'd been so damn carried away with Stella's body that I forgot about the damn bastard in my cellar and Rocco's captives in the cabin. "Boss, I've been trying to get ahold of you for hours. I went up to the cabin. Vito's dead, and Rocco's gone along with the Joneses."

"Fuck."

I'm out of the room without waking my sleeping angel, and I can't ignore the damn bruises on her perfect body that I didn't leave there. When I get her father, he's going to pay for laying a hand on my woman and so much more.

"I want his fucking head on a platter, and then I'm going to destroy her family."

"What about our guest?"

"He's going to tell us what he knows before I destroy him for touching my wife."

"We'll get them all. I promise, Dame."

"Where's my father and Adriano?"

"They're downstairs waiting on you." We quickly make it down to my study where they're gathered.

"Marriage looks good on you, Son," my father teases, handing me a glass of whiskey. "Gabe told us about Vito. We know he was more than just a soldier; he was a good man and husband. Fucking Rocco is going to pay for his betrayal." I'd known Vito for ten years, and this is my failure to stay strong and rule with an iron fist like I always had.

"Yes, he is. I can't believe he'd risk it all for that slut."

"What do you mean?"

"Camille Jones. She was deep-throating his cock in my club, and I kicked her out about a month ago. He played me and said she drugged him. Tests said he was dosed with MDMA, so I bought his bit and gave the fucker a second chance, but the bastard was probably using. I didn't get the doctor to run a test to see if he's a habitual user. Hell, I don't know if there is a test for that shit."

"It doesn't matter now."

"I'm getting too damn soft. No more weakness." My mind goes to my wife who had turned me soft. Yes, this happened before I met her, but if I hadn't been so damn involved with her today, Vito wouldn't have been alone with Rocco in the middle of nowhere with no damn help.

My father's eyes narrow, but he doesn't say a word. "Let's have a chat with your guest. I'm sure he's pissed his pants by now."

"And then some. Who's had eyes on him all day?"

"Benz and Michael," Adriano says.

"Okay, let's greet him." We all head to the basement, and Benz nods from the top of the stairwell.

"He's passed out. It reeks in there, just so you know. Like foul as fuck, so I've kept my distance."

"Where's Michael?"

"He went to take a break ten minutes ago. Should be back in five." He folds his nose, and I don't doubt him because the smell has already permeated the outer room. It's going to be a pain in the ass to clean up.

I push open the door, slamming it against the wall, but the fucker doesn't bother to lift his head, which hangs down to his chest. "Tommy, boy. Look at me, you asshole." I storm over to the bastard, a sinking feeling in my stomach. I lift his head, and the fucker's eyes have rolled back in his head.

"Merda."

"He's dead," my father sighs.

I check the fucker's pulse, and the prick is cold. "He's been dead for a while. Get Benz in here now." He comes into the room with his hand over his mouth. "What the fuck happened here?"

"What do you mean?" He starts gagging from the smell.

"This bastard is dead."

"Son of a bitch," he barks out. "Can we go in the hall?" The color on his face changes, and both my father and I move just in time to miss Benz vomiting. He's been in the family about two years, and I don't think he's ever seen a dead body before. He handles surveillance on the cameras.

"Get your shit together and meet us in the security room." I head in there with Gabe, Adriano, and my dad following me while Benz washes his face in the basin just ten feet from the cellar holding room.

"Fucking pussy."

"Pull up the feeds from the time Michael went on his supposed break." Gabe takes a seat and goes to work. It's not long before his taillights are seen leaving. "Break, my ass."

"Another traitor."

"Cue up the cell."

"Hello, Tommy Baker, it's good to see you again. I've waited a long time to see your fucking ugly mug." Michael walks up to him.

"Who are you?"

"Oh, you don't remember me? I was a lot younger then, and you weren't the big piece of shit you are now. Well, maybe you remember my sister…" Michael pulls out a picture and then Tommy flinches backward, nearly sending his chair backward. "I've wanted to end your miserable life for twenty years, but that's the boss's pleasure. God, I want to rip you limb from limb and enjoy it. You ruined her, destroyed her. Now I got you here, and I'm going to have a little fun before Mr. Valentino has his way with you for trying to steal his bride."

"Steal his bride? She was mine. He's a pussy."

"A pussy? He's the devil."

"The devil's going to be played. He hides his money in plain sight, and he's so busy playing with her innocent little snatch that it's all going to be taken from him."

"That's not going to happen. None of his men will let that happen."

"His men? Ha. How do you think I knew who to ask? Why do you think Camille got close to that pretty little hummingbird? She's on so many radars. Now the wife is too. We have an inside man. He doesn't even know he's about to get robbed too."

"Liar."

"Those girls are going to end up just like your sister."

"Bastard," Michael roars, punching Tommy and sending his head snapping back, and that's when the footage shows Tommy slump over. Holy fuck.

He did something to Michael's sister twenty years ago, making him around twelve at the time. Just a kid when it happened. Fuck. No wonder Tommy had no idea who he was. I call Michael's cell. "Where the fuck are you?"

"I didn't mean to kill him, Boss." The sound of tears filled his throat, and for the first time in my life, I'm moved by it.

"I know you didn't, but I need you to calm the fuck down and tell me where you're going. What happened to your sister?"

"You can't ask me to calm down and then ask me what happened to her," he angrily chuckles. "Imagine the worst." I can't because I want to slice open the bag of worms in that room. He had every intention of destroying my sister and now Stella. I knew it. Never have a woman because they weaken you, make you vulnerable, and create…a soft spot.

"Come back. We have a lot of revenge to get, and I want you to get yours. Tommy's death was too easy and unfair. The fucker probably died from something else. That blow shouldn't have killed him, but I have others that need to pay for their transgressions, and we could use your help." I end the call and wait while Andriano loses his suit jacket and rolls up his sleeves to help clean up the mess in the room as he and Gabe's change into contamination suits.

"You look like a bitch," Adriano says.

"It smells, and I'm not getting that shit on my clothes."

"I've already dirtied these up bringing this asshole here earlier. I'll burn them." Adriano drops the fat fuck down on the drop cloth like a pile of bricks. "Hey, Boss. Maybe it's my fault this asshole died too quickly. I might have banged his head earlier, getting him into the trunk."

"He probably croaked because he was overweight, beaten, strapped to a chair, and worried. The man was one scare away from a heart attack," my father says. "Don't fret over bullshit. Get the job done because we have more pressing matters."

I pace the security area, and my mind goes to Stella. Always her. I can't decide if I'm better off without her. Once her enemies are gone, I know she'll be better without me. Yes, that's what will happen. After this is all over, I'll set her free. "Yes, my club is in danger."

"Do you think they have plans to attack it?" my father asks.

"You heard Tommy. They had an inside man. Rocco knows the club inside and out."

It takes twenty minutes for Michael to return, but once he does, he says, "I'm sorry I lost my cool."

"You should have told me."

"I didn't know it was him until he was in the cell. I didn't know his name, only his face."

"It's forgiven. Lie to me again, and I will have no mercy."

"Understood, Boss."

For the remainder of the evening, we go over everything Adriano found in the cabin as well as what we learned. There has been no trace of Rocco or the Joneses, but it's only been ten hours. It could be a while before we snuff them out of their hiding spot.

The events of the day have finally sunk in, and all I want to do is go upstairs and climb into my bed. Rubbing my hands over my face, I tell my men, "Everyone tuck it in for the night."

As everyone moves to exit, my father grips onto my shoulder. "Son, I'd like a word with you."

"What is it?" I answer, staying back.

His look is intense and sincere as concern mars it. "Stella's a good girl."

I nod. "An angel, and?"

"Exactly, so don't ruin her."

"I'm not." I'm saving her, and I'll give her a great life to live after she says goodbye to me. She'll find another man to worship her sexy body. The thought doesn't sit well with me, but neither does tainting her with my darkness.