Caged (Dark Empire #2)

Nineteen.

Ethan

I was getting more tense as the day went on. It felt like I'd been in meetings all day.

Well, I had.

I was sat beside Mags surrounded by all of the made men while my dad explained what Dmitry had sent him.

My dad was furious that I didn't tell him about Dmitry’s little meeting with Ashlee, but I’d planned to today. That son of a bitch had sent my dad a photo of them talking in a warehouse before I had the chance.

I can get to any of you. Nobody is safe.

The words were sprawled across the photo in red. It didn't make sense after what Ashlee had told me about what they’d spoken about.

“So, we’re attacking their next shipment tomorrow night?” Enzo asked.

“We need to make a point that we can hit them where it hurts back.”

"It makes sense to fight back now.” Marco shrugged. "We need to show him that we’re just as dangerous.”

"Exactly.” My dad nodded with a smirk. "Who wants to come?”

"Obviously I will,” Ro said.

“I’ll join,” Luca added.

“Count me in,” both of my dads brothers, Enzo and Marco, said.

Matteo was away dealing with some of my dads other business.

I glanced at Mags and then made my mind up. "I’m coming.”

“Really?” Mags raised an eyebrow. "Count me in as well then.”

My dad nodded. "We need a few soldiers to join us.”

"I sort it,” Mario said.

"Good. You can all go. I’ll be in contact later with the details.”

I waited for the room to clear before glancing at my dad. "It doesn’t make sense. He was counting on Ashlee helping him. Why has he sent this?”

“I don't know, son. We don’t really know what he said to her.”

“We do. Ash told me.”

"Is she telling the truth?”

I stood in rage, my hands balling I to fists. "Are you accusing my wife of lying?”

“Ethan-”

"There is nobody more honest that her,” I shouted.” Nobody.” It was like his accusation opened a dam in my head. “She is the most loyal and honest woman I've ever met!”

“Calm yourself down. I’m just considering everything,” my hand hissed. “Did she tell you everything that was said?”

“Mags, go and get her. She can tell you herself.”

I glared at my dad for a moment before sitting. Ashlee wouldn't betray me. Even in the heat of an argument, she threw Dmitry’s card at me.

Mags soon came back with Ashlee in tow looking a little worried. "Is everything okay?”

“It’s fine, sweetheart,” I muttered, ushering her to come to me. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into my body between my thighs.

“Ashlee, what did Dmitry say to you when he took you to the warehouse?” My dad asked.

She met my eyes in alarm. "It’s okay, Ash,” I said softly.

“He wants me to get Ethan out alone and then contact him so that he can come and kill him,” she muttered.

“Why? What's in that for you?”

Ash glanced at me again and I nodded in encouragement.

"He said I’d be free.”

My arms tightened around her.

“I would never...”

“I know, baby,” I whispered.

"What's happened?” She asked.

I glanced at my dad. "I don't have secrets from my wife.”

“Son-”

"Show her,” I snapped.

My dad pulled the photo out from his jacket pocket, dropping it onto the table.

“Why?” Ashlee whispered, leaning forward to studied it.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” my dad replied. "It doesn't make sense if he was betting on you betraying Ethan.”

“Unless he knew that I wouldn't,” Ashlee muttered. "I told him I loved Ethan.”

My dad nodded. "So he obviously planned on getting this photo regardless. What were you doing in his territory anyway?”

“It’s my fault, dad. I didn't tell her that Hooligans was off-limits now. It was too late by the time I found out that they'd gone there.”

He nodded. "That’s all for now. I’ll call you both when I know more.”

I stood, keeping my arm around Ashlee as I nudged her out of the room. I wasn't sure whether to tell her about us going on a raid tomorrow night. I didn't want her to worry, but I was also aware that she’d be alone.

After saying goodbye to my mum and promising to be around for Christmas dinner on Sunday, we drove back to mine. We had work tonight after all.

Mags and I went out to collect a few payments while Ashlee chilled out at home. We'd gotten behind this week which my dad was disappointed in. Luckily his attention was on something more pressing right now.

“Mags, what do we tell Ash about tomorrow?” I asked as I parked up outside of one of my clients houses.

“I don't know, pal. You’re the one who suddenly decided that you wanted to go on a raid.”

“Because Dmitry thought he could mess with Ash,” I snapped.

“He’s trying to mess with you, Ethan, not Red.”

I released a groan. "Why me? I’m not the head of this family, and not even the next in line.”

“My guess is that he sees you as an easy target, plus he knows that your dad is protective of you. Taking you out would be a big blow.”

I got out and slammed the car door with a growl.

Fucking easy target. He didn't know me.

I was storming towards the house with my hand on my gun before Mags had even stepped out.

“Ethan, wait.”

I busted the door in with one hard kick. "Graham,” I roared. "Where’s our money?”

I marched through the house, finding the man in the kitchen pushing a women behind him.

“Do you have it or not?”

“Graham, who is this? What's going on?”

“Answer the fucking question,” I shouted.

“Please don't hurt us. I can get it tomorrow.”

"Your deadline was Monday.”

"Please,” he begged.

Easy target.

“Ethan,” Mags, voice sounded.

I raised my gun and pulled the trigger before he could stop me.

Fucking easy target my ass. I was my fathers son. I was every bit a Prezello as he was.

The man slumped to the floor and the woman screamed.

“Fuck’s sake,” Mags cursed.

“His blood was the payment,” I hissed, lowering a gun.

I turned and met Magnus’s eyes. "And what about her.”

“Not my problem,” I snapped. "He was the client.”

Mags shook his head. "Go outside. I’ll deal with this.”

“I did what was required.”

“Ethan, go,” he snapped.

I walked outside, the heavy door slamming shut behind me, and tilted my head back to stare at the sky. The clouds were dark and angry, swirling like a brewing storm, and I could feel the first drops of rain on my skin. It was going to pour any minute now. The turbulent sky mirrored the chaos within me, my anger a violent tempest threatening to consume everything in its path.

I could hear my pulse pounding in my ears, drowning out the distant rumble of thunder. The rage coursing through my veins made rational thought impossible; all I could focus on was the searing heat of my fury. It was a dangerous state of mind, but in this world, danger was a constant companion.

The gunshot rang out from the house, a sharp crack that echoed through the night. I didn't even blink. She was innocent, but that part of me—the part that cared, that held onto compassion—was lost in the storm of my wrath. I was no longer the man who could differentiate between right and wrong, innocent and guilty. All that mattered now was survival and power.

I let the rain pour over me, washing away the remnants of my former self. There was no room for weakness, no space for hesitation. This was the life I'd chosen, and in this moment, I embraced it fully. The darkness within me matched the storm above, and I was ready to unleash its fury on anyone who dared cross my path, especially those who considered me an easy target.

I’d fucking show them...

“What the hell, Ethan?” Mags shouted as he stepped out of the house.

“I’m not an easy target. I’m a fucking Prezello.”

I saw him shaking his head out of the corner of my eye. "You need to be rational about this.”

“I am. I’m going to kill that bastard.”

“No, you’re not.”

“I am,” I snapped.

“Think of Ashlee, Ethan.”

“I am,” I roared, glaring straight at him, my fists clenched at my sides as the rain poured down, drenching me. Water dripped down my face, mingling with the anger burning in my eyes. “She's all I fucking think about! I’m not weak, and that bastard is trying to mess with my wife.”

“He’ll get what’s coming to him, but you need to calm down and think about this. If you go racing at him head first, you’ll get yourself killed. Do you really want to leave Ashlee as a widow?” His voice was steady, a rock in the storm of my rage.

I looked up at the dark, swirling clouds, closing my eyes as the downpour soaked me to the bone. The cold water did nothing to quell the fire within me.

“Fuck,” I cursed, my voice cracking with the weight of my frustration and helplessness. "Mags, I’m a mess. I can’t lose her, not to him, not to anyone.”

Mags stepped closer, his hand gripping my shoulder, grounding me in the chaos. “Then we do this smart. We strike when he least expects it. But you need to keep it together, for Ashlee.”

“He makes me so angry.”

He released a sigh. "Dmitry has that effect.”

"Yeah. It bothers me, pal. I don't want to be the target. I don't want this.”

I took a deep breath, the air thick with the scent of rain and asphalt. My mind raced with images of Ashlee, her smile, her touch, the way she made me feel alive. I couldn’t afford to lose control now. For her, I would become the monster I needed to be.

“Alright,” I said, my voice low and determined. “Let’s make sure he regrets ever messing with my wife.”

"Your dad must have a plan.”

I nodded, turning and staring through the open door of the house. "I fucked up.”

“I’ve dealt with it.”

“She didn't deserve to die.”

"She was cheating on her husband with him.”

I nodded. I knew full well that people were most honest when faced with the barrel of a gun.

“I’ve called a few men in to clean it up. Come on, let's get home to our girl.”

“We need to tell her something about tomorrow.”

He smirked. "Or do we? Invite Hannah and Grace around. A girls night in will distract her while we slip away on a raid.”

I chuckled. "Yeah, okay, that’ll work. I’ll call the girls and get them to come around to surprise her.”