Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
LOGAN
I kept looking for my chance to jump into action, but on the ride over, two of Sal’s men had their guns trained on me. They took my cell phone, never stopping to think I might have another. Did livestreaming on the ride over here make any difference?
Now, we’re in the basement of a bar. The room reeks of damp, and only a small sliver of sunlight comes through the letterbox window. They must have been following me.
As I turned a corner, two cars pulled out, blocking my way, men rushing from their cars with their guns out. I tried to back up, but another car screeched into the road. I hammered into it, then I was done.
But I’m not going to give them what they want.
They’ve chained me to a wall with my arms behind my back and metal shackles on my wrists. Two guards are in the room, one standing near me, the other near the door, with guns in their hands. I guess the others are upstairs, partying by the sounds of it, their fucked-up reward for a fucked-up job well done.
Sal hefts the blowtorch from one hand to the other.
“He’s going to scream, Sal,” the guard near the door says. He’s short and skinny, with a playing card tattoo on his neck.
“He’s not wrong, boss,” the other man says. He took off his jacket when we walked in here, revealing a white vest and chunky arms covered in scars, both from cuts and bullet wounds.
“If you’re going to do this, you should gag him, Sal.”
“Sal, Sal, Sal,” Sal spits. “You forgetting something, Enzo?”
“I’ll never call another Mangano ‘boss’ unless he’s the Don, and you’re not the fucking Don,” Enzo grunts. “ If you’re going to do this, you need to gag him.”
“This neighborhood has plenty of screaming.”
“We should’ve gagged him in the car,” Enzo grumbles.
When the other guard moves toward the corner of the room, Sal snaps, “What the fuck are you doing?”
“I was going to get a ga?—”
“Who the fuck is in charge here?” Sal hisses.
I smirk at him. “Not you, apparently.” That even gets a smile out of Enzo. “Something tells me you’re not the man you made yourself out to be, Sal. If you were, you wouldn’t have just vandalized The Clam. You would’ve burned it to the ground. If you were, I’d be dead for rag-dolling you like the little bitch you are.”
“More lies,” Sal mutters, but he looks furious. “Let’s see how tough you are when I burn you to a goddamn crisp.”
“Go ahead,” I growl. “It won’t change anything. You’ll never have your hands on Do It All.”
I look at Enzo again, reading his expression. It’s just like in a business meeting. Often, I talk to one person but watch another for their reaction. Their reaction can tell me if I’m right or if I’m grasping for something.
Enzo’s reaction tells me I’ve struck gold.
“How’s your standing in the Family, Sal?” When Enzo flinches, I say, “I’m guessing you did something bad. I assume this is your way of trying to worm your way back in. Like a fishing expedition.”
Enzo nods, but then he realizes what he’s doing and stops.
Sal grunts, lighting the blowtorch, the blue flame hissing. I’d have to be a psychopath not to feel fear as he approaches me. If last night with my woman taught me anything, it’s that there’s more feeling in me than I ever guessed before I was with her.
Sal approaches, waving the torch. “You think you’re one smart bastard, don’t you? But you’ll break. Everybody breaks.”
“Maybe,” I say. “Or maybe you’ll torture a CEO and public figure. You still won’t get what you want. But your actions will bring attention you can’t handle.”
“We can’t handle… You hired a two-bit security firm I’ve got wrapped around my finger. You think the cops can help you?”
“Kidnapping is a federal offense,” I snarl. “You might be able to twist local firms, maybe even the cops, but the FBI, Sal? Can you twist them, too?”
“Sal…” Enzo begins.
Sal wheels on him. “Shut the fuck up. We’re doing this. You think the Don will care when I bring him a controlling share in Do It All?”
“Never going to happen,” I snap.
Sal turns back to me and brings the flame toward my face. I strain against the metal cuffs. The chain makes a squeaking noise, and my bones ache as I push against the resistance. I’ve gone from one kind of heat to another, from pleasure, love, connection—to hell.
“Are you going to make me hurt you?” Sal grunts. “Force my hand, Logan? All you have to do is make a few calls and tell them you’ve got a new client. You can arrange the majority over the phone from here. Then we’ll escort you to any in-person meetings.”
“I fought too long and too hard to let a little prick like you take this company from me. I made this company to help people, motherfucker.”
He sighs, shrugging. “Okay, then. But don’t blame me…”
He moves the flame closer to my face. Sweat beads on my forehead as the hissing blue flame triggers fear and adrenaline to pump through me. I’ve experienced torture before, but not like this. It was its own brand of misery and twisted form of pain.
But I’m ready to endure what I must for Do It All.
“Sal,” Enzo says. “Just got a text from one of the guys. Elliot Whittaker is here for you. Says he wants to speak to you about Logan. Sounds like he wants to beg for his life. Some girl is with him.”
“Piper?” I roar, then immediately regret it when I see the look of victory on Sal’s fucked-up face. When he sneers at me, I growl, “You’ll regret it if you touch her. This isn’t your way back into the Family, you sick bastard.”
Sal takes a step back, turning off the blowtorch. “Enzo, go get the girl. Stick Elliot in a closet. Or put a bullet in his head. I don’t give a damn. But clearly, Logan’s got a little flame for Elliot’s sister. Piper… I’ve seen her before.”
Enzo leaves the room. My heart pounds as ugly, violent images crash into my mind, thoughts of blood and mayhem and all the evil crap he’s going to do to her.
“You’re going to do what I want,” Sal says. “Or I’ll gut that fat bitch.”
When he calls her fat, I strain even harder against the metal bindings, my muscles bulging, my veins feeling like they might pop. How the fuck have we gone from so much closeness and steam to overwhelming pain so fast?
I hear Piper before I see her. “Get… off …”
“Quiet,” Enzo grunts, dragging her into the room.
He pushes her in front of him. I stare miserably at my woman. She looks so devastatingly beautiful and determined; her cheeks flushed fiercely, her hazel eyes alert. She looks like she’s ready to fight these three mobsters herself.
“Piper,” I whisper, shaking my head.
“I couldn’t leave you,” she hisses.
“I thought you’d call someone.”
“Call who?” Sal says harshly. “I own this city.”
“You’re a petty thug who’s got a few cops in your pocket, and you’re half decent at intimidation. You don’t own shit.”
“Maybe not yet. But soon, I’ll own your whole damn company. Unless you want me to ride this little piggy until she squeaks.”
The next time I strain against the bindings, I feel the shackle on my right hand loosen slightly. My forearms must be bulging against the metal, or the arrogant prick didn’t tighten it properly. I wriggle my hand, feeling it loosen some more.
“Don’t fucking touch her,” I growl.
“What have you done to him?” Piper groans. She tries to pull her hand away from Enzo, but he holds her steadily.
“Nothing… yet.” Sal laughs when Piper’s face drops. “Look at you two little lovebirds. I have to say, Logan. I didn’t think somebody like this would be your type.”
“Shut your goddamn mouth,” I snarl. “Piper’s the most beautiful, the kindest, the best person I’ve ever met.”
“I suppose beauty’s in the eye of the beholder, huh?” Sal lights the blowtorch again. “Might be hard to hold that opinion without eyes, though.”
“Don’t you dare touch him!” Piper yells. I can hear the fear in her voice, but she buries it beneath layers of bravery, standing up straight and glaring at Sal.
“I was going to hurt you , actually.”
“No,” I growl.
“Fine,” Piper hisses, stifling her terror and simultaneously making me so proud and infuriated. “Just don’t touch Logan. He’s been through enough.”
“Piper!” I snap.
“I don’t care, Logan. If they’re going to hurt anyone, let it be me. I came here to save you.”
“Sal, I’ll give you what you want,” I snap. “I’ll give you the fucking shares. But first, let Piper go.”
Sal smirks, shaking his head. “In my business, you learn the value of proving a point. Piper’s going to watch you burn, Logan. Just for a minute or two, just enough so you understand how deadly serious this is.” He swaggers slowly toward me, the flame leaping about in his hand. “And after, you’re going to watch her burn. Only then you’ll get it. I’m in charge .”
His words ignite desperation inside me, a need that burrows into my bones and goes far beyond protective. It’s primal. I can’t let him hurt Piper. Nobody gets to hurt her. Ever. For the rest of our lives, I’ll keep her safe. It’s as simple as that.
When Sal is within touching distance, I roar and lurch forward. There’s a snap as a bone in my hand breaks, maybe my wrist, searing pain pulsing through my arm as I slip out of the shackle and swing around in a violent arc. I slam my aching hand against the side of Sal’s head, then wrench the blowtorch from his hand as he instinctively grabs at his head, and I push it against his face.
He cries out, bringing his hands up to strike at me. As he rushes me, I dart out of the way, slip my hand into his waistband, and grab his gun, aiming it right at his head.
Sal gasps, stumbling backward.
Enzo grabs Piper, aiming his gun at her head. The other guard moves to the other side of the room, aiming his gun at me.
“Enough,” Enzo growls. “Drop the gun, or I’ll put a bullet in her.”
I want to do what he says. I can’t risk hurting Piper. But there’s no damn way they’ll let us go if I drop this weapon. I remember everything I’ve learned here, including the dynamic between Enzo and Sal and that Sal is doing this on his own.
I have to save my woman. That means risking her.
“No,” I say, struggling to breathe as I carefully transfer the pistol to my shackled hand, my unbroken one, all the while keeping it aimed at Sal. Adrenaline allowed me to use the busted hand for a few short bursts of primal protectiveness, but it quickly became useless.
“I can tell you don’t like Sal, Enzo, but he’s part of the Family. The Don won’t be happy if he dies on your watch. You didn’t want to be here, anyway. You didn’t want to do this. Let Piper go. Take your men and leave. This can end here.”
“Shoot her!” Sal cries, waving his hand at Piper.
“Don’t fucking move,” I growl when he steps toward my woman.
A tear slides down Piper’s cheek as she stares at me. But other than that, her expression is fierce and defiant. Pride overwhelms me.
“You know…” I take a ragged breath. “I’m speaking sense, Enzo. Nobody has to die. I know you’re a reasonable man. I guessed you were sent here to babysit Sal the moment he dragged me down here. I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Enzo,” Sal snaps. “Shoot the bitch, now.”
Enzo looks at Sal. “I told you; you’re not my boss. And he’s right. The Don sent me here because he knew you’d fuck this up. We can’t execute a civilian just because your pride has been hurt.”
“Then… what?”
Enzo sighs, then shoves Piper toward me.
“What are you doing?” Sal roars.
I catch her with my busted hand, then move her behind me, standing wide as I keep the gun trained on them.
“We’re going,” Enzo snaps. “Logan’s right. It’s our only choice now. We’re clearing out.”
Piper wraps her arms around my middle, hugging onto my back. I keep the gun trained on them as they file out of the room. Sal walks backward, his eyes glaring hatefully at me the whole time.
Upstairs, I hear the men filing out, Sal yelling at Enzo, Enzo yelling back.
“What about Elliot?” Piper whispers.
“We have to wait until they’re gone,” I say, my vision blurring with pain. “I can’t let anything happen to you. God, Piper. I’m so sorry. But if I’d dropped the gun…”
“Hush.” She squeezes her arms tightly around me. “I understand.”
“It was all to keep you safe. Everything I do, everything I’m going to do, it’s for you, Piper.”
“Your hand…”
“I would’ve given all my limbs to save you. A broken hand is nothing.”
Soon, I hear the men leaving and a door slamming. Then everything is eerily quiet.
“Okay,” I say. “Cover your ears. I need to shoot the chain to my second shackle. Then we’ll get Elliot.”