Chapter 3
Where is She?
LaSalle
Three days later …
“Where is she?” Misha bellows into the face of the poor bastard kneeling at his feet.
As we all stand here in the basement of this old abandoned house, I have to wonder why these guys have fought so hard to keep the answers we want from us. We dragged six of their asses down here. Only two will remain if this one doesn’t start talking.
My brass knuckles were the first to get a workout the first night we arrived. That was three days ago. Then it was Logan’s turn.
Uri stepped in after we had to pry Logan off the son of a bitch he beat to death. I was sure the asshole Uri tortured would be the one to cough up what we want. However, he couldn’t take it and his heart gave out right as I thought he would talk.
Then there was this one. Misha has peeled his skin from his body like a banana. Pieces of flesh are literally hanging from his body.
Misha has sprinkled salt over his head with a saltshaker like the asshole is a tenderized steak needing to be seasoned. Now he has a huge fan blowing on him, causing the flesh to blow in the wind. I don’t understand how he’s still holding out.
“That shit has to hurt,” I murmur as I stand watching.
Logan snorts. “Aye, a hundred bucks says this one dies before we get answers. He’s not as tough as he’s trying to pretend to be.”
“The wanker watched what happened to the others and is still protecting her. At this rate, I don’t know if we’ll ever find her.”
“Even if I told you the last place I know of, she’ll be gone by the time you try to find her,” the guy says as blood drips from his mouth.
“Da, so you should tell me before I start filleting your dick and balls.” Misha seethes.
“I’ll take that bet,” I say to Logan.
“Da, I want in,” Vlad says.
“Me too,” Alexei says.
Czar chuckles and shakes his head. “Nah, my money is on the one in the blue. He’s going to crack.”
I look to the last two sitting on their knees in the corner as they watch. They have seen the other four of their buddies tortured, one by one. With each one who has died, the one in the blue shirt has looked more murderous.
However, his buddy next to him looks like he’s going to puke and shit his pants all at the same time. I can smell the fear coming off him. He’s watching Misha the closest.
Knowing exactly what Czar is up to, I know which one will crack and when. I’ve done this enough times to know the science to it. We’re leaving here with something.
I snort. “I doubt that. He might last the longest,” I murmur.
“Ach, and there it is. Cough up my money, gentlemen,” Logan croons.
Misha has lost him. The guy is slumped over on his side with his eyes rolled back in his head. Yup, this one is dead dead. Still, I keep my eyes on the other two.
“Pussy,” Alexei hisses. “They don’t make them like they used to. I once tortured man for ninety-two hours before he died. Had to dip him in acid before heart gave out. This no challenge. Just kill last two; they not talk. Look in eyes, waste of time.”
I snort. I don’t disagree with that when it comes to the one in blue. That motherfucker isn’t going to say a word. Misha pulls his gun and puts a bullet in his head.
Logan looks between Misha and the asshole with his brain blown out. Rage flashes in Logan’s eyes. I already know what he’s thinking.
“What the fuck did you do that for? I was going to get him to talk. Don’t you know how this works?”
“Da, I know exactly how this works. He was not going to talk.”
“Bullshit. You say you want to find her, but you’ve been doing everything you can to keep us from doing so.”
“You know not what you speak,” Misha fires back.
Logan growls. “I’ve had enough of this.”
With that, he storms out. I sigh and shake my head. This is only getting worse.
I know that wasn’t a part of the act the rest of us are putting on. The one who’s left has passed out after getting brains all over his face and in his mouth. Logan’s no longer seeing straight.
If he were, he would know when we get the last one to come to, we’re going to get him to talk. At least Misha is going to get him to talk. The rest of us can leave, so Misha is the only and last face this asshole sees.
That will be the nail in the coffin. His fear of Misha will do the rest. I’d put a million on that one.
“You all go home. He will talk. I give update when done. I get answers,” Misha says.
I narrow my eyes at him. Misha isn’t fooling me. I know he’s not doing all he can to find that bitch.
The question is, why? With all I do know, I haven’t figured that part out yet. Learning from past mistakes, I’ve already dug into all of this.
The picture isn’t at all what it seems. However, I don’t think it’s my place to interpret what’s going on. I will give him space out of respect.
Tired as hell after being here for three days, as well as missing my wife and children, I nod and pat Uri on the shoulder. I let him know it’s fine to follow me and head home.
“Those two are going to collide. It’s brewing and about to boil over. You know that, mate, right?” Uri murmurs as we walk out together.
“I do. Sometimes the bull has to wreck the shop to value the china in it. We all want the same thing. Logan is just going to have to learn to trust him again.”
“This is a lot,” Uri sighs.
“It is, but we have handled greater. Kiss the kids for me and let Val know I appreciate the other night.”
“Bloody hell, I have to separate her from your wife and those other troublemakers,” he chuckles.
“You would never.”
“You’re right. She’s happy; I’m happy. Keep me posted. I will fly out to see our friends who thought it wise to feed us information and have us ambushed.”
“I was just about to talk to you about that. His son is in Cabo with his girlfriend’s best friend. You should start with him.
“Apparently, I’m still not making myself clear. Let’s ring that bell a little louder. It’s the Alliance or nothing.”
“Done.”
Tasha
“I appreciate you guys helping me finalize all this,” I say to Val, Roni, Deja, Dean, Sim, and Lovie.
“This has been so much fun to plan. I hope he loves it,” Lovie says with that bright smile of hers.
“Girl, you thought I wasn’t going to help? That kid will always be cool with me,” Dean says.
“My little nephew spends enough time in my home to be one of my kids. Of course, I’d be here to help,” Val says. “Besides, you offered wine.”
I laugh and shake my head. My girls are always good for fun and laughs and if we need to kick ass, it’s on. I smile as I look around at them. This isn’t even our whole crew.
“Anyone know why Vega didn’t show up?”
“Yes,” Sim snickers. “He took her keys.”
We all fall into a fit of laughter. I look to DJ and smirk. “I thought that would be you tonight, not Vega.”
“This is for Sammy, so I got a pass.”
“Well, we’re almost done. Since this is for Sammy, there will need to be plenty of fruit options, but I want the other kids to have cupcakes and things too.”
“How does that baby not like sweets? I wish my kids would pick that up from him. Inzo and Nori will eat a bunch of snacks and make themselves sick. Then whine about their tummies aching. Gah,” Val says and rolls her eyes.
“Leave my babies alone. They’re too stinking cute not to rub their little tummies for them,” I say with a smile.
“Good, they can come live with you. I will take Sammy and Karen in exchange.”
“Uri would have both our heads if you tried to trade off his sons.”
“And LaSalle would straight murder something over Karen,” Dean laughs.
“I know that’s right,” Roni says.
She looks down at her watch, and I know she’s going to have to leave soon. She and John are in New York at their apartment here. They come to New York for business often.
I stand and start to clean up. “Listen, you guys can head out. I’ll figure the rest of this out on my own.”
“You sure?” Sim asks.
“Yeah, I’ve got it. Hopefully LaSalle will be home soon. Then I can pick his brain. Thanks, guys.”
“Uri texted to say they’re done for the night and all heading home. Except for Misha and his crew,” Val says.
“He’s probably sticking around to eat their bones,” I tease.
“I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that that man told you you were going to be his wife. Not asked, told. Y’all had a lot of crazy going on around here before I entered the picture,” Dean says.
“All things of the past. I’m grateful to Misha for a lot. He’s not that bad when you get to know him.”
“Interestingly enough, she’s right. Once Misha respects you, you have one loyal friend in your life,” Val says.
“No lies told,” Roni says.
“Listen, call me tomorrow; we can do some shopping and have lunch,” Val says.
“Oh, that’s going to be a group trip. Don’t even think about leaving me out. Danny’s little butt loves to talk now that he can. If that little boy asks me why one more time, I’m selling him.”
“Ah, but he has an accent like his daddy and it’s so cute. I love listening to him,” I coo.
“Says the speech pathologist. Girl, please. I’ll send that little man over to hang with you for a day if you love it so much. You’ll be calling me within an hour to come pick him up.”
“And you will come running because that little boy is your world and you’d be missing him,” Val teases.
“Maybe. The little crumb snatcher,” Dean says and chuckles.
“I love you guys,” I say as I start to pull them into tight hugs one by one.
“Love you too. I’ll drop a text in the group chat about tomorrow, so no one feels left out. The more the merrier,” Val says as she’s the last to embrace me.
“Sounds good.”
Roni groans. “Y’all can cancel those plans. Check the training chat. Who told Onyx I was in town? We’re all being summoned to train.”
“Oops, that might have been me. I mean, she’s my mom,” DJ says sheepishly.
“Welp, I guess I’ll see you all in the morning,” I say after looking down at my phone.
Anytime one of the out-of-town girls is in New York, we have mandatory training with Onyx. She says it’s to keep us sharp as a unit. Roni tries to hide whenever she and John fly in. It never works.
“Call me if you think of anything else you need to think through,” Val says after rolling her eyes at her phone.
She will be the first one in the gym, ready to train. So that text doesn’t faze her in the least. She’s probably giddy inside.
“I will. Thanks again, guys.”
“You’re welcome. This was fun. I very much enjoyed myself,” Sim says.
“You know you are welcome to come over anytime, right?”
“I would like that. I will call you for some time in your schedule.”
I smile and nod. Sim has a special place in my heart. Sammy loves her.
After the girls are all gone, I’m humming to myself as I clean up and put everything away. The kids are all in bed for the night. Thank God none of them have any activities in the morning.
I don’t mind when we spend the day together. Running to karate, dance, and piano got to be overwhelming fast. In no time, LaSalle signed all the kids up for at-home private lessons to help out.
Seven kids, all under fourteen, is a lot. Four of them being under seven is an even bigger challenge, but I wouldn’t trade my life for anyone else’s. I love our children.
I finish up and head to my bedroom for a shower and to get ready for bed. As soon as I get to my room, my husband’s cologne fills my lungs. It’s too strong to be residuals from this morning.
I smile as I realize he’s home. I’m sure he’s washing off whatever he and the guys were up to for the last three days. This is the life of the wife of a mob boss.
LaSalle still gets his hands dirty when he has to. He often comes in to shower it all away before interacting with the family. Missing my husband, I move to the bathroom where I hear the shower running.
I find my husband in all his naked glory and smile to myself as I watch him with his head back as soap and water cascade down his body.
His back and tight ass make my mouth water. LaSalle has only gotten finer with time. I marvel at his strong body and the force he makes even while not moving. Forty-three is looking damn good.
“Damn,” I murmur to myself.
As the word leaves my lips, he turns his head to look at me. Our eyes lock and a smile comes to his lips. He turns fully toward me and opens his arms.
Grabbing my shower cap, I place it on my head. Then I push off the bathroom counter where I’m leaning and begin to peel off my clothes as I saunter to him. His smile widens as he roams his gaze over my body. I’m doing just fine myself at thirty-six.
With the confidence of that knowledge, I make a show of stripping down for him. Once naked myself, I open the glass door and walk in to join him.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he croons.
“Hey, handsome. It’s good to see you.”
“You have no idea how good it is to see you,” he murmurs and tightens his arms around me.
I can feel all his stress begin to melt away as I sink into his embrace. His warm body always makes me feel like I’m coming home. I press the side of my face against his chest and listen to the sound of his heart beating.
I sigh contentedly. “You good?”
“I am now.” His voice rumbles through me.