Chapter 48
Caterina
I was done playing. Someone knew where my wife was, and they would confess like a sinner in church. I would add extra persuasion to the mix when I had one of my dogs gnawing at random body parts. My boys missed their mama as much as I missed my wife.
Luca helped me hack into security systems associated with Vincenzo, but they didn’t talk about where he had her. I wonder if he trusted his men to tell them where he took her. Someone had to know where she was. Someone would confess even if my boys had to rip their flesh piece-by-piece.
There was a meeting happening with a handful of Vincenzo’s remaining men.
They were imprudent with secrecy, but it benefited me.
Was it foolish to go in alone with two dogs and a broken arm?
Possibly, but love made us do ludicrous things, and I wanted my wife back in my arms and in our home.
I wanted her safe. I wanted Vincenzo dead.
I had several stun grenades to use to disorient them while Titus and Lucifer went in for non-lethal attacks.
There were five of them and only one Caterina Moretti.
Maybe I should have had another of my men come with me, but I didn’t want them here.
They would stop me. I wanted my wife back home by any means necessary.
I had already saved girls from his club, killed his second and still had no luck.
There would be no more waiting or planning. I wanted answers.
Pulling my black safety goggles down, I pulled the pin and kicked the door open before tossing the stun grenade into the room.
There were screams and grunts, but no rapid gunfire.
From my understanding, they didn’t bring their weapons to this meeting.
A foolish mistake on their part. When people thought Caterina Moretti was dead, they became incautious. It worked to my advantage.
“Titus, Lucifer. Attack.” They each went for the men, attacking them, while I swapped the goggles to night vision. I loved Luca and his tech-genius ways.
I pulled my gun from its holster, aiming for the man running—or trying to run—and hit him in the right thigh.
Another one lunged for me in the smoke, and I shot him in the shoulder.
It might cause him to bleed out quicker than I intended, but it was fine.
There were four more here for me to torment.
Looking around, there were four down, but one was missing.
The smoke was clearing, and I needed to find him before he got the upper hand on me.
I heard growls before I saw shadows of darkness fly past me and a man scream.
I turned to see Titus gnawing on the neck of the idiot who had tried to attack me from behind.
I aimed my gun and fired, killing the worthless bastard. Four would work to accomplish my goal. Three would also work if the other one died. One of them would know where Vincenzo was hiding my wife.
One man looked at me. The realization hit him like a semi. “H-He said you were dead.”
A wicked smile crept onto my face. “Vincenzo sucks at killing someone, but I don’t.” I cocked my gun as Titus and Lucifer came to my side. “Where the fuck is my wife?”
“Fuck you, bitch,” he hissed. I knew he was worthless because I couldn’t remember his name. He was one of the made men Vincenzo had, and the reason he and the rest of these men were alive was because they were worthless in protecting Vincenzo’s assets.
I crouched down, grabbing his jaw. “You’re going to tell me where my wife is. I have plenty of free time to make sure every one of you knows the wrath of Caterina Moretti. Now, one more chance. Where the hell is my wife?”
Nothing.
Perfect.
They would know how this merciless queen went savage to find her wife.
I realized torture was only fun when they cooperated, or when they had the information I needed.
The first two screamed mercy immediately, but they both said they knew nothing.
Vincenzo didn’t trust any of them with valuable information.
Figured. I already knew that, but this mouthy one knew something. He was the last one alive.
The one I shot died. I killed the other one after his failed sneak attack, and once the other two said they had no information, I let my boys finish their meal. Now I was torturing the last one, and he was a pesky bastard.
I ripped each of his fingernails one-by-one, carved chunks of his flesh and fed it to my boys, and let Titus and Lucifer have their turn without killing him. When I ran the blade down his flaccid cock, he flinched, but didn’t give in.
I wonder if he knew he was marked for death. Dead men never talked in this life. Made men, depending on their training, could withstand days of torture, and I guess he was one of the lucky few who knew how to handle the end of a blade.
He hissed and shook as the blade pierced his groin. “O-Okay. O-kay. Y-You win,” he stuttered, blood dripping from his mouth. “I’ll tell you where your wife is.”
“Where?” I waited for him to speak, but when a malicious grin spread across his lips, I knew I would not get the answer I desired.
He spat at me, bloody spittle hitting my cheek. “S-She’s paying the price for l-loving you. M-Moretti wives never s-survive.”
I detonated. My knife went through his flesh, rough and jagged as his screams filled the room and his blood pained my skin.
My mind was a kaleidoscope of black and red as a wave of nausea clawed at my throat.
Before I realized what I was doing, he was dead.
My anger overtook and obliterated my plan.
This was why I needed someone with a steady head.
Moretti wives never survive.
My heart slammed against my ribs, as if the decaying organ was trying to escape the pain within.
Every part of me belonged to her, and until she was back in my arms, the world would pay for Vincenzo’s sins.
I was built to survive many things, endured traumas, trials, and tribulations, but I refused to live in a world without my valiant warrior.
I needed her to fight a little longer even though she’d been fighting alone for weeks. Let her hold on to the minuscule ounce of hope I prayed she still had. I made her a promise, and I never broke my promises.