Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
MATEO
Drip. Drip. Drip.
I’m pretty sure they already know we didn’t raid them, but something is keeping me alive.
Right on cue, Lorenzo walks in. He’s cut me, burned me, and none of it has broken me yet. Today he’s wearing that familiar smirk, the one he only gets when Gino and the others start giving them what they want. Money and drugs, enough to make up for what they lost.
He wheels in his tray of knives and tools. There’s a phone on it this time. Great. Before he touches me, he snaps a few pictures, types something, and sets the phone down.
“What was that for?” I ask.
“To show your boys you’re still alive.”
“So, I guess they gave in to your demands. Or maybe you gave in to one of theirs.”
“That’s not the only reason you’re still breathing.” He picks up a knife and steps closer. “Back to yesterday’s question. Why did you become a lawyer?”
“I told you. Because I wanted to.”
“You’re good with a gun. You fight well. The Russians said you’re one of the best. Why would Antonio or Gino make you a lawyer unless it was a cover?”
I let out a sharp laugh. “I went to law school. I doubt they sent me there just to hide me.”
“Your father was Antonio’s best friend. You’re Gino’s,” he says coolly. “Of course they’d send you to the best schools.”
“You keep telling yourself that.”
The knife sinks into my leg, and I scream. He knows exactly where not to cut, how deep to go so I don’t bleed out. Vanessa once told me there are seven places that can kill you in seconds. Lorenzo avoids all of them. He wants me in pain, not dead. By the time he’s done, I count eight fresh wounds.
Before he leaves, he tosses antiseptic and gauze at my feet.
Once I’m alone, I force myself up and start cleaning the cuts. I soak gauze, dab each wound, then tear part of my shirt and wet it at the leaky pipe to wash off the dirt and dried blood. Every time I do this, I think of Vanessa and how she must be fighting to get to me. I know her. She won’t stop.
Every day in this room, I think about her.
About everything we wanted. A real life.
Kids. Quiet mornings. Something normal. I don’t know if we’ll ever get it now.
I’m furious with Gino for sending me here alone, for not listening to anyone.
Juliet warned him. Everyone did. And now I’m paying for it.
All I can do is survive and hold on to the hope that somehow, I’ll get back to her.