CHAPTER 8 MAURO
When I open my eyes, I'm still lying outside the door leading to Rocco’s room. The blond omega's screams are still coming from inside. I push myself up, my whole body trembling, and wipe the blood from my face. The world around me sways as if I were on a swing.
But if that bastard thinks I'm going to give up, then he doesn't know a damn thing about me.
I'm the man who resisted drugs designed to destroy my brain permanently and erase my memory through nothing but sheer force of will, and I'm not about to quit now.
My vision keeps swimming, dark spots spinning at the edges, but I force myself toward Luca's room anyway.
As I pass the briefing room, voices drift out into the hallway. I slow down to listen and let out a quiet breath of relief. I recognize only Ennio and Luca.
Perfect. That's the best possible scenario, especially if our uncle—the goddamn capo—isn't in there.
I shove the door open. They're both wearing tactical gear, so they must've just come back from an operation, and they're not alone.
Four other soldati are in the room, gathered around what looks like a debriefing, going over whatever happened.
Something in the back of my mind tells me they were supposed to hit the Russians tonight, but I can barely hold a thought together, swaying heavily.
I type into my phone with trembling fingers:
"Everyone out. I need to talk to Ennio and Luca."
As always, every soldati looks to Ennio before moving. That's how it works around here. Whenever Anzo isn't present, everyone waits for Ennio to confirm the order.
Ennio gives a calm nod, and immediately they all stand up and file out of the room.
I start typing again as fast as my fingers can move, and my phone reads the words aloud.
"Rocco has an omega in his room. I have to get him away from him. Please… help me."
Luca snorts. He looks at me like I just asked him to dance a waltz in the middle of the room.
"You really don't want to do that. Rocco's insanely territorial about his fucktoys. He doesn't let anyone interfere in his business."
"I don't give a shit. I want that omega out of his hands," I type furiously.
"Why?" Ennio asks. The question is short and cold, and his black eyes lock onto mine without the slightest flicker.
As fast as I can, I type my answer.
"I have this strange feeling that he's my True Mate."
Yeah… I take a huge risk.
It's a stretch, and I don't even know who the guy is. I've never seen him up close in my life. But I have to convince them somehow, so I let myself tell a wish rather than the truth.
Silence fills the room.
Luca doesn't even look at me. He absently rolls a spent shell casing between his fingers while his eyes drift toward Ennio. I know he'll do whatever Ennio decides, and I want him on my side. As a purple alpha, he's the only one here who can physically overpower Rocco.
Ennio has his vape in his fingers and takes a long drag, studying me with the detached expression of someone running a cold tactical assessment.
"What happened to you? Did you already get into it with him?" he asks, pointing at the split in my temple with his vape.
I sigh and type back, "I tried to intervene, but he smashed me with the butt of his gun. It's nothing worth talking about," I answer quickly because I don't want anyone wasting precious time worrying about me.
But Ennio doesn't let it go.
"You need to have that looked at. You're still bleeding, and losing consciousness usually means you have a concussion. In the meantime, do you have any footage of this omega? Maybe Luca or I have seen him before, and we can tell you what your chances are of getting him away from Rocco."
"I do. Give me a second. I can access the cameras from my phone."
I try to focus my drifting attention, pain pulsing in my temple as I log into the security system. I'm the only one with remote access, and for once I'm actually putting it to good use.
I pull up the hallway camera outside Rocco's room, then rewind even farther until I find footage from the hall leading to the garage.
The omega's face—stunning, almost unreal in its beauty—is much clearer there.
The recording also catches Rocco slapping him across the face twice when the omega resists too much. What a fucking bastard.
Ennio and Luca watch the footage without saying a word. None of this shocks them. We're all mafia soldiers. Violence is simply the air everyone here breathes.
I zoom in on the omega's face and freeze the frame.
Ennio raises an eyebrow slightly, then gives a slow nod.
"I know who that kid is. His name's Jared. Eighteen… maybe nineteen. He's trying to make it as a model. A few months ago, he agreed to join the Ring in exchange for high-paying contracts with photographers working for major brands."
I stop breathing for a second.
"Damn."
"The Ring?" Luca mutters, rubbing his beard. "That's bad."
"Not necessarily," Ennio replies calmly. "You guys know the Ring officially kicked Rocco out a few days ago?"
Well, I had no idea, but it’s not that surprising. Rocco only ever bragged about his victories. His failures he keeps to himself.
The Ring is a circle of the city's most powerful men who pass around the hottest models and up-and-coming music and movie stars, helping them land lucrative contracts, campaigns, and acting roles in return.
From what I know, each member gets an omega for a week to do whatever he wants with him.
The group includes the mayor himself, the leader of Beta Empowerment, Dante Mol, several politicians, a handful of major businessmen, and also my uncle Vincenzo, who was one of its founders.
Luca can't hide his curiosity.
"How the hell did they kick him out? Rocco doesn't back down when it comes to shit like that."
Ennio shrugs. "From what Vincenzo told me, the omegas leaving his place were in such terrible condition that the next guy in line had to take them to the hospital first, or they were too wrecked to be much use. Eventually the Ring collectively decided they'd had enough of him."
"Oho…" Luca cackles. "I bet that pissed him off something fierce. The guy doesn't know the meaning of the word no." He keeps laughing.
I have to lean against the wall. My vision starts to darken, and I fight the urge to fall asleep. Ennio's sharp eyes follow me.
Luca keeps going, "That bastard never said a damn word about it. Guess it bruised his ego… or maybe he still thinks stealing Jared will show them, punish them?"
"Yeah, I think this is exactly his way of trying to get back at them," Ennio replies calmly.
"He stole their prized possession. Jared is by far the most beautiful omega they've ever brought into the Ring.
Everybody's lining up for their turn with him.
Rocco got kicked out just a few days before his week came around.
That had to drive him fucking crazy. My guess is they did it because they didn't want him ruining their golden boy.
But that's also our opening. I don't know how Rocco managed to kidnap him, but I'm certain the mayor won't be happy about it.
He's taken a particular liking to Jared. "
My stomach twists painfully.
That poor omega.
This is so much bigger than I thought.
Getting anyone out of the Ring takes serious backing, someone deeply connected throughout every layer of the city's power structure.
I feel dizzy as the realization sinks in that getting him out is way beyond anything I can do.
I've heard what happens to people who try.
They end up as skeletons sealed into the concrete foundation of some upscale housing development funded by the mob.
"But if there's even the slightest chance we can at least get him away from Rocco, I want to take it," I quickly type into my phone. "Rocco's the worst!"
I turn toward Ennio, fighting for balance, splaying my fingers on the wall for stability, and typing with just one hand, "Please…
will you help him? Rocco will listen to you.
He won't want to pick a fight with you because he knows it'd put him at odds with Anzo.
You set the tone for all our business relationships. "
Ennio studies me in silence for a moment, then lowers his vape and speaks,
"Mauro, you need to understand that even if we get him out of Rocco's room, that's only the first step."
"I know that. But I can't stand the thought of Rocco hurting him right now. Please… help him."
Another long silence hangs in the room.
Finally, Ennio nods.
"All right. But you’ll owe me."
"Fine. Anything you want…" I type without hesitation.
Ennio waves a hand at Luca.
"Let's go. You might come in handy if words aren't enough to convince him."
Then he stops and looks back at me.
"But you're staying here. You're no use to us in this condition. Take care of that wound. You're still bleeding all over the floor, and you can barely stay on your feet. He did a number on you."
"I have to be there. I want to be there," I start typing, but Ennio walks right past me.
"You're staying. That's not up for discussion. You'll only piss Rocco off even more."
"Okay… but at least take this with you," I type, pulling the tiny camera I always carry out of my pocket and handing it to him.
Ennio hesitates for a second before clipping it discreetly to his cuff.
"We'll get him out of there and send him back to the hotel where the Ring's omegas stay. You'll be better off staying out of it. Otherwise, Rocco will put a target on your back, and trust me, you don't want that. Besides, picking a fight with the men in the Ring is a very bad idea."
I nod.
I'd hoped I'd get the chance to talk to Jared, but maybe now isn't the time. He's probably terrified and deeply traumatized. The last thing he needs is to associate me with everything that's happened tonight.
My fingers half-consciously rise to my pendant.
"Okay, but give him this. Tell him it's from…"
I hesitate over the words before finishing the sentence on the display. "…from the person who tried to save him."