Chapter 31

Lorenzo

Fuck off, bitch.

The words sent anger rushing through me, consuming all reason and sense.

Who the fuck did she think she was? I could see it in her eyes--her defiance, her insolence--the lack of fear.

Didn't she know who she was to me? What she was to me?

She was just some bastard child, fit for no more than to be useful to me, and yet, she dared to defy me, to spit in my face, to cause me so much trouble when she should have been grateful to have been alive.

I had tolerated her mother's insolence for too long. Tolerated her insolence for too long.

She was just like that horse I'd had years ago: untamed and full of spirit. That bastard horse had defied me until its last breath, and if she was determined to meet the same fate, then fine, but not until after I'd broken her, tamed her, and wrung every drop of usefulness out of her.

Not until I'd turned her over to Elio to do with what he pleased.

I threw her to the ground and felt myself advancing on her without caring what would happen to her. I swung down, aiming my fists and feet at her, charging almost blindly after her.

"Stupid bitch!"

Mia

What little humanity had been in him vanished. He was pratically foaming at the mouth, furious. It was like I'd unleashed a beast. His face contorted into a mask of rage as he lunged at me. I tried to roll out of the way as soon as I hit the ground, but he chased me. When I couldn't get out of the way, I braced myself for the impact, my body tensing in anticipation. His fist connected with my face. The world swam. My jaw ached. The world erupted into a kaleidoscope of pain and confusion. His foot slammed into my chest, knocking the breath out of me. I rolled out of the way before he could kick me enough, but he followed. I lashed out, landing a solid kick in his side. I lifted my foot driving the heel of the heels I was wearing to wherever I could reach. He howled in pain, roared and cursed.

I tried to scramble to my feet, but he was on me, his weight pinning me down. I fought back, my nails raking at his face, my teeth sinking into his arm. But he was too strong, his grip an iron vice. With a sickening thud, he landed another blow, this time to my ribs. I gasped, the pain shooting through my body. I choked and tried to through him off. I scratched his face. I managed to punch him in the face. His head flew back for a second. I reared up slamming my elbow with his face, but he just kept coming. Fear and anger warred within me and I shoved him off, searching for a way out. The people he'd sent in stood back, watching with wide, fearful eyes.

I tried to run.

"Stupid bitch!"

He grabbed for me, and I dodged out the way. I met his gaze, fire burning in his eyes, but he seemed more conscious. Maybe the pain was sinking in. I pulled myself away from him and onto my feet. He whirled on me. Before he could touch me, I lashed out, my fist connecting with his jaw. It was a weak blow, I knew, but it was all I could muster in that moment. The force of it sent me stumbling forward. My fist throbbed. He stumbled back, a flicker of surprise crossed his face, then the rage came back--terrifying and murderous. He reminded me of this big guy from my high school who'd cornered me in the bathroom intending to do what he wanted to me and not expecting me to put his head through the cheap glass mirror. and sinks.

I danced back, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I had to get away, had to find a weapon. I stumbled, the pain making it hard to focus. Whenever he got too close, I kicked at him--his shins, his chest--wherever I could reach. I did anything I could to put distance between us. But he was faster, stronger. The last kick was too slow. His hands clamped down on my ankles, and with a grunt, he yanked me off my feet. I scrambled and kicked, but it was useless. He dragged me across the room and away from the door.

Panic surged through me as the door grew further away. It was my only way out. I twisted and turned, trying to break free from his iron grip. I could hear him breathing heavily, panting like an animal. I turned back and kicked hard at his wrist. He let go with a cry. I turned over and tried to get to my feet.

Just as I managed to throw myself forward. His hand clamped around my arm and yanked me back. I saw the glint of metal. Before I could react, his hand shot out, the gun connecting hard with my face. A sharp pain exploded across my cheek, and something warm was streaming down my nose. The world tilted, and then everything went black with pain. I was falling, I knew it, but no matter how I tried to fight against the darkness, the pain kept dragging me under. I could feel his hands on my throat, squeezing the life from me. Panic surged through me as the flashes of light started to fade and the world grew darker. I clawed at his arms, but it did nothing. I couldn't breathe.

I thought of my mother in the hospital.

I thought of Albert.

Then, I thought about what was going to happen to Lorenzo's little deal and a smile almost took over.

If I was going to die, at least--

"Lorenzo, stop! You'll kill her!" It was Bianca, her voice filled with fear and desperation. "We need her alive or it'll be Sophia!"

The pressure on my throat eased, and I gasped for air, my lungs burning. The world spun as I struggled to regain my senses. I lay on the ground, letting the realization crash and burn through me. When my vision cleared, I saw Lorenzo standing over me, his face a mask of fury. His eyes were cold, devoid of any human emotion, and my heart was colder than ever.

"Next time, you won't be so lucky," he growled, his voice like ice.

I swallowed past the pain. My throat burned like fire, and every breath was a painful struggle, yet I managed to croak out a word.

“Liar.”

A flicker of surprise crossed his face, quickly replaced by a simmering rage. His eyes narrowed, and I saw the storm brewing within him, but he didn't move. He didn’t deny it. There was no need. We both knew it.

He'd do anything, even set his pride aside, to protect Sophia from this deal...

Which meant that Don Oscuri was an even worse man than him.

Had I ever expected him to show even a bit of fatherly concern for me?

I almost laughed. I pushed to sit up, wiping the blood from my nose. Memories of countless street fights flashed through my mind. I'd bet I was the first person to ever fight Sophia. The thought pushed through the pain, leaving nothing but anger and bitterness in its wake.

I looked at him, my voice a hoarse whisper. “Nothing to say?" I laughed, a broken, defiant sound. "Not going to try and prove me wrong?"

Bianca hissed at me. "Shut up, stupid girl."

I ignored her. I knew his limits. He wouldn’t kill me. Not yet. Not when I was still useful. I'd caught him off guard, but he wasn't off guard now.

And he knew that I'd probably fight to the last moment and it would still be Sophia. Lorenzo’s fury was a tangible thing, a force that seemed to fill the room. Yet, there was a cold calculation in his eyes. Then, he smiled and a real sense of fear started to sink in.

“You’re smart enough to know I need you,” he growled, his voice low and menacing. “But that’s not the only way I can get your cooperation.”

My heart pounded in my chest.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

“I should have known you have too much of my blood in you. Violence was never going to work.”

The words hung in the air, shaking and chilling me. Now? Now was when he said something like that? Acknowledging our relation in more than just a power grab? There was something almost proud in his voice.

I gagged at the sick sense of dread taking over me as he dialed a number and put it on speaker. My heart pounded in my ears. Who was he calling?

"Yes, Boss?"

I knew that voice. My stomach lurched and my heart damn near stopped.

It was my mother's surgeon. The man who had just given us the pre-operative debrief.

Lorenzo spoke, his voice cold and calculated. “Postpone the surgery until after the party.”