Page 57 of The Casella King

I have one goal and one goal only. That is to get to the distillery in record time.

Fumes burn my nostrils as I walk into the distillery with Nico standing on my left. My jaw clenches at the sight of the wreckage left behind. Barrels of alcohol have been stolen along with the rest of the stash we had from the Brayfords.

“Did she know about this too?” I question Nico, as I watch him take in the sight.

“She did,” he confirms, but all it does is form a twist further inside my gut.

My mind betrays me as it questions her loyalty, and I quickly shut it down.

“Get everyone working on making this into a respectable distillery again.” I grab Nico by the collar with both hands, blind fury emanating from every pore of my body. “We’re doing thismyway now.” I let him go and walk out the door as he follows. I gave Nico a chance to do things his way, the civil way, to see if it would work, but there is only one language these fuckers will understand.

The language of a deranged fucking psychopath.

I want my wife back, and I will set the world on fire for her, burning everyone and everything in my path until I have her in my arms. Leaving her to prove something to me was the wrong decision. I see that now even though it wasn’t what I wanted, it’s whatshewanted.

Regardless of what she wants, I will show her exactly how fucked up our world can be. For her, I will go further into the darkness, until there isn’t a shred of light left, even if I never reemerge.

My guns hang heavy in their holsters as I watch the boys gather their ammunition, armed with everything from guns down to knives and c4.

“What exactly is the plan, brother?” Nico questions as he cocks his gun after loading it.

“We tear through everything and everyone in sight under the cover of darkness.” A smile grows on my lips at the promise of bloodshed. “I don’t give a fuck who you kill, as long as I get my wife back.”

“This will change everything, you know that, right?” Nico raises his eyebrows, and I hear the question in his tone, without him having to say anything.

Am I sure I want to do it this way and make it a public spectacle like we promised the family? The reality is I wouldn’t have Aries in this position more than a minute longer than necessary. I would abandon all my beliefs, my prior plans, and absolutely everything else to ensure her safety in my arms again. I nod once and without another look, he gathers our weapons and heads to the three black vans waiting outside the warehouse, loading it up. I crack my neck, pressure settling into the base of my stomach, the pressure of her safety riding heavily on my shoulders.

The treaty our ancestors had signed hundreds of years ago should have been obeyed, but like any human, we got greedy. We wanted more. Eventually, the thirst for power overruled a silly little treaty between our ancestors. I wasn’t planning to do this, to create another war between the mafia families of London. Not when I know for a fact how much we could all benefit by working together. There is enough money in the world to set up our future families for years to come, but no one is smart enough to put their pride aside and forget about revenge. It’s no secret that when we do this, the other families will retaliate in response, making us their target.

Like I said, men haven’t changed, and we will kill each other, until the earth dries up, and we are no longer.

“Listen up!” I project my voice so the guys at the back can hear. “Tonight will be the night we have all been waiting for.” I watch all the faces gathered in front of me, some family, some friends of the Casella family for years. “We will storm the Brayford house and take back what’s mine. I don’t care that this is not how it was supposed to be done, and if you so much asthinkabout questioning it, leave now.” A few exchange glances around the table and avert their gazes to the floor. “I’m not asking you to go to war…” I pause, watching some of the men in the room, most of them old enough to be fathers, all of which aresons. “I am asking you to die.” The silence is thick with tension, but my mind is made up. I will get my wife back tonight, no matter how many have to die. Nico walks through the doors, looks to me, and nods.

“We’re with you until the end, boss,” one of them calls out, and they all nod, gathering their weapons and heading to the vans.

My stomach growls as the sun rises, shining through the small window of the basement, illuminating the small dust particles in the air.

I slowly approach the steps and begin ascending, trying to be as quiet as possible. Usually by this time the guards have switched over, and the ‘nicer’ one of the two should be on duty. I press my ear to the wooden door but have no luck with hearing anything beyond it. I rap my knuckles on it lightly, hoping for a reply from the nicer guard.

“What?” His tone is flat and almost bored.

“I need to pee,” I say softly, hoping he’ll accommodate me. I hear a low grumble followed by fumbling keys. Taking a few steps back, I wait for the door to open, revealing the nicer guard.

“Make it quick.” He nods toward the bathroom which is directly opposite the basement, and I’m so thankful that I sprint up the steps.

I wash my hands and take a look at myself in the mirror. My hair is basically stuck to my scalp, black rings surround my eyes, and my gaze drops down to the mark that bastard left on myarm. I rip my gaze from it and shut off the faucet. The spot still aches and reminds me of the depth of my situation. I’m starting to get the sinking feeling that perhaps that woman was right. I might need to plan for an escape if he comes back, and my information hasn’t checked out. My heart beats faster inside my chest, pounding and rattling my ribcage.

“Hurry up.” The guard’s voice filters through the door, and I open it, walking back inside the basement and down the steps.

It has to be tonight. I have to escape tonight, but not before I have something on them. Not before I can go back to Ezra with some sort of information. I ponder and plan my escape as I hear footsteps approaching the basement, and I tense, my eyes immediately finding the door as it opens. My heart picks up speed only to realise it’s her, the same woman from before. She gently closes the door and walks down the steps, balancing a tray of food in her hands. Reaching me, she places it down on the floor and takes a seat in front of me. I glance at the tray, delicious scones, danishes, and pastries on a large plate with a glass of orange juice. My mouth practically salivates with the scent alone.

“Is this a bribe of some sort?” I nod to the woman, and she shakes her head.

“We over ordered.” She smiles half a smile.

“How do I know it’s not poisoned?” I lick my lips to stop from drooling.

“You think if I wanted to kill you that I wouldn’t have done it sooner?” she raises an eyebrow, and she has a point. I begin with the cherry danish, taking a massive bite, bigger than I can fit in my mouth, and the first taste has me rolling my eyes back into my skull. It’s fucking heavenly.

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