Page 54 of The Casella King

Dominic Casella doesn’t deserve revenge, but his sons do.

I might play the King well, but what everyone doesn’t see is how much I crave to feel something other than complete emptiness. That’s what Aries gives me…feeling. I know the monster inside craves blood, craves violence, hate, and revenge, but when she’s with me, all I see is her.

All Iwantis her.

It’s been two days. Two whole days without a word from Aries or anyone for that matter, just static silence. I keep prodding my men for any information, if they’ve seen anyone or noticed anything suspicious around our bars, our clubs, our distilleries, and our warehouses, but each time, I get a sympathetic look and a shake of a head.

I’m fucking tired of waiting, of sitting on my hands and wishing I could be beside her. I know how much we need this. I know how much we have sacrificed over the years to have an in or even a little bit of knowledge on how to get the Brayfords to bend at the knee—so to speak—but after my father’s death, we needed it even more.

No.

Wewantedit.

I realise the courage it would’ve taken Aries to do something like this, and I can’t help but notice my heart swelling with pride as a smile takes over my face. I feel the sweat slide down my face from my temple to my chin and onto the floor as I look up to my reflection in the mirror. The only thing I seem to be able to dois workout. Everything else I do, I end up thinking about Aries, wanting to storm the Brayford house and ruin all of Nico’s plans.

If there is one thing I have learnt in the past, it’s that I need to trust my brother a lot more when it comes to strategy because he has the mind for it.

I may be king, but what king doesn’t listen to his advisers?

“You know, I think this is the most time we’ve spent together in years.” Nico’s voice snaps me back into the room.

I glance over at him sprawled out on the floor, looking at the ceiling, lost in whatever thoughts he has. It’s true what he says. We rarely ever spend time together unless it has to do with work, and it’s been that way for a long time, since we basically stopped being teenagers.

“Well maybe we would if you weren’t drunk or high all the time.” I stand and walk over to the squat rack, placing weights on either side.

“Dick.”

“Ass,” I retort, and he chuckles. “You don’t need to babysit me.”

“I disagree.” He interlocks his hands, placing them behind his head on the floor. “Ezra Casella is dangerous, but the Casella King in love”—he blows out a breath—“could wreak havoc and fuck up Houdini’s plans.”

I don’t say anything. Instead, I stand, the bar resting on my shoulders, behind my neck and begin squatting, revelling in the strain in my muscles, the pain in my legs.

“I never thought I would see you like this…” He pauses. “So worried about someone else.” He continues talking, and I wish he would stop.

“She’s not justsomeone.” I huff, placing the bar on the rack and turning to face him. “She is mywife.”Nico grins, his eyes meeting mine.

“Whipped.” He chuckles as he rises, his eyes become sombre as we stare at each other. “She’s family now.” He takes a few steps toward me, as he places his hands inside his pockets. “If I can promise you one thing, brother.” I watch the sincerity in his eyes grow. “It’s that I will have her back in your arms, no matter the cost.”

I appreciate his sentiment, but I know I would kill him myself if he died in the process. He’s smarter than that, and I know what he said meant something else.

I would rather die than have you live your life without the woman you love.

Becausethat’swhat Nico wants. Love. Even if he will never truly admit it, he wants a love that consumes him, someone who would walk to the ends of the Earth with him, who will love him more than they love themselves.

“I appreciate you, Nico.” My voice is low, unsure. I rarely express my feelings and least of all to my family, but I refuse to repeat the same mistakes my father made. “I trust you with my life.”

Nico smiles, and something inside me breaks because his smile isn’t full like it used to be. It looks different, almost like it’sfractured.

His phone rings, interrupting, and his face turns serious, answering the call.

“Speak.” Even his voice is different. He takes one look at me and steps to turn away. I grab his shoulder with one hand and squeeze.

“If that’s about my wife, I deserve to know,” I say through gritted teeth, and he nods, placing the call on speaker.

“Repeat what you just told me. Ezra is here,” he speaks into the phone.

“Sir, we’re in,” Marco’s voice filters through the phone. “We have eyes and ears on Aries, and she’s safe. From what we know,they’re keeping her in the basement, but that’s about as much information we have right now.”

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