Page 57 of Lord of Punishment

“I have no issue with you protecting your territory as I plan on doing with mine. However, if you decide to end his life, call me first. I’d like to spend some quality time with him.”

He chuckled. “For the loss of one of your men or something else?”

I took a sip of my drink, holding the liquor in my mouth. The feel of the slight burn usually cleared my head. Not tonight. “Let’s just say there’s a growing list of atrocities that will not be tolerated. I think teaching Rico a lesson before he begs to meet his maker will do my soul some good.”

“Aren’t you a savage bastard,” he said, laughing even harder. “I’ll certainly allow you the joy of yanking his tongue out among other delicious activities. I have an idea. Why don’t you consider coming to LA for a little while? A couple weeks should do it. I have more than one home in California. I’ll be happy to loan you one of them as well as a vehicle. And we can consider working together when necessary.”

The thought was interesting, something unusual. “As you might imagine, I have my own way of handling things.”

“We both do, brother,” he said as if I had already been inducted into the Brotherhood. “However, joining forces might send a resounding message to our enemies. Don’t fuck with us.”

“Not bad. Not bad at all. I’ll consider it.”

“Here’s my card. It had my private cell phone number on it along with my email. If you do take me up on my offer, I’ll be happy to introduce you to the best people in LA. You never know when their… expertise will come in handy.”

He finished off his drink, acting as if what I’d served was the finest liquor he’d had.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Sabatino. I look forward to speaking with you again.”

After placing his glass on the coffee table, he headed toward the door.

“I do as well,” I told him.

As soon as he opened the door, he stopped and turned to look into my eyes once again. “La Hermandad es ferozmente leal.”

His statement resonated with me, especially given the teachings of my grandfather.

The Brotherhood is fiercely loyal.

CHAPTER 18

Georgia

“Why, Mommy?”

Dillon was full of questions. So was I.

Why were we being held like prisoners?

Just who was Sabatino to Rico Garcia?

Why was the man who’d captured me so certain I was working with such a snake?

I bristled as I sat down on the little man’s bed, trying to figure out how in the world I could explain the complexity of the situation we were currently in. I’d done my best to find a way out, prepared to find a rental car, train, or plane that could take us far away from here. The bastard had locked me in. Granted, what an incredible place to be held as prisoner.

We’d been provided with three rooms plus a bathroom that was larger than my bedroom back at the cabin. The view of the sweeping grounds was incredible, rolling hills and trees as far as the eye could see. My captor didn’t just live in a house. The powerful man lived in a tremendous estate, three floors with so many rooms I had a feeling I’d get lost if I was allowed to explore.

Which I doubted I would be.

The windows were locked and not from the inside, the French doors in my room the same. Even during my incarceration with Rico, I’d been allowed to roam the grounds. Sighing, I rubbed my hand down my little boy’s cheek. “Because when Sabatino is doing business, we can’t interfere.”

I wanted to feel incensed, pretending the bastard of a man didn’t have a conscience but I would be wrong. Somehow, Sabatino had managed to decorate Dillon’s room with toys and books, even a kid’s lamp and comforter. My room was also special with plush surroundings, toiletries and perfume, new clothes hanging in the closet.

He’d also had my laptop packed up and brought with us some of Dillon’s clothes and Max’s food and toys as well as one of the pup’s favorite beds. It would seem he’d been inside my home going through my things for a little while. That irritated me also as much as everything else.

The asshole clearly believed he could ply me with gifts and I’d fall under his tyrannical spell. He obviously didn’t know what I was made of. Fuck him. Fuck this place.

A sick feeling churned in my stomach. I was being used as a pawn. What was I going to do?

---