Page 80 of Broken Princess

I’ll have to be ruthless if I have to face Max again.

“Why didn’t you tell us about your sister?”

“Honestly?” I say with an air of resignation. “A part of me knew as soon as I saw the marks on her body, the sheer volume, the placement. Every pattern was familiar because he did the same to me. But I didn’t process it until just now, saying it out loud to Salvatore. Zo only gave me the file this afternoon. It’s a lot when you realise you’re married to your sister’s murderer.”

He pulls me to him, dropping his leg and settling me on his lap, drawing me into a koala hug.

“Stop, I’ll hurt you.”

“Shut the fuck up, Aurora, and sit still.”

So, I do. I sink into him and bask in his warmth and comfort. I will hold him for as long as I can.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

My phone vibrates in my pocket, tearing me out of the moment I’m trying to bask in. This one didn’t last long. Her screams rang out across the warehouse like a discordant choir of angels descending into hell. It was magnificent.

I normally hate screamers. They waste their energy and burn themselves out too soon. But her cries were enthralling.

I painted the warehouse floor with arcs of arterial blood, coaxed in plumes out of her slender neck and wrists. Releasing the chain, I smile as her drained shell crumples to the ground, folding in on itself, snapping and breaking like a predated carcass.

I roll her onto the waiting tarpaulin and drag her across to the trunk of my car, hauling her in, and wrapping her as best I can. This is the first one I’ve brought here. I had hoped she would make a good proxy. That I could relive our last farewell, but no one will ever compare to her.

And she wouldn’t stop crying.

My principessa never cried—she was fucking perfect.

Crossing over to the controls on the back wall, I set off the hydrants, watching transfixed as crimson streaks spiral and swirl, disappearing into the drains.

So beautiful. Such a shame to erase it all.

Pulling out my phone, I look down at the incoming message alert. He’s summoned me.

Time to subjugate myself to the old man.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

ENZO

Fear rampages through my veins. It’s frenzied and violent, bordering on uncontrollable. Watching the procession of SUVs pulling away from the rear entrance, I know we’re too late.

I hate this feeling of powerlessness. I haven’t felt like this since I lost Gianni. Like my family is lost to me. The pain in my chest is palpable, leaving a dull ache that feels like I’m shackled by my failure.

When Sin called, I knew the plan had gone to shit. Marco’s men had been prepared for us, and Benedict and Sin lost the element of surprise. Benny was unconscious and Sin needed back-up. I made a choice and went to help them first—now Nico and Aurora are gone.

It’s all my fucking fault.

I glance in the rearview mirror to see Sinclair hunched over Benedict who’s flat out on his back breathing heavily. He took a helluva beating before I arrived, and we were able to overpower Marco’s men. Sin seems to have got away relatively unscathed, but I suspect Benny has a concussion, judging by the bruising on his temple.

I have one man half-battered and two captured. I should never have sent them in tonight. They knew we were coming. Someone betrayed us and my family paid the price for my hubris. That thought settles in my mind and steals my breath.

I will never forgive myself for this. They trusted me, and I failed them.

I’m trying to tail the procession of SUVs discreetly, but it’s not easy. I can’t lose them. Aurora and Nico are as good as dead if I can’t keep up with them or blow my cover.

“Have you got a way to track them?” I bark back at Sin.

“Shit, yes. Give me a minute.”

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