Page 30 of Forbidden Obsession

“Look at this son of a bitch,” Dameon barked. He slapped Rolando on the shoulder and ordered, “Wake ’em up!”

Rolando barked orders in our native tongue, and a capo stepped forward and slipped smelling salts underneath his nose.

Gianni’s body jerked backward, his eyes popping open like a wild animal as he quickly glanced around.

“Oooooooou!” he howled as pain from his concussion hit him like a mountain of bricks. He pulled from the capos and balled up into a fetal position on the ground.

“Get ’em up!” Saliva flew from Dameon’s mouth. He was pissed, and I was amused.

“Ouuuuuu! Ouuuuu!”

“Shut the fuck up, you imbecile!” Dameon kicked Gianni three times, and he continued to howl in pain.

“You might have to give him a minute. He’s obviously in no position to focus on your questions.”

Dameon turned his frustration to Rolando. “And why is that, I wonder!?”

“The sooner we get him some help, the sooner we can get answers from him.”

Frustration seeped from Dameon. His brows dipped and eyes were wild as he burned with fury. His gaze turned to me, and I gave him back the riddled frustration masking my face.

“Where did you find this motherfucker?”

“In a ditch two miles from Rolando’s.”

His eyes widened, as did Rolando’s.

“Bullshit!” Rolando spat. “No one can get that close to my compound without being spotted!”

I ignored him, which he hated, and spoke to Dameon. “Father, it’s as simple as checking the security footage, which I have already done, but if you’d like to go behind me, you’re within your right to do so.”

Dameon stared at me for a long moment, then squinted at Rolando. When his eyes shifted back to me, he cleared his throat.

“I don’t know what’s happening between you two, but I need you to fix it. You’re my son, and I love you more than life itself.” He glanced at Rolando. “You’re the eyes behind my head. If your compound can be breached, then so can mine, and that is a big fuckin’ problem.”

“Dameon, you know I keep security tight. No one can breach either of our estates unless it’s him!”

He pointed at me, eyes wide and accusatory. I’d been waiting for this moment. I knew it was bound to come eventually, but I didn’t see it happening this soon.

“So then, I’m the Black Rose, is that it, Rolando?”

Dameon’s words tumbled out of his mouth in an Italian rush.

“Rolando, don’t force me to cut your fucking tongue out and feed it to the dogs motherfucker!”

Rolando’s eyes grew, and I only stared at him, teasing him with a light smirk that was barely noticeable but got my point across.

Rolando exhaled sharply, turned his back, and then faced us again. He knew this was a game he couldn’t win. It angered him to his core that I was the only person who could get in Dameon’s ear over him.

“Maybe I should go to Italy. Let you…fix things here while I assist Bruno with operations there.”

Dameon continued his outburst in Italian.

“You will do no such fuckin’ thing! You’re to stay by my side! Bruno has everything under control there. We need control here! I don’t give a motherfuck what Rolando says!”

I responded to him the same.

“I can’t deal with your jealous consigliere. He’s been barking at me for a while now, and I’ve let it slide for you, Father. But insinuating I had anything to do with Gianni’s disappearance is calling me a traitor, and I don’t take lightly to that. He’s only still breathing at this moment because of you. I must leave.”

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