Page 110 of Maddest Temptation

“We are ready to go.” Vince came into the room together with Marie’s guard Matteo.

I jumped to my feet. We had been waiting for an hour, and I was starting to lose my mind, my body vibrating with anxiety. My palms were sore from having dug my nails in too hard.

“What about Vitelli and Cassio?” Marie asked coming to her feet slowly.

Vince shook his head. “The boss has given orders.”

I swallowed hard. We hadn’t heard from Cassio or Vitelli in that hour, but that didn’t mean he was in danger. Cassio had told me he had a plan to take down Donato and the Bratva’s Pakhan, Grigori.

“Alright,” I agreed because I didn’t want to make Cassio worry more than he already was. If going to the lake house was what he wanted, then I would go there.

Marie looked at me for guidance, as if I had ever been in a situation like this, but right now, I tried to be strong for the both of us.

“We’ll go separately,” Vince said. “Marie, you’ll ride with Matteo, and we’ll leave a few minutes later,” he said to me.

Marie grabbed my hand and when I looked at her, she was seconds from crying. “It’s going to be alright,” I lied because it was all I could give her now.

Picking Reggie up from the floor I handed him to her. “For moral support.”

She hugged him tight against her. “Are you sure?”

No, I wasn’t. Nothing about today was going as planned. If it had been up to me, I would have spent my day in bed, mourning my mother, but even that Donato had stolen from me. “You need him.”

Marie smiled weakly. “I do.” She agreed.

We hugged each other, and I watched as my best friend walked out of the door and that’s when the pressure behind my eyes began to grow. Cassio had it under control. I knew he did.

Thirty minutes slipped through my fingers and when the clock struck four, Vince came into Marie’s living room. “It’s time.”

I nodded and followed him, a shiver raced down my back, and I looked around, trying to identify what was holding me back. It was an odd feeling, something strange, it had settled in my bones and wouldn’t let go. I had a bad sensation about this.

“Where is Cassio?” I asked Vince as he led me toward the car.

Vince didn’t answer.

“Please, I need to know he’s alright.” I stopped by the backseat door and refused to enter.

Vince shook his head. “I don’t know,” he confessed. “But don’t worry, the Boss knows what he’s doing.”

I got into the car and as we drove toward Cassio’s Lake house cabin, all I could think about was that I loved him and that I wanted to get to say that again, and again, for the rest of my life.

It happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to react. Vince swerved our car trying to avoid the other one that ended up crashing into us. I hit my head against the seat and cried out in pain.

“Get down!” Vince ordered as shots were fired against the glass.

I scooted low and placed my hands over my ears trying to cover myself. The windows were bulletproof, but the shots wouldn’t stop.

“Fuck,” Vince shouted just as the front window shattered, and I heard the sickening sound of a bullet hitting flesh.

That’s when I screamed. It did me no good as my door was yanked open and I was dragged outside. Instinct kicked in and I fought my assailants with everything I had in me. I couldn’t see their faces; they all wore black balaclavas.

I screamed, hoping someone would stop and help, but no one came. “Shut her up.” It was all I heard before someone hit me with the butt of a gun and I blacked out.

“There she is. Welcome back, cara mia.” That voice…

I blinked a few times trying to see, and when my eyes adjusted, I caught sight of Donato.

“W-what…” I looked around and saw armed men, there were at least five of them. I tried to move, but I was tied to a chair, my hands bound with tape. “Where am I?” I fought against my bounds.

---