Page 64 of Loyalties & Longings

“You know, Lakey, I thought this would be a lot more difficult, especially with your dad being overprotective and that lapdog of yours. Not to mention the actual dog downstairs.”

I bide my time for now, feeling my body coming back to me. My nerves are slowly coming back online but more intensely. Everything is heightened, making me hyperaware of everything from the pounding of my beating heart to my thoughts, which are so loud. The blood rushing through my veins feels like millions of worker ants racing through the tiny vessels. My fingers twitch, and toes tingle. I clench my teeth to keep from giving myself away.

“That demon-looking mongrel down in the yard was pretty easy. Just throw him a bone, literally. Although, the shit almost fucking bit me before I could throw it to him. I mean, I really should have just shot him. It would have been so much easier.Might still do it on my way out. I haven’t decided yet.” He sounds pleased with himself.

“Blaze was just as easy. He literally bends easier than willow when it comes to anything Enzo asks for. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s sucking his dick behind closed doors. He’ll even leaveyouunattended at your father’s command. I had your dad, at gunpoint, send Blaze on a fucking goose chase across the city, where a couple of my boys were waiting to ambush him.” Massimo scoffs.

A cry leaves my throat, and more tears fall at the thought of Blaze being jumped by a couple of thugs. Dragging the chair closer to the bed as if he has the juiciest gossip in the world, Massimo leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees, his voice dropping even lower.

“Your dad was probably the easiest, to be honest. He’s really been so unfocused lately, especially since someone has been running around the city ripping everything out from under him. If I didn’t know any better, I would say that his world is crumbling around him.” He flashes a sadistic grin at me, and as he leans back, I see a glint of silver. My eyes go wide at the realization that he’s pulled a knife from somewhere. Distracted by the blade, it takes a moment to process what he said. The other shoe has just dropped.

“You!” I yell, jerking forward and pulling on my restraints, completely forgetting I was trying to play possum until the right moment. My legs are pulled straight and tied so tightly I can’t move them at all, but my arms bend slightly, which gives enough slack to bring my upper body up somewhat.

“That’s right, Lakey, it was me,” he says mockingly. “I have giveneverythingto Enzo my entire life. I’ve kept no time for myself, not really. I have been subservient, dutiful, loyal, and respectful to no end. Even being his best friend and consigliere, with nothing, absolutely nothing in return. So really, it’s allEnzo’s fault this has come to pass. He’s got nobody to blame but himself.”

He takes a breath, tugging at his hair before continuing, “I’ve been with him since he inherited everything when your nonno suddenly passed away, with no other immediate family to give the family business to, leaving him to take over everything on his own. Who was by his side? Not Blaze. But loyalty ain’t worth shit,” he spits.

“So, I have been taking this city from your father, piece by fucking piece. Starting with that run all those years ago. Then, once Blaze was released, I had to start all over again. Remember that arms deal your little boyfriend made with the Orlov brothers? I thought for sure Enzo would kick him to the curb after he fucked that one up,” he muses, picking beneath his nails with the tip of the knife.

“But no, it was never going as easy as just one fuck up and he’d be gone. So when I had to go check on the docks a few weeks ago, I was already there, working on the connections with the coke suppliers. I just so happened to have organized a couple of my men to snatch you and send a warning back to Enzo, although I was gunning for him. I’ve been planning this for quite some time. It’s just recently it’s all begun to come to fruition.” He shrugs.

“You’re pathetic. You’ll never be even half the man that Dad or Blaze are,” I spit, the hatred spewing from my mouth.

He jumps up from the chair and crawls up the bed between my open legs. My stomach drops in dread. He braces his arms on either side of my head with the knife still in one hand and hovers above me.

“I am more than deserving,” he bites back, grabbing my face roughly and squeezing my cheeks so hard I feel my teeth cutting into the insides of my mouth.

“I should have injected more into you. I would have run therisk of you completely passing out, but at least you would have been more… pliable.” He runs his hand down over my jaw, and my mouth is already so dry, apart from the small amount of blood I taste.

“I’ve lived my whole life in your dad’s shadow.” His voice grows thick, and his hand runs down my body, which is still covered in the tight red silk, getting lower. I fight to move from beneath him, but my efforts are futile.

“It’s time formeto have a finger in each of the pies around the city. Including this one.” His voice is lecherous as his fingers reach the soft flesh between my legs.

The acid burns up the back of my throat again before I feel the pain of him shoving one of his dirty, calloused fingers inside me.

“Such a tight little pussy for me. You’re going to be so wet and begging for my dick and me to let you come by the time I’m through,” he says, want in his eyes.

Angry tears fall freely from my eyes, although I’m at a loss for words because this can’t be happening to me. I gather as much saliva as I can and spit in his face.

“You dirty fucking bitch,” he growls, removing his finger. Before I have a chance to try to move or say anything, he brings the knife up and slams it down through the pillow next to my head.

“I’ve got something for you, actually. I think you’re going to really love it.” Sitting back on his knees, he reaches behind him for something tucked into the back of his pants. The comprehension must be written all over my face because I know he only keeps one thing there.

“No, Massimo. No, you don’t want to do this. You don’t have to, you know they’ll give you anything, and you know they’ll come for you if you kill me,” I implore.

He pulls out his gun, and I feel the color drain from my face. My whole body goes cold.

He’s put a silencer on his goddamn Magnum.

“Don’t worry, pet. You’re going to love this,” he says with a gleam in his eye.

Pet.

Pet.

PET.

My head is pounding, and an uncontrollable sob leaves my chest. He left the voicemail message. Now he’s got me right where he wants me.

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