Page 68 of Loyalties & Longings

With a well-trained dog in his face ready to maim him, Massimo has no choice but to sit still and keep silent while I bind his torso to the chair. Searching the concrete floor, I find a piece of dirty rag to gag him with. There’s no need to ask him questions. I caught him in the act of what he was about to do to Lake.

To what’smine.

Leaning close to his ear, I snarl, “You tried to hurt what belongs to me. But oh, how I’m going to have fun. I won’t kill you, not yet. No, that will be for Lake to decide. I will, however,hurt you. You’re going to suffer pain so tremendous you’ll be begging for her to kill you. And yes, I’ll make sure you’re awake for every single second of the hell I’m about to put you through.” I bite out the words and feel my blood heating within my veins as the adrenaline courses through my system.

“But first, I have to go and take care of the messyoumade. Lucifer, guard,” I snap out, stopping to slam the shed door before racing back to Enzo and my siren.

Enzo’s still sitting in the same position I left him when I reenter the house. He’s still bleeding and looks as though he will pass out at any moment. Holding his left hand across his body to his shoulder, his mouth moves but no sound comes out.

Crouching down beside him, I ask. “What do you need, Enzo?”

“Office. Cell,” he manages to rasp out through clenched teeth.

I race down the hall to his office, which looks like it’s been ransacked. There’s paperwork scattered on the desk and floor, along with fallen books. His whiskey table has been turned over, his decanter and lowball glasses shattered, the pungent amber liquid soaking the carpet.

This must be where Massimo got the jump on him.

How the heck am I going to find his cell in this mess? Deciding to check the desk first, I kick a few books and papers out of the way as I cross the room in case it is under them. Reaching the desk, I shuffle some papers and photo frames out of the way. I finally find his cell under a family photo of Enzo, Lani, and Lake.

Grabbing the cell, I sprint back to Enzo. Scrolling through his contacts, I dialDoc,put the cell on loudspeaker, and place it in Enzo’s hand before taking off upstairs.

“I’ve got to check on Lake,” I call behind me.

Rushing through the door, my heart and stomach drop. She’s still lying motionless, still bound to the bed. Although themovement is slight, her chest is rising and falling. I hurry to the end of the bed and get to work untying her feet.

Working on the knots at her wrists is a little more difficult. I pull my switchblade from my inner vest pocket, and her eyes fly open at thethwickof the blade being released. Looking terrified, she moves to kick me.

Moving faster, I grab her ankle with my free hand.

“Siren. It’s okay, it’s me,” I soothe.

It takes her another moment for the realization to sink in, and her whole body relaxes, although her breathing is now erratic.

“I’m just going to cut these binds for you.”

“Blaze. He... he...” Her words are wobbly and cut off with a sob, a tear falling from the corner of her eye. I stroke away the hair that has stuck to her face with sweat and tears.

She is inconsolable, her breaths coming out ragged, and her chest is heaving with body-wracking sobs.

“Blaze. He used... he did... he said... it was him.” Lake has never looked so shaken in all the time I’ve known her. I hold her body against mine in a tight embrace, cradling her head against me with one hand. Holding her like this quickly calms her, and her crying stops as she grips my shirt with white knuckles.

“Shh. It’s okay. He can’t hurt you now.” I lift her from the bed and carry her down the hall to the spare bedroom. I set her down on the bed, and she shifts to the side, making room for me as I lift the bed sheets to cover her. Laying down on my side next to her, I wince at the tenderness of my stomach muscles. I ignore the pain and stroke my hand across her forehead. It doesn’t take long for her body and mind to settle. Her eyes grow tired, eyelids heavy.

“Rest. I’m just going to grab you some water, and then I’ll be downstairs when you wake up,” I assure her with a kiss to her forehead, pulling the bed sheet over her more. Before I’ve even left the room, her breathing has become slow and even.Not knowing what else I can do for her, I race back downstairs and grab some things for her before quietly sprinting back up to her bedside. I leave some aspirin, a chocolate bar, and a glass of water beside her bed for when she wakes. She needs to rest and sleep because I want her alert and strong when she comes down to the shed.

As I reach the bottom of the stairs a second time, Doccomes through the front door, carrying a medical bag. The thing isbigfor a carry-around bag, not unlike a bowling ball bag. I would recognize his face anywhere, although he looks to have aged a heck of a lot since the last time I saw him. When people talk about someone having a face only a mother could love, this man was at the forefront of that phrase.

Poor guy.

“Hey, Doc,” I say.

He looks over and raises his head in response. I’ve got to hand it to him, he might not be anactualdoctor, as in practicing in a professional doctor’s office or a hospital, but he sure knows his shit and does a damn good job.

Striding directly to Enzo, Doc drops beside him while pulling on gloves. He swiftly gets to work by cutting off Enzo’s shirt.

“Enzo. Can you talk to me?” Doc asks.

Enzo nods in response.

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