Page 44 of A Promise For Tomorrow

“She’s here because she needs to see this. She needs to see what we are all capable of. Stop shielding her from it. Let her get the full picture so she can decide what she wants.”

Liam’s eyes widen at Diego’s suggestion–well, I wouldn’t call it that. We all know Diego isn't asking for Liam’s permission. His eyes drift over to me.

“You sure you’re okay with this?” His eyebrows come together in confusion.Understandably. I was just sleeping after having a major panic attack, and now I’m here, about to witness torture and death.

I straighten my spine. “I’m sure.”

The manwho attacked me is chained to a chair in the middle of the room. All sorts of tools and knives are hung throughout.The only thing missing is the horror music. Liam is leaning against the door, arms crossed over his chest and wearing an angry sneer directed at Diego.

Diego could give two shits, his back is to Liam anyway.The Bone Breakeris inspecting all the tools dangling from hooks along the wall, getting familiar with the inventory. Already, he has shifted into the man the underworld fears. Even his body language screamsrun the fuck away.

It’s slow. Calculated. Lethal.

Every step he takes makes the semi-conscious man twitch.

“I assume you know who I am?” Diego states casually, continuing to check his inventory.

The man’s mouth is bound. He doesn’t speak regardless. Those eyes however, scream with recognition. I noticed that the second Diego sauntered in.

Clinkingfills the space as the man I married collects his tool of choice. It’s some sort of plier.Oh, God.Like a predator playing with his prey, he circles the man, repeatedly throwing the plier in the air and catching it.

Then suddenly, like a snake, he darts out, leaning over the chair and getting face to face with my attacker. “Who are you working for?” he barks.

Silence.

“Can you hear me?” he bellows, cupping his hand over his mouth like a megaphone. When the man doesn’t even blink, let alone respond, Diego continues his mental fuckery. Shrugging he says, “If you aren’t going to listen, I guess we won’t be needing these…”

Gripping the tip of the man’s ear with the pliers, he tugs while pulling a sharp knife from the back pocket of his jeans and slicing his ear clean off. My attacker screams behind the gag. Tears drip down his face and onto his bloodied torn shirt.

It hits the floor and I feel light headed.

Jesus Christ.

Liam takes a step towards me. The heat of him registers at my back.

Diego circles again before leaning over and lowering his voice to a whisper. “Luckily, you have two…Can you hear me now?” he teases into the man’s remaining ear. When the guy nods vehemently, Diego laughs to himself. “Good.”Cleaning his knife on the man’s shirt, he places it back in his pocket.

“I think we got off on the wrong foot.”The Bone Breakerslams his boot down onto one of them. A crunching noise fills the space along with a groan of agony.

“Again, good thing you have two…” Diego chuckles cryptically. “You see the trend here, Mateo? Or would you prefer I call you MJ? Hmm… maybe justJunior.”

Mateo? Junior? As in Mateo—Geraldo’s right-hand man…This must be his son…

“Fuck you,” Mateo seethes behind the gag.

Diego’s fist flies out, plowing into the man’s jaw. Blood sprays all over him and Diego. Normally, blood doesn’t bother me—or gore, for that matter.

Right now, I feel like gagging. I turn my head away from the gruesome scene unfolding before me.

“Hmm.. now what would Mateo’s son want with Madison?Revenge…That’s why you’re here. I’ll ask one more time. Are you working alone?”

When Mateo continues with his silent act, Diego strolls over to the tools and claims a sawzall. My heart beats harder in my chest wondering what he’ll do with it.

I can’t turn away, needing to see this through.

Unintentionally, I step back, feeling Liam’s rigid body press against mine. Whether he knows it or not, he’s giving me the strength I need to continue standing here.

“My bad. Here, let me help you with this,” Diego says like a bro.

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