Page 106 of Sweet Prison

“Let go!” I yell, trying to break free, but he’s too strong.

Two more muffled gunshots follow. Peppe’s body jerks violently each time a bullet hits his chest.

“NO!”

“You’re getting back into my car, Zara.” The cold bite of steel butts up against my temple. “Shut your mouth and do as I say. You might live through the night if you do.”

Icy dread washes over me. The blood in my veins freezes. I can’t breathe. Can’t move. My eyes are the only part of me left remotely functional. Unfocused and blurred by a sheen of unshed tears, they flit all over Peppe as I slowly drown in the horror before me. A slight rise and fall of his chest tells me he’s still alive. Barely. I don’t think Salvo has noticed. What do I do? If I try to help, Salvo will just finish the job.

Fuck! What do I do?

“Okay,” I choke out. “I’ll come with you.”

“Maybe there’s some sense left in you after all,” he sneers and pushes me toward his car. “Move! Quickly.”

I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand and shuffle to his vehicle. It takes everything in me to keep my gaze fixed on the shiny Porsche and not look back to check if Peppe is still breathing. I haven’t seen anyone else on this street, but I can’t lose hope. Someone will find him. They’ll call 911. I can’t even think about the alternative.

Tears well in my eyes again, making it hard to see. Just steps from the car, my heel sinks into a crack in the sidewalk. I trip and nearly fall.

A brutal grip squeezes my upper arm. “Watch where you’re going!” Salvo snaps.

I cry out in pain. His fingers dig into my skin, crushing my flesh practically to the bone.

He pushes me through the still-open passenger door, and I collapse onto the seat in absolute agony.

“Where are you taking me?” I whisper, staring blindly at the road up ahead.

My words are lost in the rumbling of the engine as Salvo starts to drive.

“Why are you doing this, Salvo?”

He doesn’t reply.

I don’t actually need him to. The truth is as clear as day.

Massimo was right all along. The traitorissomeone within the Family. Only… he never considered it could be his best friend.

I have no idea why Salvo took me, or what his plans for me are. Whatever his reasons, there’s one thing I’m absolutely sure of—this isn’t about me. It’s about Massimo.

It always has been.

Chapter 25

The moment the jet taxis over to the apron, I leap out of my seat and rush toward the airstairs. A group of my men is already waiting by the hangar doors.

“Any trace of them?” I growl.

“No.” Joey, one of Peppe’s cousins shakes his head. “Neither Salvo nor his mother are at Canali’s. Just their staff. Our guys couldn’t find anything useful.”

“What about Peppe?”

“Some biker found him in his Jeep, pulled over in the slums. He was shot. Three bullets to the chest.”

“Is he alive?”

“Yes. Or was when they took him into surgery. He lost a lot of blood. Still waiting to hear if he’ll make it.”

I press the heels of my palms to my eyes and take a deep breath.

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