Page 125 of The Devil's Deal

“Dwayne has a wound on his arm, and Vinny has one on his calf. One of the guys brought them out to the van. They’ve been replaced by two others and are being taken to Ricky.”

“Good. That’s good.”

I’m glad Roger got them out of here. They’ve got kids. I’m sure Ricky will patch them up nicely. He’s a vet we use for shit like this, someone Tomás knew. Ricky was once a surgeon resident who gave it up after his wife was killed. Decided to be a vet instead. I’m sorry about his wife, but I’m not sorry he chose a different path. His hands are gifted. He helps us as a favor to Tomás.

I gaze up at the second level railing. “Faro, you motherfucker, show your face. Let’s end this once and for all. Just you and me.”

There’s quiet at first…until a rattling sound jumps at the silence.

“I know you’re there, you piece of shit. What happened? Too scared of me now, old man?”

Deep, maddening laughter resonates through the space.

Beside me, my brothers point their weapons up, waiting for a man who destroyed our family. I hold out a hand, telling them to stand down.

“He’s mine.”

I know Faro won’t shoot right now. He likes to toy with people before he kills them.

I see a shadow approach above us, footsteps stomping across the bare floor.

“Dominic. So nice of you to come. Tea? Coffee? Blood?”

I see his face: older, yet still carrying the same cruelty it did then.

He scans our faces. “And you got your band of brothers beside you.” His brows rise. “It brings a tear to my eye to know Matteo will never join you.”

Dante sucks in a breath. Enzo grunts, his tone sinister.

I take a step forward.

“Don’t mention his name again!” I warn with a roar, my chest rising and falling from the weight of my immense fury.

“Still sensitive, I see.”

I take another step, wanting to run up there and throw him off the ledge and watch his neck crack in half.

“Where is she?” I demand.

“You know what your problem is?” he asks, lifting a hand with his own gun in his palm. “You care too much.”

“This is getting boring,” Dante cuts in. “Let’s kill him and be done with it.”

“Which one are you?” Faro asks with a sneer. “The dummy or the smaller dummy?”

“Dom, you gotta let me shoot him,” Enzo says behind me, loud enough for Faro to hear. “You can kill him. But I need to make that cocksucker scream before you end him.”

“You’ll get your turn. We all will.” I glare at Faro’s smug face. “We deserve that much.”

“You never deserved a goddamn thing! Filth, all of you, especially that father of yours.”

Dante growls, rushing for the stairs, but I run faster, gripping his body with an arm around his chest, keeping him restrained.

“You don’t talk about my father,” Dante snaps. “I’m going to fucking kill you!”

Faro snickers. “Keep your dog on a leash, would you?”

I gesture for Enzo and Roger to hold Dante back, and they take over for me. “You all stay here. No one goes upstairs until I tell you.”

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