Page 33 of My Sweetest Temptation

Luca pushed the woman until she stood beside me. The woman trembled and cried quietly.

I swirled the amber liquid, watching the man fight his emotions as he stared at his wife.

I looked at Matteo and tipped my chin to the chair beside the table. He pulled up the chair for her, gesturing to her to sit down.

Taking the last swig of my drink, I set the glass down and kneeled in front of the woman.

“What is your name?” I asked her in a gentle tone.

“Rosa,” she replied, her voice quivering.

I met her gaze. “Rosa, I promise you no harm will come to you and your baby as long as your husband gives me a name.”

“And if I can’t help you, signore?” she asked, tears falling down her rosy cheeks.

“Then you will die.”

She whimpered and shook her head.

Her husband thrashed in his chair.

Good. I got his attention.

“Give me a name,” I said to her husband while keeping my eyes on Rosa.

“I-I can’t. He will kill my wife,” the man said.

I peered over my shoulder and saw fresh tears spilling down his bloodied face. Standing up, I slowly turned to face him. I removed my suit jacket and flung it on my chair. I rolled up my sleeves as I spoke. “I don’t understand; if you love your wife, how you could risk her life and your unborn child’s by not giving me what I need? A name—it’s as simple as that,” I said. “You heard the stories about me, Fredrico.” He looked up at me with fear in his eyes. “I will not hesitate to take a woman’s life.”

A loud whimper came from Rosa.

“Pl-please don’t hurt them. Kill me instead” he pleaded.

“No!” Rosa cried. “Please, Fredrico, give him what he wants,” she begged.

Desperate, coughing pleas spilled from his lips, but still no answers.

There had to be something that would break his silence. With a frustrated sigh, I moved with lightning speed, yanking my gun from its resting place at the small of my back. I pressed the cold steel against Rosa’s temple, her eyes wide with terror.

“NO! Please, have mercy!” Fredrico screamed. “Don’t hurt her!”

“Then give me a name!” I roared. “This will all go away if you just give me the fucking name of the bastard who had the guts to give the order to take what’s mine,” I said through clenched teeth.

He sputtered, and she cried uncontrollably as I pressed the barrel harder to her head. My men stood nearby, quiet, knowing not to interfere unless I needed them to. I cocked the hammer and pushed the barrel against her head, forcing her to face the side.

A whisper, barely heard over Rosa’s cries: “He goes by the Puppet Master...” I smiled, dancing the gun across her belly, drawing fresh screams. “Who the fuck is the Puppet Master?”

He shuddered. “He sends a messenger and tells us where to pick up the shipment and the drop off location. I don’t know his real name. I’ve never seen his face or spoken to him. I swear, I’m telling you the truth.”

“How did he know where the shipment was?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. He doesn’t provide that information. He threatened to kill my Rosa if I didn’t do as he said. I had to protect her.”

I removed the gun from Rosa’s belly, and her shoulders slumped in relief.

I stared at him, searching his eyes for any sign of dishonesty, but there was nothing. I had enough experience to recognize when someone was lying. I did not doubt that he was telling the truth. Even if I let them walk away without protection, the Puppet Master would hunt them down without a second thought.

“Did he say where and when he was going to hit next?” I asked him.

---