Page 88 of Twisted Kings

I think we were all surprised he agreed to helpagain, but also relieved. If Lucian had already found us, it was likely Thea’s father would soon make an appearance. From what Dario had gleaned from conversations with his dad, Francesco was in deep shit.

Someone had sent an anonymous tip-off to the DIA, the anti-mafia investigation division, which meant he had investigators all over his ass, searching for evidence of illegal activities.

Fausto Peretti was playing a dangerous game, working behind the scenes against Francesco. But now Verity and Thea were no longer under Francesco’s control, he wanted revenge for Francesco manipulating Dario into becoming a soldier against his explicit wishes.

Francesco also had Konstantin Marku gunning for him. The Romanian mobster had handed over millions as a dowry for Thea’s hand and had no bride to show for it. I’d been monitoring communications sent via a Dark Web chat room and discovered Marku was looking for a hitman to target di Luca if he didn’t get his money or his bride back soon.

Once I’d unpacked my things, I headed back into the living room where the guys hung out.

“She should be back by now,” Kyril grumbled, cracking his knuckles. “If he lays so much as a pinky finger on her, he’s a dead man.”

“We’re in Declan’s building, surrounded by Declan’s armed guards. How do you think that would play out?” I inquired, out of curiosity.

“He’d be dead is how it would play out,” Kyril growled.

“And you would be too. Along with the rest of us.” Not that I was worried. Unless something was a statistical probability or I knew for a fact it would happen, I ignored it. Thea was more than capable of holding her own against Declan. She’d proved her skills many times. And if Kyril couldn’t see that, he was an idiot.

“Thea will be fine,” Cassian agreed with a heavy sigh. Knowing how his father found us had seriously pissed him off. He was also worried about his mother.

I’d done some digging into Dr Lassitor and the Highgate Clinic before when Cass got all agitated about his mother’s treatment there. The man was shady. He claimed to be offering experimental treatment protocols for serious mental health disorders, but had very little evidence to prove his so-called ‘treatments’ worked.

My gut told me he was a quack masquerading as an esteemed expert in his field. When I’d dug into his past, it was clear he’d enhanced his qualifications and polished his CV. How none of this had come to light already was a mystery, but I suspectedsomeone powerful had erased evidence of wrongdoing. Most likely Lucian Forsyth, who sat on the board of Trustees at Highgate and donated significant sums of money to fund Lassitor’s research projects.

The whole thing was suspicious, but there wasn’t much we could do right now to help Cassian’s mother.

“Let’s get tonight over and done with, and then we can make plans to leave Dublin.”

“And go where?” Landon asked morosely. He’d taken a phone call from his father on our way here and was currently in a massive funk. “Dunno about you, but I’m penniless.”

“Oh for fuck’s sake, stop feeling sorry for yourself,stronzo!” Dario snapped from where he stood leaning against the fireplace. “Thea’s life is at risk and you’re worried because Daddy cut off your credit cards? Boo fucking hoo!”

I looked over at him in surprise. He’d barely said a word to us since Christmas Day. Mostly, he stayed out of our way. The fact he hadn’t left our group by now told me he was just as obsessed with Thea as the rest of us. It wasn’t as if he needed to hang around.

The only reason Kyril hadn’t killed him after he admitted to planting the cameras in Cassian’s hotel room was because we needed his help to put together a rescue plan after Torrance kidnapped Thea.

Dario had had plenty of opportunities to disappear once we arrived in Ireland, but he’d stuck around.

The Italian confused me. Most people did, to be honest. Thea wasn’t acting as cold toward him these days, but there was definitely still a lot of distance between them.

Not that I cared. He wasn’t my friend. It was up to Thea whether she forgave him for his role in the sex tape saga.

“Fuck off, you cunt,” Landon hissed. “I don’t give a flying fuck what you think. You’re only here, hanging around like acockroach because you’re still in love with Thea. Well, news flash, dickhead, she’s moved on. You lost her, so get over it and fuck off.”

Dario kicked off from the wall, his face a picture of repressed rage. I watched, interested to see what would happen next. They better not damage any of the furniture. We were already on thin ice with Declan, and I had a feeling the fixtures and fittings in this place were not cheap flat-pack junk from IKEA.

Yep, no BILLY bookcases for the Irish mafia heir.

“I know her better than all of you, which means I know for sure she won’t stick around much longer.” He laughed derisively. “The way you all pant after her is pathetic.” Landon lunged forward, his fist clenched, but Kyril anticipated the move and grabbed him before he could lay one on Dario.

“Cool it,” he growled at Landon. “Ignore him. He’s just pissed because he can’t get into Thea’s pants.”

Dario’s attention switched from Landon to Kyril. “And you’re an even bigger fool. Do you honestly think your father will accept Thea? The best you can offer her is a role as your side-piece.”

“And you can offer her more, I suppose?” Cassian asked, bored, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but here, listening to this bullshit.

“No, I’m not that deluded, but I know she deserves more than being caught in the crossfire between you and your fathers.” Then he turned his vitriol on Landon. “And what about you, Casanova? The last thing she needs is a guy who’s nothing more than a gigolo-for-hire.”

Landon lost it. He launched himself at Dario and they fell to the floor, each trading punches designed to inflict maximum damage.

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