Page 116 of Clinch'd

I’m assuming he doesn’t require a response which is confirmed when he stalks toward me and says, “Did you hear the good news? Lorri has agreed to be my wife.”

I’m still processing the fact that she’s marrying this psycho, which sidebar, I wouldn’t describe as good, more like horrific. Still, I muster what I’m sure is a fake as fuck smile and croak, “Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” Lorri says, waving a huge diamond in my face.

I eye it with distaste, acknowledging that there’s no saving Lorri now. Why am I here?

“However, in order to settle a little disagreement and ensure you’re both loyal to me, there’s a matter we must discuss,” he says and dread pools in my gut.

Loyalty? Does the man understand the fucking word? Loyalty isn’t bought or coerced, fucker.

“Matter?” I say. I can’t imagine what’s coming next, but I know I’m not going to like it.

Castinetti nods at a man standing by the door and we all turn as he opens it. Two men appear dragging another man by the arms into the room before dropping him to the floor.

Wincing, I look around. The poor bastard is not in a good place. His face is so swollen I can’t make out his features and I study his black slacks and blue button down covered in blood, but I don’t recognize him.

When I turn to Castinetti, I find him studying me and I know he’s waiting for a reaction but other than horror for the poor man who’s probably going to die, I don’t know him.

Castinetti circles around until he’s facing me, and I say, “What is this?”

“Don’t you know?” he asks.

“No.” I shrug for effect but bile pools on my tongue. What’s happening?

“Well,” he says, walking over and raising the man’s head.

He lolls in his hold, and I exhale shakily. Fuck me but he took a beating.

“Your boyfriend didn’t tell you?” Castinetti asks.

“My—what now?”

Tsking, he drops the poor fucker’s head and the man slams to the floor once more but most disturbingly, he doesn’t react, not so much as a groan.

“This man infiltrated my men. He posed as a loyal soldier. He broke the code,” he shouts.

Swallowing the saliva back I whisper, “Who is he?”

“A fucking dirty cop,” he spits.

I still don’t make the connection which may be what saves my life. I’ll never know. It definitely buys me time to cover my horror when Castinetti says, “Take him.”

The men grab him up and drag him out once more. As soon as they’re gone, he says, “Now then. You’re here to attend our wedding. Lorri? Take her upstairs to change into something more appropriate.”

Chapter 43

Cooper

Beast happens to be the first person I tell which is not on purpose, but the fucker called while I was on my way home.

Glancing in the backseat, I confirm Monroe is still asleep and press send before holding the damn thing to my ear. I don’t know what truly happened between Beast and my sister, but I don’t want to inspire her to run right back where I just found her.

“What?” I ask, cutting over two lanes.

Call me paranoid but I don’t need anyone getting the bright idea to follow me. Picking Monroe up was almost too easy, and I fear it wasn’t because she was being held but the drugs she didn’t want to leave.

I won’t know the whole story until she’s sober, but I hope to fuck she doesn’t come out of this with an addiction. I’ve seen what that does to a person.

---