Page 64 of Promise Maker

I hasten by the guards, jogging down the stepsinto the dungeon—as Grandfather called it.

It reeks of death carried on by every generation.

Grunts of anguish heighten the closer I reach themetal door.

The guard pushes it open for me.

At my entrance, Father stops submerging Mathew’shead in a bucket of water.

Bishop’s right-hand man appears to be barelyholding on. His clothing is unkempt—ripped and bloodied. Swollen face. Bustedlips.

The last time I saw the forty-five-year-old, heseemed to be flourishing. Now his earth-tone skin looks dull. Life must beseeping from him.

I have no sympathy.

My emotions are back at the house with Solari.

Mathew huffs at my appearance. “You think you’llgetFattore’slocation out of me?”

I roll my sleeves.

Father points at him and grates, “The bastardrefuses to give up.”

“Is that so?” I crack my knuckles and step closerto Mathew, limp on the chair with his feet and hands bound. “Why did you betrayBishop?”

He spits blood on the wet floor. “Bishop acted asif he was better than me.”

“Soyou were jealous,” Iconclude.

A mocking hiss leaves him. “He didn’t deserve allhe had. He went legit and turned his back on the ones who made him powerful.”

“He didn’t turn his back onyou,” Fatherpoints out.

“What do you know?” the man snarls. “He gave usscraps. I helped him the most, and my family could barely eat.”

“You were by his side foryears;since Solari was a little girl. That’s a long time. Yet you betrayed him soeasily. It sounds to me you got greedy.”

Mathew’s gaze drifts across to the distressedwall. Then, after a minute, he says, “Let me see her.”

My stomach clenches. “Are you fucking mad? Youthink I’d ever let you near her again?”

He utters a short laugh and looks at me throughhis puffy lids. “Let me see Solari, and I’ll tell you where LucaFattoreis hiding.”

“Why do you wish to see the daughter of the manyou betrayed?” Father grits. “You had him killed. She hates you.”

“I’ll say my last words to her,” Mathew declares.“Bring me Solari.”

Suspecting a reasonforhis request, I glance back at my father and tell him, “No. I’ll get theinformation. Nonportarla.”

If Solari sees this, she’ll despise me.

Father flicks to Mathew for a moment, looks at me,then steps outside.

The guard closes the door, leaving me alone.

I refocus on Mathew. “Now, let’s see how much moreyou can tolerate before you break.”

His mocking laughter fills the room. “You thinkSolari will stay with you, knowing what you and your father are capable of?”

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