Page 66 of Promise Maker

Mr. Martelli exits the building and approaches me.“Solari. I wouldn’t have had you come otherwise, but this is very important. Weneed information.”

I hear loud groans echo from below and look at thestructure. “Who was that? Where’s Domenico?”

“Wait. Let me explain first.”

More groans resound.

I rush past him inside, bustling down the stairsto a dark basement of some sort.

Cries of agony come from behind the door.

My god. Is this the dungeon Domenico mentioned?

“Solari, wait,” Mr. Martelli tries to stop me.

I hasten to the door and open it.

Domenico pivots, eyes wide.

My heart feels as if it’s shot up to my throat.

Mathew is restrained on a chair, severely beaten.

The man standing above him did that to him.

“What…” I run to Mathew, crouching at his side.“Why did you do this?”

Domenico yells at his father, “I told you not to!”

“You heard what he said,” Mr. Martelli snaps back.“It was the only way he’d talk.”

Mathew coughs up blood and moans in pain.

Huge droplets trickle down my face.

This man is like an uncle. He’s been part of myfamily since I was seven.

My heart breaks seeing him so beaten and lifeless.

I regard the blood on Domenico’s knuckles andglare at him as I choke out, “Monster.”

He reaches for me.

I shove his hand away. “Don’t fucking touch me!Don’t touch me ever again.” Crying, I turn back to Mathew and grasp his hand.“Look what you did. You’re not human. You’re a fucking beast.”

Mathew struggles to lift his head. “Sol…”

“I’m here,” I whimper. “Mathew.”

A smile fights through on his battered face.“I…wanted to spare you. No matter how I hated him. Never you…” He tries totouch my face.

“What are you saying?” I sob. “Mathew, was itreally you? Did you kill Dad?”

He coughs painfully. “I couldn’t stand himanymore. I wanted something for myself. The business…and you….”

“What?” I tumble from him and cover my mouth.

“I started seeing you…as a woman…Sol…” Morecoughing. That confirms what my gut was telling me.

---