Page 50 of Shadows of Obsession

I'm tired and feel the tension in my shoulders spreading to the tips of my capillaries, but I have no choice. If I want information quickly, I need to deal with Luna's attacker and clean up after myself. There's a good chance the lackey who attacked Luna didn't come alone and someone else saw Anton enter the building after him. That gives me a few hours' advantage, if that.

When I arrive at the warehouse, it's started raining outside, and there's a heavy smell of wet earth and smoke in the air. Some boys are burning materials in one part of the warehouse, while one of the guards on duty gives me an affirmative nod, meaning Luna's attacker is in the basement.

I had barely left this place after playing with Tim and now I'm back again.

Focus, Roman.

As I'm about to go down, the doctor who takes care of any injuries my soldiers sustain in the line of duty comes out of the room and speaks in a monotone, as if reciting the weather.

"The shoulder wound was ugly, but I removed the bullet. Missed by a millimeter. Likewise, the knife wound was deep but missed the liver."

Without thinking, an almost maniacal smile spreads across my lips thinking of Luna defending herself with that knife. She doesn't even realize how perfect she is for this world.

Focus.Not the time for such thoughts.Soon.

Because, although I told her I'm not holding her by force, my demons and I know she won't leave my side. When I ordered Anton to neutralize whoever was in that apartment, I knew what that meant. Now she just needs to accept that she's mine.

"You can leave. I'll call if we need your assistance again," I tell him. Then I descend the stairs leading to the basement.

Nolan sits tied to a chair, and the upper part of his body is wrapped in bandages. His head hangs slightly back. I know I have a shot of adrenaline nearby, so I take it from the table and inject him. By now Devin already knows his cousin is in my hands, so I don't have time to waste with sentimentality and pleasantries.

Nolan starts to stir slightly in the chair, and when his eyes focus on my figure, for a few seconds there's only terror. To the normal world, I'm a CEO; to those in the mafia, I'm the man you pray you never encounter.

"Why Luna?"

I want him to understand he has little time to offer answers, and how much he'll bleed depends solely on what comes out of his mouth.

"Go to hell, Roman! When Devin finds out, he'll burn down your whole little house."

A laugh escapes him, but it's short due to the pain radiating from the knife wound Luna planted in his ribs.

"Okay," I move toward a knife that looks more like a cleaver.

The blade gleams in the warm light emitted by the bulb and this, together with the smell of desperation, is peace. It's the environment where I never had to pretend, never had to cover anything up. Nolan's gaze again takes on that outline of fear, but I don't wait for him to rethink his words before I take his hand, set it on the small table next to the chair, where I keep all my instruments, and with a swift swing cut off the index finger of his left hand.

His screams flood the basement and I watch him trying to protect his now incomplete member. Too bad the rope binding his shoulders doesn't offer much mobility.

"Why Luna?"

And I hope he's understood that any answer other than the one that interests me will result in one less finger. He doesn't seem like a very bright boy. The problem is I know I have only a few minutes before he goes into shock and no amount of adrenaline will keep him alive long enough to give me answers.

"Someone put her up for a debt!"

He answers between sobs, and God, how disgusting it is to see a grown man with snot running from his nose and crying like a little girl over one finger. Niko and I were trained by our own father in the art of torture. If we dared give any information before the end of training, the punishments were often so bad we understood death isn't your enemy. In those situations, you either resist or pray for it to come faster.

"Who and how much?"

Fury emanates from my body in waves because I have a suspicion, and if he confirms it, at least he'll have a quick death.

"Come on, Roman. You know I can't tell you all the details. Kill me and that's that."

The regretful look he throws me should have awakened some pity, but no. Not even close. All I see in my head is the bruise Luna has because of him. All I hear is her sound of pain when Kai examined her. I take the same hand and repeat the previous steps. The only variable that's changed is Nolan's screams, which are much higher pitched, and I already see his gaze losing focus.

"Tell me who and how much, Nolan, and in ten seconds nothing will hurt anymore."

It's the only certainty I can offer him, and I see him trying to analyze my offer with his last strength.

"I have more adrenaline, Nolan. Maybe it won't keep you long, but you're young. Your heart can endure another round or two."

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