Page 37 of Owned by the Italian Mafia Boss
“Thank you,” he says.
“My dad—Mr. Romano—” He corrects himself but doesn’t sound too upset about it. “He beat me, calling me a bastard, saying I didn’t belong. They hit me until I passed out, but when I woke up, I heard them talking. They said someone is getting close to you to find out more information. They know about Delilah. Their informant has seen you with her.”
“Are you saying I have a rat in my organization, Ryan?”
“I-I don’t know,” he stutters. “Romano didn’t clarify if the person was in your home. So, I listened to their conversation and found out they planned to take her and sell her to one of their overseas connections. There is a boat coming, I don’t know when, but usually, the boats carry drugs, weapons, sometimes animals, people.” He says the last word quietly because it’s atrocious to trade people and animals in my book.
I’m in weapons and drugs.
My men distribute and sell, but I sell most drugs to motorcycle clubs or high-end casinos for their VIPs.
“They plan on having her on one of those boats. They will come after you when you’re distracted and looking for her and claim your territory. They want the south docks for themselves.”
They know if they ever got the south docks, they would get east and west too. Romano has never liked that I have more traction than him, a stronger hold on the community. Especially when it comes to law enforcement. No matter their job, people will do anything for money if it means providing for their families.
We are all the same on the inside. We always want more. If anyone becomes desperate enough, they will sell their soul to me, and money won’t ever have to be an issue for them again.
But wealth doesn’t come for free—Delilah’s position is the perfect example of that.
“And what do they expect to do with her?” I ask through gritted teeth, thinking about who could want Delilah. I’ve run background checks on all her friends. Every person in this house has been cleared, so someone is outsmarting me, and I don’t like it.
“They want to show you they are stronger. They will auction her off first, and then she’ll get on the boat, drugged, and you’ll never see her again.”
I launch myself at the kid, a hand wrapped around his throat, and the mug drops to the floor, tea spilling everywhere.
“I will burn everything to the ground that threatens her. They won’t live to see their attempt.”
“It’s why I’m here. I’m telling you everything,” he gasps through the hold I have on him. “I swear, I’m not lying. His plan revolves around her. After everything he did to me, I didn’t want to stay there a second longer. I thought—” he licks his lips, “I thought maybe I could have a chance here.” He trembles under my grasp and stares at Ari, his eyes filling with tears. “I swear, I’m not the enemy. I swear,” he promises. “I have dealt with too much. You have no idea…you don’t know what they have done to me. You don’t know how long it’s been going on for, please,” he begs, gripping my hand for dear life, his fingernails biting into my skin. “If not, just kill me because I can’t take it anymore.”
Marie gasps, the implication of what has been done to him is not difficult to figure out. He doesn’t need to say the words. I let go of his throat, staring at him with sympathy. I’m a monster in many ways. I kill. I steal. I threaten.
I torture.
But I do not hurt, take advantage of, or touch children.
That’s another level of monster, not even I would dare touch. It’s repulsive.
“Please,” he begs, seemingly so much younger than nineteen. Tears roll down his cheeks. “Please, just kill me; I don’t want to return.” The plea of a man who has given up.
Marie takes his hand, and I know I will be taking in another stray. Most of the men here stumbled upon me, asking for a chance to prove themselves if they could just be part of something bigger.
“I’m not going to kill you, kid. You’re going to tell me everything you know about Romano, though. I don’t trust you.”
“I know,” he says quickly. “I’m willing to do anything to earn your trust. I don’t have anywhere else to go. This life, it’s the only one I know and—”
“Someone just tripped the security alarm,” Gianni says, grabbing the tablet from the counter. “We have uninvited guests.” He tosses the tablet at me, and I see a few men dressed in black circling my house to try to find the best way in. “Do you want me to activate protocol?”
“No,” I grit my teeth. “Silencers on your guns, no alarms. I don’t want them to know we know.” I point the gun at Ryan’s head. “Did you bring them here? Was this a setup? You better tell the truth because your life depends on it.”
“I don’t know. I swear I don’t know.” He huddles against Marie. “They don’t know I’m here. I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t put anyone at risk. I didn’t hear anything about them trying to come here tonight.”
“Where’s your phone?”
“What?” He asks, patting his pockets.
“Your phone. Give it to me.” He tosses it to me, and I throw it on the ground, smashing it with my foot. “They’ve tracked him here. They probably want you back or want to kill you. You know too much.”
Pure terror falls over his face. The color drains from his skin, and I know the kid is genuine. He wants safety after a lifetime of abuse.
