Page 85 of Cage the Storm
They move without hesitation, swarming the upper platforms. A few muffled screams and several gunshots later, it’s over.
D’Angelo collapses to his knees, fingers scrabbling at my boots. “Nico—please. I’ll disappear. You’ll never hear my name again!”
I crouch, gripping his jaw hard enough to bruise. “You’re right. I won’t.” My thumb presses into the hollow of his throat. “But first, you’ll learn what it means to beg.”
I nod to Enzo, who drags a rusted metal crate into the center of the room—tools glint inside: pliers, a blowtorch, hooks flecked with old blood. D’Angelo’s toys, repurposed.
D’Angelo sags against my fist. “What do you want? Money? Territory?” His laugh splinters, hysterical. “Take it! Take all of it!”
“It’s already mine,suocero.”Father-in-law. I rise, slow but deliberate, my hands fisting his shirt and yanking him to his feet. We’re nose-to-nose now. “I’m going to make you suffer for not protecting your daughter.” D’Angelo sobs.
Mateo leans against the wall, rifle at his side. “Want me to record this for posterity? Could make a nice training video.”
“Tempting.” I select a jagged, serrated blade, testing its edge against my palm. A bead of blood wells. “But this is private.”
Vico hangs back, arms crossed. “You promised me five minutes with him,” he says flatly.
I toss him the blade. “Since I’m feeling generous, I’ll grant you and your men the pleasure of stringing him up. Then youcan take turns, but I want him alive when I walk back inside. He’s mine.”
As the first scream tears through the warehouse, I step outside. The night air is already thick with the stench of death, but it’s not over yet. Somewhere in the distance, a siren wails, too little, too late as always.
Not long after, Mateo joins me, blood speckling his sleeves. “The men are already moving on D’Angelo’s compounds. By dawn, the city’s yours.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
LUNA
I siton the couch with my knees pulled to my chest. My eyes locked on the window across the room. Waiting. The shadows roam outside, and I know it’s just Nico’s men. But every little noise has my pulse spiking.
He’s still out there. Bleeding, fighting, maybe dying.I press my palm to my belly for the thousandth time tonight, afraid my child can feel the fear coiling in my veins.
“Luna.” Sophie’s voice is so soft as she sits on the edge of the couch. “You need to sleep.” She hasn’t slept a wink either.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not.” Her hand squeezes my shoulder. “The baby.”
“Is fine too.” But when I hear myself say fine again, I realize I’ve picked up one of Nico’s bad habits. I blink fast, fighting back the tears.
“Nico would want you to rest. He’ll need you strong when he gets back.” She grabs my hand, doing her best to comfort me.
Her faith slices through my heart. I so want to believe her. But the memory of Nico’s blood staining my hands echoes in the back of my mind. And the way his eyes glazed over right before he left to end my father frightens me. He was in so much pain, and it’s my fault I let him walk out that damn door.
Caterina’s manic laugh unexpectedly slices through the room. She’s leaning against the doorway, scrutinizing everyone before her eyes lock on mine.
“He’s not coming back. Luna. Men like him die as they live. Violent, messy, andalone.” Sophie whirls, rising to her feet.
“Shut your mouth, or I’ll shut it for you.” Caterina arches a brow.
“You think your littleamicois heartbroken? She’s relieved. Now she can stop pretending this fairytale wasn’t doomed from?—”
The crack of Sophie’s slap echoes throughout the room. Silencing her. Caterina stumbles back, clutching her cheek, her eyes wide with shock.
“Speak to her again,” Sophie growls, “and I’ll cut out your tongue.”
For a heartbeat, no one moves. Then Caterina huffs, straightening her robe with trembling hands. “Animals,” she mutters, disappearing down the hall.
Sophie turns back to me, and her anger dissolves into worry. She sinks onto the couch, her arm looping around my shoulders. “You’re shaking.”
