Page 116 of Brutal Devil
“Just another way for your asshole of a father to fuck me over.” He sniffs. “What good were those cuff links going to do a dead kid?”
“Yeah, hewasa kid, wasn’t he?” I hold my cousin’s stare, hoping he can see the hatred glimmering in my eyes.
How can someone be so evil? What the hell did Leo ever do to him? Leo was good, so much better than my father. I’ll never get to know what he would have done with his life, never see theman he would have become. And it’s all because of this vile man before me, who was born of our own flesh and blood.
“He was a stupid kid,” Amedeo says dismissively. “Always thinking he knew better than men who have been running these streets since he was still shitting in a diaper and sucking on his mama’s tit. He never could have run this family. My father was invaluable to yours. He was consigliere. He was next in fucking line, and I was behind him. What the fuck did Leo ever do other than sell a little bit of coke and piss off the Bratva?”
It’s like he’s justifying his actions.
I wonder if he believes what he’s saying or if he just needs me to believe it. Or maybe, in some kind of messed-up way, he just needs to get it off his chest.
Whatever the reason, the more time he spends talking, the less time Amedeo has to prepare for whatever comes next. I want to keep him distracted, keep him off guard. I don’t know how long I was passed out, but it was long enough for Amedeo and his men to get me to this warehouse. Hopefully Priest knows what happened to me by now.
“Leo was my father’s son, and my father became the don of this family by earning it.”
Amedeo barks out a harsh laugh. “Is that what he told you? If he did, he was fucking lying. Tomasso Revello became the don of this family by clipping the boss before him. And who the fuck do you think helped him do that?My father. That’s who. He needed my old man to make this family work. He owed it to us. And then he starts running around with your slut of a mother. Knocked her up, and suddenly, he’s got his golden child to run the empire. Fuck that. It wasn’t his empire to throw away.”
It all clicks into place in my brain. Amedeo isn’t just a greedy traitor. He feels like he’s entitled to become the next don because of what his father did, like he deserves the role more than anyone else because he’s older and has been in this world longer.He must have been stewing with resentment for the last twenty years. It was like a wound inside him, festering more each day.
“But there’s no more Don Revello,” I point out, trying to keep calm. “The capos voted to align the families. Now there’s only one don. My husband.”
Amedeo grins. “Damn right, there’s only one. Your stupid husband fell right into my trap. That’s the thing about outsmarting your enemies. Time is on your side. You wait until the moment is right, and then you fucking strike. They never know what hit them.”
I don’t understand his logic. My head is pounding and my stomach is beginning to cramp up. I’m afraid I might be sick. But I need to see this through. Need to keep him occupied. Any chance I have depends on it.
“What do you mean, Priest fell into your trap?”
He grins. “He married you and tried to unite the families, just like I knew he would. But then, he held you against your will. I couldn’t allow my cousin to be imprisoned by the Andrianis. I found you and brought you to safety. But then Andriani came after me in a rage, and I had to clip him.” He shakes his head with mock sadness. “Too bad you got caught in the crossfire. The families will be thrown into turmoil, and they’ll need sound leadership under a proven don, one they can trust. One who’s a fucking hero.”
My blood turns to ice. “You’re luring Priest here so that you can kill him. This is all a trap so that you can take over the families.”
“All that power, all that fucking money.” Amedeo laughs again, the sound vicious. “All mine. In my defense, I’m not a greedy man. All I wanted was to be Don Revello, but your husband took that from me. Now, it’s time to take it back. So sit tight, cousin. Because the show’s about to begin.”
“No!” I start thrashing on the concrete, trying to escape my bonds.
But it’s no use. The zip ties dig into my skin, too strong and too tight. Tears burn my eyes, but I refuse to allow them to fall.
“You’re not going to get away with this,” I tell him defiantly.
“Poor, sweet Luna.” He gives me an ugly smile. “I always get away with it.”
I’m about to tell him to go straight to hell where he belongs, but before I can say a word, Amedeo’s cell chirps. He whips it out and looks at the screen, grinning.
“Looks like your husband has just arrived,” he says cheerfully, and then he drags me to my feet.
Priest
I can barely restrain myself when that piece of shit Amedeo the Animal comes into the room, holding Luna in front of him like a human shield. She’s got a bruise on her cheek, and she’s pale. There’s fire and fear in her eyes. I allow myself a second of eye contact, trying to let her know.
I’ve got this. Trust me.
We have a plan. Since I got the call from Bruno earlier, my brothers and our men have gone into battle mode. We’re going to get us all out of here alive or die trying.
Luna blinks, and I think—fucking hope—she understands.
But in the next second, she elbows Amedeo in the ribs as hard as she can. He doubles over, not expecting the blow.
“It’s a trap!” she cries out. “He’s going to kill you!”
