Page 26 of Cassio (Belles & Mobsters 3)

The same moment he realized his mistake, Margaret’s gun went off, killing him on the spot. We both watched the light extinguish in his eyes. It was better than he deserved. The women they kidnapped would have endured months and years of pain, abuse and agony until they were discarded like garbage.

Sometimes I wished I had that kind of time to torture these men and make them suffer. Give them a taste of their own medicine and see how strong they were.

We headed towards the back of the warehouse and the closer we got, the worse the stench became. I clenched the key in the palm of my hand, the grits of it digging into my skin. It was always the same; each time we saved them something pricked in the back of my mind, a faded memory. But I couldn’t catch it. I could never catch it.

It was frustrating as fuck.

I opened the door and the smell of urine assaulted my nostrils. A group of about thirty women were crammed in a small room without any windows, no bathrooms. Their whimpers grew and crying started.

“We are here to help,” I told them softly. “We are taking you somewhere safe.”

They were caged in worse conditions than animals and anger boiled within me.

Fuzzy memories danced in the back of my mind. A cave echoing, painful screams pierced through my mind, drowning out all the noises surrounding us. As if looking through a lens, I saw John and the rest of the men of our The Rose Rescue rush past me, Margaret comforting the panicked women. Images flashed through my mind, fuzzy and distant.

He wore a menacing, gruesome smile displaying rotten black teeth. My stomach churned, the woman screamed underneath him as he pounded into her hard.

“Can’t touch you,” he snickered. “But I can do to her what will be done to you.”

Her brown gaze connected with mine, her tear stained face broken with pain as her body slid up and down the table as he thrust into her. Her head hit the side lamp with each thrust, but she never winced, like the pain didn’t even register.

She was older than me, much older. But it didn’t make it right. She was as helpless as I was. Tears streamed down my face yet not a sound left my lips. I should scream; I should fight. Yet all I did was stand there frozen with fear.

A loud grunt sounded through the room, the last shove of her body against the lamp, sending it flying off the desk and shattering across the dirty floor.

I didn’t want to look up. I really, really didn’t want to look up. My eyes lifted, on their own will, to see him pull himself out of her. His hand reached between her thighs and brought it up onto her face, smearing his white gooey substance all over it.

The memory vanished as fast as it appeared and my body retched. Another meal gone, another disturbing memory that caused my stomach to churn and empty its contents. My skin was clammy and light perspiration appeared on my forehead as I stared at my thrown up dinner.

Migraines would follow soon, warranting a visit to the therapist. He could cure the migraines and bad dreams or memories, but never this hatred for the Kings.

The King family had to be stopped.

ChapterEight

CASSIO

Bone splintered beneath my fist, and I watched as the man’s head snapped back. He gurgled, choking on his own blood. He deserved nothing better, but before he choked to death, I wanted answers.

This fucking pussy was one of Marco’s minions. God, if he surrounded himself with men like this, I should just attack him and kill them all. It wouldn’t be hard at all.

The skinny bastard had been begging for his life for the past twenty minutes, and we’d barely started. Mercy was an unfamiliar concept in our world. He should understand that, especially working for Marco.

“Location of the warehouse,” I told the pathetic asshole. “And it will all be over.”

Smashing into his other cheek, his body, tied to the chair, flew onto the ground. “P-please, he’ll kill me.”

“And what do you think I’ll do to you?” I cocked my eyebrow. My fists were bloodied from all the punches I’d dished his way. My mood was crimson today. My men lost the trail of Callahan’s girls last night and now this moron was withholding information.

Not for long though, I sneered mentally.

Luca’s and my gaze met. He leaned against the wall, frustration clear on his face. Something had been up his ass all damn day. He stared at me, like I stole his favorite piece of candy. I guess neither one of us was doing great today.

“Last chance,” I told our captive. I was ready to end this day. “Give me the location. Or I’m going for your family.”

His eyeballs almost popped out of his skull. “Y-you wouldn’t. Everyone knows you don’t fuck with innocents.”

I landed another punch, breaking his nose, and grinned. It probably looked more like a shark baring his teeth than a grin. As far as I was concerned, this guy deserved whatever was coming his way. He should have never gotten in bed with Marco.

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