Page 150 of Crazed

"I'm taking you to Bridget. You hang out with her tonight, okay?"

"I'm okay on my own," Katiya claims.

"No. I might be all night. Spend time with Bridget and the others until bedtime. It'll be easier for you," I insist.

She takes a deep breath then agrees. "Okay."

I kiss her on the lips. "Good girl. Daddy will give you a reward when I get back." I wink.

A soft, emotion-filled laugh escapes her lips.

"Come on," I repeat then walk her to Dante's wing.

Bridget's in the combined office-sitting room he had remodeled for her. I knock, and she looks up from the desk, smiling. Her face falls, and she asks, "What's wrong?"

"Dante and Gianni picked up Leo. I'm going to be busy for a while. Can Katiya hang here?" I say.

She rises. "Of course! Fiona and I were going to have dinner and watch a movie later tonight. She was going to ask you and Cara to join us anyway."

I spin Katiya into me. "Don't wait up for me. Okay?"

She nods and kisses me. "Be careful."

"You don't have anything to worry about, dolce. It's the dungeon," I assure her.

She still looks anxious.

"Tell her, Bridget," I demand.

"It's true." She takes Katiya's hand. "Let's go find the others."

"Thanks," I say, then leave the room, going straight to the dungeon.

When I get to the bottom of the steps, Luca's waiting outside the cell.

"Why aren't you inside?" I question, glancing in to confirm Leo and Fat Tony are there.

"What's your tool of choice tonight?" he asks.

I stare past him at Leo. His naked limbs stretch as far as possible, his toes barely touching the ground. His arms are shaking, probably a mix of the fear he's trying to hide and his body reacting to the restrained position. I curl my hands into fists at my side, admitting to Luca, "I haven't decided."

Luca's lips curl. "Great. I have a present for you."

"What is it?"

He answers, "A slow, painful death. Cabinet B. Shelf five."

I arch my eyebrows, but his arrogant smile only grows. "Guess it's cabinet B, shelf five." I pat him on the back and go directly to the area we keep our tools.

When I open the cabinet, I can't help but look back at Luca and grin. He wasn't exaggerating about slow and painful. I pull out a five-gallon bucket of deck stain, open it, then grab a set of paintbrushes. Most are smaller, more like what an artist would use. They're appropriate for painting on canvas, not ones you'd use on a deck. There's only one bigger one. I carry everything over to where my brothers are and set it down.

"We're making pizza tonight," Tristano states, glaring at Fat Tony and Leo. It's a crapshoot who in my family hates traitors more. Tristano is no exception.

I glance at the table full of different kitchen utensils. I pat Tristano on the back. "Pace yourself, brother."

Papà and Luca step into the cell. Papà goes to the small bar and pours six shots of sambuca. He hands one to each of us and holds his glass high in the air, toasting, "To the fall of the Abruzzo empire!"

"Saluti!" my brothers and I chime in then toss the alcohol down our throats.

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