Page 36 of Fragile Union

We can all see that he's changed, he's cagey and distant. I had thought he had found a woman but I'm not so sure anymore.

"Rest," she repeats as she leaves my room.

I close my eyes as the tiredness starts to take over my body. I pray that Romero's okay.

Thirteen

ROMERO

Walking into the warehouse, I take in the scene around me. Adriano, Bosco, and Franco managed to keep their tempers in check, the asshole's hanging to the pipes above us are barely bleeding. The men spread out, each of them know that they'll not get involved. They're here to watch and they'll not be disappointed. I'm about to put on a show. One that's going to get bloody.

I roll up my sleeves, my shirt still stained with the blood of my wife. I want those assholes to know what they've done, why they're going to receive this punishment.

"Which one pulled the trigger?" My voice is deceptively calm. It's something that I have learned over the years. Keep it cool, never let them know what's about to come. Being angry and pissed isn't going to make them talk. No, these are Russian mobsters. Just as with the Italian and the Irish, our loyalty goes deep. You become Made, you take an oath. You break that oath, you're dead. There's no other way about it.

Neither man says a word, just glare at me. They're stripped down to their underwear, the muscles taught as they hang from the pipes. There's no way for them to escape, they've no weapons, and they're handcuffed, it won't be long until the muscles in their shoulders start to tear away from the weight they're under. It's going to be painful, but that'll be the least painful thing that's going to happen to them this evening.

My cell rings and as I pull it from my pocket, I'm not surprised to see Denis' name on screen. I glance at Dante and incline my head. He'll take over the questioning now.

"Yeah," I answer, my tone not welcoming, I'm pissed that he's interrupting me.

"Is she okay?" he says in lieu of greeting. "I know what my daughter is like, Romero, she downplays everything, always has."

I make note of that information, "She's with Makenna, she was grazed, it bled like a stuck pig, but she's okay."

I hear the sharp intake of breath. "Good, I'm on my way to the airport. We'll be there tomorrow."

I grind my teeth, fuck. "I can take care of my wife."

"Never said you couldn't. When you have kids, you'll know what I'm feeling. Now, Holly said that you found the bastards that shot her."

"Yep, looking at them as we speak," I murmur as I listen to Dante telling them who I'm on the phone with and what's going to happen to them.

"Good, don't take it easy on them."

I bite back the scoff. "Never do. They'll pay for what they've done as will the cunts that ordered the hit."

I hear his chuckle this time. "I always knew I liked you."

I roll my eyes. "Bullshit. Now are we done?"

"Yep," he replies, his voice filled with laughter. "I'll see you soon. Look after my baby girl."

I clench my jaw as I end the call.

"You can't end your father-in-law," Dante says quietly from beside me. "Not only will Holly hate you, Makenna will kill you for ending her brother."

I ignore him, I'm not going to kill Denis, no matter how much I would like too. Holly loves him and that's why I'll never do it.

"They're hiding something," he says changing the subject. "They know their times up."

Oh, it's up all right.

"When did the Russian's start doing business with traitors?" I question as I step forward. I see the slight unease flicker through their eyes. "The Damini's are wanted by not only the Irish, but also by us. So what would the Russian's want with those bastards?"

Wariness creeps into their features. Ah, they didn't realize that we know that those fuckers are working with the Russians. "You've got a choice," I begin, I'm lying of course, there is no fucking choice. I do whatever the hell I want to do. "You can tell us and I'll go easy on you. Give you a quick and painless death." Never going to fucking happen. "Or you can continue to act as though you don't know shit and I'll take my sweet motherfucking time and take shreds of your skin, piece by piece, I'll have you spilling your guts within hours. Then I'll make you have the most painful death you could ever imagine."

Dante nods beside me. "As he takes your skin, he'll fucking smile while doing it."

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