Page 23 of Armando

“We?” I ask, finally gaining enough strength to stand up straight. My hands shake as I pull out my phone, and honestly, I’m not sure who I’m going to call.

“Well, yeah,” Valentino answers as if it’s obvious. “You go, I go.”

“I thought women were acomplication.”

“I’m not saying I understand your relationship, just that I have your back. I don’t know that I’ll ever love someone the way you obviously love Allegra, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you to be happy. And I’m not okay with her being in danger.”

“Maybe there’s hope for you yet, kid,” I grunt.

Valentino smirks, then returns to the task at hand. “What do we know?” he asks, getting right back into business mode.

“Allegra’s uncle owns a strip club. Wants to force her to work there doing…” I trail off, not even wanting to think about the atrocious things my precious girl could be subjected to.

“Got it,” Valentino pipes in. “And Aaron?”

“Shit.” I curse, turn on my heel, and sprint back to the auto shop.

“Give a guy some warning next time,” Valentino mutters as he follows close behind.

We burst through the door, and to my relief, Aaron is still squirming on the ground in the hallway. I nod at Valentino, who gathers up the pathetic man and ties his hands and feet. I don’t have to tell him we’re going to interrogate Aaron. He already knows and has his gun pressed against the fuck’s temple, ready for questioning.

“How do you know Allegra?” I rasp, staring into Aaron’s wide, terrified eyes. He’s sweating profusely and bleeding slightly from a cut on his lip. It’s a start, but nowhere near satisfying my appetite for revenge.

“I… Well, uh, I’m…”

Valentino digs the muzzle of his gun into Aaron’s temple, prompting him to swallow thickly.

“Want to try that again?” I seethe.

“H-her uncle and I run a strip club. Teasers. Sh-she works there.”

“What do you know about her uncle?”

“Tommy Brenshaw,” he’s quick to answer. “Real piece of shit, but a good eye for talent, if you know what I mean.”

I sink my fist into his face, feeling somewhat better when his nose snaps. Blood pours down his face, the river of red matching my clouded vision.

“Jesus!” Aaron wails, wriggling in his restraints. “Is this why you came here? To ask about Allegra?”

“It is now,” I answer, landing another blow.

“Armando,” Valentino says, getting my attention. “We’ll make him pay later. Save your wrath for her uncle.”

I growl, not liking him telling me what to do.

“We have the info we need. The most important thing is getting your girl, remember?”

Nodding once, I knock Aaron out with a backhand to the head. Valentino tucks his gun away and motions toward our vehicle parked out back. I follow him, looking up directions for Teasers on the way.

“I’ve got the address here,” I tell him when we get to the car.

“I texted Romeo and let him know what’s up. He’s sending Dante to meet us at Teasers.”

Wrenching the driver’s side door open, I startle my chauffeur, who takes one look at me and scrambles out of the way. Good man.

My hands shake as I take the wheel, and Valentino surprises me by clapping a hand over my shoulder. I’d punch him, but this car is too small for me to get enough momentum to do any damage.

“Whatever fear is pressing down on your chest and scrambling your thoughts? Don’t give it power. You control this situation. Wewillget Allegra back. Got it?”

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