Page 56 of These Sinful Kingdoms

“I need you to remove your body cam please.” He said calmly and I swallowed nervously before ripping it off.

“Drop it out of the window. Your Bluetooth earpiece as well.” He said as I put the window down and dropped them both outside.

“Good boy. I am glad that you gave the documents to Kingston. Would have made it very inconvenient for me to have to leave them in an easy-to-find place. I am surprised you were so careless getting into the car though. I thought your father taught you better. I was a great admirer of his work and had high hopes for you too.” He continued and I tried to glance in the rearview mirror to see who it was.

I couldn’t make out his face, his hand was covered in a leather glove, but I did catch the flash of a tattoo on his wrist. A rose.

My blood ran cold as I realized who was in the car with me.

“Ahh, the wheels are turning now. Do you know who I am, Luca?” He crooned.

“The Moretti Thorn.” I said, hating that my voice sounded broken and scared.

“Very good. You and I are going to have a little chat.” His hand disappeared into the darkness, but I knew that gun was still trained on my head.

“Why me? I thought the contract was for Aurora?” I questioned, hoping I could draw out the conversation long enough for Kenji to notice something was wrong.

“It is for Ms. Moretti. I admire her too. Personally, I think she would do well in her father’s position, and it is a shame I have to take her out.” He said, as I heard the sound of a zip.

“So why take her out then?” I said and he sighed.

“I have a reputation to uphold. I am a man of business after all, and I do not cheat my clients. I have found that Ms. Moretti’s weakness lies within the people she cares about.” He continued, offering me a little insight.

“You plan on using me as bait.” I said, knowing that Aurora would bite too. I hoped Kingston was strong enough to keep her safe and prevent her from making that choice.

“Very good. You understand it is nothing personal. Just business. I’ll see you when you wake up.” He said and I frowned with confusion before I felt the prick of a needle on my neck and the world went black.

***

I woke to the sound of classical music and the steady drip of water in the background. I was lying on a metal table, legs and arms tied down.

Low light filtered through the room, illuminating a stone room that looked as old as time itself. What was it with these people and old, barbaric-looking rooms?

“Welcome back, Luca. I trust you slept well?” the man said from somewhere near my head. Slept well? He clearly had a screw loose but then you don’t become an infamous assassin without a few screws loose.

“Wonderful. I was in serious need of a good sleep.” I said sarcastically, testing the leather restraints to see if there was any room for movement.

He chuckled as he walked to the side, and I got my first look at the Moretti Thorn.

A middle-aged man, grey streaked his hair and beard as he looked down at me with a smile. He was wearing a suit, the collar loosened as he looked me over.

He looked like a generic fatherly man, someone you would expect to see in high society or picking up the grandkids from school.

But his eyes, they showed the killer beneath. I had seen eyes like that my entire life. The eyes of a man who enjoyed death and pain.

“I do love a man with a sense of humor. I believe you and I will get along just fine. Now. I do need to send a little message to your lady. Nothing too dire as of yet. Just enough to spur her into action, you see. Pull at those heartstrings.” He turned to a table in the corner, picking up a knife and a phone in the other hand.

He ripped my shirt open, exposing my chest, and caressed my skin with the blade of the knife.

“Now be a good boy and smile for the camera.” He crooned before he carved into my chest. I bit my lip at the sudden pain, willing myself not to scream.

It felt like he was writing something into my flesh and when he started on the third letter, I couldn’t hold back the scream in my throat.

“There’s a good boy, music to my ears.” He sighed as he continued to carve, the adrenaline pumping through my body.

“Such beautiful artwork.” He murmured to himself before the pain took over and I blacked out.

Chapter thirty

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