Page 79 of Of Desire And Deception

“Dante and his wife,” I told her. “Olesya wants to examine you.”

“The Don,” she whispered.

“Don’t sound so impressed,” I joked. “It’ll go straight to his head.”

“Wait,” her hand landed on my forearm, sending sparks across my body. “Why do I need to be examined by a doctor?”

I cleared my throat. “They don’t trust me.”

Understanding crossed her features. “They think you’ve tortured me.”

“They think I’ve treated you like my other guests,” I confirmed. It ate at me that my family could only see me as a ruthless killer. Nothing was supposed to affect me. I’d worked my entire life to be unfeeling, merciless. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

Holding my hand out, I helped Remi to her feet, and she trotted off to the bathroom, the length of chain attached to her ankle dragging behind. I considered releasing her and might have had Dante not been bringing Olesya. I couldn’t put her at risk.

The chime on the dungeon door sounded as Remi was exiting the bathroom. Dante had wasted no time. I let out a long breath and glanced at Remi, who offered a reassuring nod.

“You probably shouldn’t keep him waiting,” she teased, the corner of her mouth tipping upward in a smirk.

“Right. Don’t bother begging them to help you escape. You won’t find salvation from anyone in my family.” I watched her face fall at my warning and crossed the dungeon floor, entering the door code and admitting my brother and his wife.

“This way.” I motioned them to the corner with Remi’s bed, where she stood hugging herself.

“Remington Black.” Dante’s voice boomed with authority, and Remi flinched. “Do you know who I am?”

She nodded. “Dante Neretti. Head of the Neretti mafia.”

“Allegedly,” he shot back with an amused smile. He turned and took Olesya’s hand, bringing her beside him. “This is my wife, Olesya. I’d like her to take a look at you, if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t,” Remi answered. “But I’m fine, really.”

Olesya’s brows lifted as she set her medical bag down and pulled on a pair of blue nitrile gloves. “You’ve been in here for nearly two weeks now. Is fine what you want to go with?”

“Will another answer make you let me go?” Remi asked, her shrewd eyes assessing the doctor in front of her.

“No.” Olesya’s eyes were filled with resigned determination and slight hostility. Her years growing up with the Bratva made her tougher than the average mafia wife. “You may be married into the family, but as far as I’m concerned, you’re a danger to us all and probably deserve worse than what you’re getting. You’re lucky to be alive right now.”

“Then I’m fine.”

“Do you need one of the tables?” I motioned to the morgue tables, and Olesya looked startled. Dante turned away from the women and snickered behind his palm.

“Let’s save those for the corpses,” she answered with a wave of her gloved hand. She turned back to address Remi. “I’m just going to do a quick check for breaks, bruises, and lacerations.”

Remi held her arms out to her sides, her eyes boring into mine as Olesya examined her. I couldn’t look away, felt the need to offer her my strength as her jaw tightened when Olesya lifted her gown for a quick look, then dropped it as soon as she was done. She leaned close, whispering something low, and Remi bit her lip, then shook her head.

Olesya said something else I couldn’t decipher, then turned toward Dante and me.

“I think I’m done,” she declared, and her husband turned around. “Nothing broken. A few bruises. Bite marks. A heart that was carved shallow enough not to need sutures.”

She shot me a glare, and I shrugged. “She still betrayed the family. And I gave her a choice.”

“Given that the alternative was death, it didn’t seem like much of a choice,” Remi muttered.

“Would you like me to explain how we’ve been passing the time, wife?” My tongue darted across my bottom lip as Remi pursed her lips. She opted to take my threat seriously.

“We’ll leave you to it‌,” Dante said, taking Olesya’s hand and moving toward the door. He looked back at Remi. “I strongly suggest you figure out how to get in line sooner rather than later. You might have married my brother, and he may love you. But I will do anything to protect my family.”

With that, they left, and the dungeon fell silent.

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