Page 103 of Captured Innocence

Just like usual.

She noticed me, quickly shifting her eyes to another location in the barn. Perhaps a hiding place? When I heard another laugh, the sound echoing, I moved forward into the light. There was no reason to continue playing cat and mouse games at this point.

Seconds later, I realized I smelled gasoline along with another source of fuel. As suspected, the fucker was going to try to burn us alive.

With no sign of either Dar or Enzo, I took it upon myself to address my blood brother. After all, I had a feeling the bulk of his revenge was toward me, the only living member of his biological family.

“The Ghost,” I said quietly, trying to hold a hint of reverence in my tone when I felt nothing but fury. “You enjoyed playing a game for far too long.”

“It’s good to see you again, brother. You’ve done well.” His voice was rougher than before, almost too practiced. “Yes, I do love my games. Did you like the man I sent to see you at the station?” He laughed manically.

“I wish I could say the same about seeing you but you’re a fucking freak.” I took careful steps forward, my eyes finally adjusting to the bright light. Fuck. The asshole had positioned what appeared to be explosives lined up against the barn walls. This time, he wasn’t taking any chances that one of us could escape.

“I’d be careful what you call me since I’m holding all the cards.”

“Yeah, it appears you’ve underestimated me.”

He chuckled as if this was all in good fun. “I was right about the woman you fell in love with. She’s incredible. I would have made her my queen except she defied me.”

The man was completely deranged.

“Come out and show yourself, brother. That’s the manly thing to do,” I said more in passing, doing everything I could to keep the anger from my voice.

Sniffing, he took a few seconds then took the bait, taking two long strides toward me. There was no mask hiding his disfigured face, no method of disguising the true monster he’d become. The previous fire had ravaged him. That’d he’d lived was beyond comprehension, but it had fueled the anger to the point he was no longer in control of his actions or his mind.

If it hadn’t been lost long before.

“What’s wrong, brother? Cat got your tongue? Are you terrified of the beast I’ve become? See what you and your stupid little family have done to me. Isn’t it pretty?” He walked closer to the women, heading straight to Sophia. Then with quick actions, he yanked out a knife, slicing the blade through one of the ropes, dragging my baby to her feet.

She moaned through the gag, keeping her eyes locked on mine.

I detected movement from two corners of the barn. My brothers had slipped inside. I could tell Tommaso had very calculated plans on what he was going to do. If he started a fire, the entire barn would go up in seconds, not minutes. There would be little chance of escape.

He pulled her against him, licking the side of her face. “I have such great plans for her. She will bear my children, carrying on our legacy. I’ll mention your charred body every once in a while so she doesn’t forget you.”

“You’re a murderous bastard, Tommaso.” I wanted to try to keep him talking so I could move closer but I sensed he was close to an edge.

Sophia jerked in his hold, fighting him with everything she had.

I took a step forward but he pushed the knife under her neck. “Don’t come any closer, brother, or you’ll watch as I make her just as ugly as the man she will marry.”

“Why do this? Why now?” I asked, offering him an opportunity to speak. I wanted him off guard, drowning in misery.

The wild look in his eyes confirmed he’d lost absolute touch with reality. He thought about my question, laughing bitterly. “Because you have everything. I have nothing.”

“You have no idea what I have.”

He grabbed Sophia’s hair, laughing when she gasped. “Yes, I do but that’s all about to change, even with your little bitch’s attempt to take everything I worked to achieve away from me. I placed safeguards on the systems myself. Did you know that, Sophia? Tell him how happy we’re going to be together. One big happy family. My little hacker. You thought you were so clever.”

“Yeah, I’m clever, you fuck. And I can’t have spawn. What a shame,” she spit out, gasping for air, still fighting him with everything she had.

Whether or not she was telling the truth, the momentary shock was enough to throw him. That gave me a single chance to lunge forward, managing to snag her arm. As soon as I pitched her away, Tommaso bellowed, giving an order to unseen soldiers.

“Now!”

Then I heard a slam of the barn door, the cracking sound of something metal. He’d never intended on escaping the fire. I grabbed him around the throat as Enzo rushed forward.

“Get the women!” My command was likely too late, Tommaso able to flick a lighter, tossing it several feet away. As flames erupted instantly, I smashed my fist against his face, the hard punch tossing him over a bale of hay.

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