Page 102 of Captured Innocence

Now it was time to wage another war, only this time it was even more personal.

I glanced slowly at D’Artagnan and for the first time in years, I thought the powerful man was going to crumble. He looked away, his chest rising and falling.

“We can’t let them die,” he said quietly.

“Fuck. We’re not going to. Let’s go.” I didn’t wait to see if either man reacted, bolting toward the door. I knew the estate as well as the one I’d grown up in. I had memories here as well, although none of them were worth dying for. I would save the three women who didn’t deserve to suffer because of the sins of their fathers.

Or those of their brothers.

I took off running, the adrenaline already kicked into my system, the war being waged in my mind more horrific than any bloodshed or any need for violence. All I could think about was saving her.

Seconds later, I knew my brothers were following, their heavy footsteps evident by the sound of cracking limbs. We would move closer silently, refusing to allow Tommaso to know we’d arrived. Our only hope in saving the women we loved was some element of surprise. Various emotions clawed at my system.

Guilt.

Rage.

Love.

Understanding.

I could never forgive my brother for what he’d done yet I understood the reasons behind his horrific actions. Our father had turned three boys into killers, indoctrinating them into his evil world. What else could anyone expect?

As soon as we reached the edge of the woods, the three of us stopped, peering through the thick undergrowth at the pristine building that no longer housed horses as it once had. Now it was home to leftover equipment waiting to be used or sold.

And it was a perfect place to hide a monster.

D’Artagnan moved in front, his arm shaking as he held his weapon in front of him. The adrenaline was killing all of us, the need to engage in our own level of revenge something we’d need to watch. Stupid decisions were usually made when blinded by emotion. At least that was one decent lesson our father had taught us.

Never succumb to weakness. The sentiment was worth mentioning but what he’d neglected to realize or embrace was that often the thing considered the weakest provided the greatest strength and power.

The women we loved did that, the children brought into the world by our blended family providing peace. Of that I was certain.

He glanced from Enzo’s eyes to mine.

“I go in first,” I said.

“Not a good idea,” Enzo stated.

“It’s the only one that’s acceptable. You need to know the right time to make contact with the soldiers.”

“He’s right, Enzo. Be careful, Mattia. He’s fucked up,” D’Artagnan told me. “Don’t underestimate him.”

I threw my head in his direction, the waning twilight still allowing me to see the haunted look on his face. There was so much baggage all four of us shared, so many painful moments that there was no need to talk about them.

I made a silent promise to them as well as to the woman I would marry. We would never turn into our fathers. The vile evil that had trickled in our bloodlines would end here. Our children would know love and happiness, not sorrow and treachery.

God help me.

We separated and I moved around to the back of the barn toward the second set of doors. It was easy to see one was still ajar. Whether an invitation or simply an oversight didn’t matter. I moved through the shadowed light, slipping inside without making a single sound. There was no room for error as there would be no second chances.

The stench inside was strange, something I had difficulty deciphering, but it was overpowering, so much so that I pressed my hand over my mouth as I carefully moved through the bales of hay still secured inside. Then I heard a noise and crouched down, listening to determine the location.

Then I heard a laugh, the sound sending a jolt of electricity through me.

Tommaso.

As soon as I moved away from my secure location, a light was snapped on from somewhere above, the brightness blinding. Shielding my eyes, I glanced over my head toward the oversized spotlight, following the shimmer to the ground where the three women had been positioned on plywood boxes, each bound and gagged, ropes tying them together in a crude circle. From where I remained, I could see my beautiful princess’s face. While there was fear in her eyes, there was also a strong resolve.

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