Twisted Pride (The Camorra Chronicles 3)

“You won. You broke me. I begged you. I’m offering you my body. Please spare Samuel.”

His eyes traveled the length of my body before they locked on mine once more. “You aren’t broken, Angel. Sacrificing yourself for someone you love isn’t weakness.”

“Spare my brother, Remo.” With shaking hands I reached for his belt, but he stopped me. And my world fell apart because if he didn’t take me up on my offer, what else could I give him in return for my brother’s life? What else did he want?

Remo leaned down to my ear. “Such a tantalizing offer.” He exhaled. “You’d hate me fiercely.”

“I would,” I whispered.

“You would. So you don’t hate me fiercely yet?”

I shuddered. I couldn’t bear his mind games, not now, not when Samuel’s life depended on it.

Remo kissed the spot below my ear. “I will spare your brother, Angel,” he said in a low voice, and I froze because I couldn’t believe it. “I will send him back to the Outfit with a message. It needs to be loud and clear so they understand I won’t have my territory breached.”

I nodded mutely. I’d agree to anything to save my brother. I didn’t understand any of this.

“You will come down with me into the cell beside Samuel’s. I will have a talk with him.” I stiffened in Remo’s hold. “Just a talk and tell him that his actions have consequences, and then I’ll return to your cell and you’re going to scream and beg as if I’m hurting you. You will make him believe it. Then I will release him so he can return home with the remains of the other Outfit soldier and the knowledge that you will suffer brutally for every single one of their mistakes.”

I gave a nod. Samuel would hate himself for it. He would suffer worse than before, but it was better than the alternative. I needed to save him no matter the cost. I could tell him the truth once I was back home.

“Good,” Remo said quietly. He gathered my clothes from the ground, his eyes level with my center for a moment before he straightened. “Now get dressed.”

I didn’t understand why he hadn’t taken me when it was obvious how much he wanted me. He could have had me in every way he wanted. I wouldn’t have fought him. He could have sent the warning message by recording Samuel’s torture and my screams and sending the video to my family. He didn’t have to keep Samuel alive to deliver it.

What else could he want?

REMO

Serafina had offered herself to me, but she’d done it out of despair, out of love for her brother. Not because she wanted to.

She loved her brother fiercely, wanted to protect him at any cost, like I would my brothers. I could respect that. I’d never admired a woman on her knees more than I did Serafina. She followed me quietly through the mansion. I could have asked anything of her, but that wasn’t how I wanted things to go. Far from it.

I opened the door to the cell beside Samuel’s, and Serafina stepped in.

The door to the third cell swung open, and Nino stepped out, covered in blood, his brows drawing together when he spotted Serafina. I closed the door and faced him.

“What’s going on?” he asked. His eyes scanned my face. “Remo.”

I smirked. “Change of plans.”

He moved closer. “We’re not letting him go.”

“We will.”

Savio joined us in the hallway, clothes drenched in blood as well. He didn’t say anything, only regarded us carefully.

Nino shook his head. “You’re losing yourself in your game.”

“I’m not. I know exactly what I’m doing, Nino. Torturing and killing Samuel won’t make the same impact as my plan does. He’d become a martyr. His death would forge Dante and his family closer together. They would unite in their loss. But shame and guilt will rip them apart.”

“So this isn’t about Serafina?”

“Of course it is. She’s the center of my game.”

Nino shook his head again. “We promised Fabiano his father, and I want this game over. I want her out of our mansion. Speed up the process.”

“Some things take time.”

“Your game has been evolving a lot since we kidnapped her. Are you sure it’s because you think it necessary or is it because she’s making you?”

“She’s not making me do anything. You know me. I can’t be coerced to do anything.”

“I’m going to Kiara. Adamo took her back to our wing. I don’t have the necessary patience for you tonight.” Nino stalked off.

Savio raised his eyebrows.

“What did the Outfit bastard say?” I muttered.

“He was one of the younger soldiers. Made Men from Samuel’s group. Apparently, the blond asshole has already quite the loyal following in the Minneapolis Outfit.”

“I assume Dante and Pietro Mione didn’t know?”

“They didn’t.”

“You can leave. I’ll handle this alone.”

Savio hesitated. “Are you really sure your plan is going to work? Nino is the logical genius.”