Twisted Pride (The Camorra Chronicles 3)

“I’m sorry,” I gasped out, broken words full of despair. Words weren’t enough to convey the extent of my sins. Of my betrayal.

“No,” he growled. “No, Fina, no.” He shook, his grip painful.

“Remo … he … I.”

Dad cupped my head. “It’s over. It’s over now, Fina. I swear, one day I’ll hunt him down. I will kill him for what he did to you … for … for hurting you.”

I swallowed. He thought Remo had raped me. They all did, and I couldn’t tell him the truth, was too cowardly to tell him. Closing my eyes, I rested my cheek against his chest. Dad held me tightly, rocking me like a little girl, like he could restore my innocence by doing so.

Would the truth set him free? Set them all free or would it break them worse? I wasn’t sure of anything anymore.

REMO

Fabiano kept tossing glances at his father resting on the backrest of the car, looking fucking eager to tear into the man.

“Your plan really worked. You crushed the fucking Outfit,” Fabiano said, turning to me. I stared at the road. The triumph I’d been working toward, destroying the Outfit from within, I held it in my hands. I’d seen it on the faces of my enemies. I knew they’d keep suffering.

Fabiano shifted in his seat. “Remo, you realize we won, right? We got my father. Your insane plan worked.”

“Yeah, my plan worked …”

“Then why—” Fabiano’s eyes widened.

My grip on the steering wheel tightened.

“We can try kidnapping her again. It worked once, who’s to say it won’t work again,” he said almost incredulously.

“No,” I said harshly. “Serafina doesn’t belong in captivity.”

Fabiano shook his head. “They will marry her off to Danilo. Even if you spoiled the goods, she’s still Cavallaro’s niece, and Danilo would be foolish to refuse a marriage because she isn’t a virgin anymore.”

I wanted to kill someone, wanted to spill blood. “She won’t marry him.”

“Remo—”

“Not another word, Fabiano, or I swear you won’t get a chance to rip your father to shreds because I will and then maybe do the same to you.”

He sank back into the seat with a frown. “Should I call Nino?”

“We’ll see him in five fucking minutes,” I growled. “Now shut the fuck up.”

We met at the Sugar Trap. Fabiano dragged his father down into the basement while I sat down at the bar. Jerry put a bottle of brandy and a glass down in front of me without a word.

Nino joined me after a couple of minutes. “Matteo and Romero’s plane arrived thirty minutes ago. They’ll be here soon.”

“Good. A sign of goodwill for Luca.”

“He still isn’t happy about the kidnapping. But now that we gave Serafina back and give his brother and Captain a chance to partake in the torture, he’ll probably come back around. We don’t need a conflict with the Famiglia. The Outfit will start attacking viciously soon enough.”

“Set up a cage fight for me. Two opponents. Death match. Tomorrow. The day after at the latest.”

Nino grasped my shoulder. “Remo. We can’t have you play with your life now. We need you strong.”

I stood and gave him a twisted smile. “If you want me strong, give me someone to kill. I want blood. I want to maim and kill. And I’m not risking my life. I will fucking obliterate every fucking person who enters the fucking cage as my opponent.”

“It won’t make you miss her any less.”

I lunged at him in blinding rage. For the first time in my fucking life, I attacked my brother. Nino blocked my fist and took a step back, and I jerked to a halt, stopping myself after realizing what I was doing. My chest heaved as I stared into my brother’s cautious gray eyes.

Jerry had run off and a moment later Fabiano stormed inside but froze when he saw me and Nino facing each other, standing almost chest to chest.

“Fuck,” I rasped, taking a step back. I held out my arm, tattoo on display, my palm up. A silent apology, the only one I was capable of. Fabiano turned back around, leaving us alone. Nino linked our arms, my hand on his tattoo, on his scars, and his palm on mine.

“You walked through fire for me, Remo,” he said quietly, imploringly, “but you should know, I’d do the same for you. I wouldn’t have asked you to send her back if I’d known … And I’ll walk straight into Outfit territory for you and get her back if that’s what you want.”

“That’s not what I want.”

“She won’t return to you of her own free will.”

“Then so be it. Now find someone I can kill and set up the fucking death match.”

Nino squeezed my arm then released me.

“I think for the first time in my life I envy you your lack of emotions.”

CHAPTER 20