Twisted Bonds (The Camorra Chronicles 4)

We settled in our bed, me on my back and Nino leaning over me, his eyes tracing my upper arms. He leaned down and kissed my bruises. “I can’t stand seeing you being hurt.”

“I’m fine, Nino. It hurts me more seeing you and your brothers argue with each other. So please don’t be mad at Adamo.”

“I’m not. Not anymore. My brothers and I will always be there for each other. Nothing will change that. Remo won’t allow it, nor will I.”

CHAPTER 19

NINO

“So, what, you’re going to keep me locked in here forever?” Adamo said. “A captive in my own home?” Since Savio had brought him home two nights ago, we’d kept a close eye on our youngest brother and he was already showing withdrawal symptoms. Erratic movements, perspiration, shaking fingers. He must have been taking the shit longer than anyone expected.

“You’ll stay here until we’re sure you’re clean,” I said calmly.

Adamo glared. “Why can’t I stay in my room at least?”

“Because there aren’t bars in front of your window and we don’t want to have them installed.”

Adamo shook his head, looking around the room in Remo’s wing. It was where Remo used to keep Serafina. “This is ridiculous. You can’t treat me like this.”

Remo staggered toward him and got in his face. “You know what I’d do to any other soldier who takes drugs and doesn’t tell me where he got them, so maybe you should shut the fuck up.”

“If you tell us who gave you the drugs, it would make things easier.”

“For whom?” Adamo crossed his arms with a bitter smile.

Remo released a harsh breath and then his smile turned dangerous. “All right, then don’t tell us. We’ll just talk to C.J. and ask her. You spent a lot of time with her. I assume she knows quite a bit.”

Adamo turned pale. “No, leave her out of it.”

Remo’s smile widened further. “I can’t do that. Considering I’m her Capo, she should have told me everything but she didn’t. That’s betrayal.”

“No!” Adamo shouted and threw himself at Remo, aiming a punch at him. Remo blocked him, twisted his arm around and threw him face-first to the floor then knelt on his back. “Never raise your fist against me again.”

“Fuck you,” Adamo rasped, his face turning red.

“Adamo,” I said in an imploring tone as I crouched before him. “You need to stop this. The drugs are messing with you. Remo and I only want to help you.”

“Don’t hurt C.J., hurt me.”

“I have a feeling hurting you won’t bring us any closer to the truth, right?” I murmured. “Pain won’t make you talk anymore.”

“You never tried. Just do it.”

Remo released him and got up with a snarl. “Shut up. You know we won’t torture you.”

“Why can’t you just let me make my own decisions? If I want to ruin my life with drugs then let me.”

Remo glared. “I won’t give you up, not ever. I’ll torture anyone to get the info on those fuckers who sold you the shit. I want you to return to who you were.”

“I won’t,” Adamo said quietly, rolling onto his back. “There’s nothing you can do about it. I’m not him anymore, maybe I never was.”

Remo swallowed hard, his mouth setting in a hard line. He bent over Adamo, gripping his forearm with the burns. “Then become someone stronger. Those fuckers who tortured you, don’t give them power even after they’re done. Get angry, get brutal, I don’t give a fuck, but get the fucking torture out of your head. Move on. It’s the past.”

Adamo smiled strangely. “If it were that easy, you and Nino wouldn’t still act like our mother wasn’t alive.”

Remo jerked upright. He was on the verge. I gripped his shoulder.

“Adamo, there are two options. You tell us who sold you the drugs or Remo and I will question C.J.”

Adamo glared but worry flickered in his eyes. Maybe Adamo thought he was like us, had become like us, but he was still kinder than Remo and I would ever be.

“Don’t give us that look,” Remo said in a low voice. “I won’t have you deal with potentially dangerous dealers who could use you and your drug addiction to get back to us, to our family.”

Adamo scoffed.

Remo took a step toward him again but stopped himself. “You sure you wouldn’t give them the safety codes if they didn’t sell you the drugs you crave so desperately? Can you look into my fucking eyes and swear you wouldn’t act recklessly for another high? Can you?” Remo laughed darkly when Adamo remained silent. “That’s what I thought. I won’t risk Greta and Nevio’s lives, or Serafina’s or Savio’s or Kiara’s or Nino’s— or yours. Ever. If I have to torture a whore so you give me the info I need, I’ll do it without a fucking flicker of remorse.” Then he nodded toward me. “And believe me, Nino wouldn’t even blink dismembering anyone to guarantee Kiara’s safety.”