Sitting in my living room, I watch the lifestream from the cameras I planted in Davies’ mansion.
I bring the tumbler of whiskey to my lips and take a sip, my eyes glued to Skylar, where she’s blow-drying her hair.
She’s physically changed over the past three weeks. Her face isn’t gaunt anymore, and her skin has a healthy glow. With the weight she’s gained, she’s gone from pretty to strikingly beautiful.
She’s sitting at her dressing table, facing the camera, and when I look into her clear blue eyes, it feels as if she can see me.
Her movements slow down, and with a frown forming on her forehead, she switches off the hairdryer.
She glances around her, then tugs her bottom lip between her teeth before murmuring, “This is getting insane. There’s no one there.”
The corner of my mouth lifts in a predatory smirk. “Oh, I’m here.”
Brushing her shoulder-length ginger hair with hard strokes, she says, “I better stop seeing ghosts everywhere, or Dad’s going to drag my ass to the nearest therapist.”
When she places the brush on the table, she stares into the mirror and lets out a sigh.
I get up and walk closer to the TV screen until I’m eye-to-eye with her.
She’s really fucking beautiful.
Skylar gets up and walks to her bed. She’s only wearing an oversized T-shirt, and when she crawls onto the mattress, and sits down with her legs folded in front of her, I have a direct view of her black panties and smooth inner thighs.
For a moment, my body betrays me, and I begin to harden.
She pulls her laptop in front of her, and knowing she’ll be busy on it for at least the next hour, I finish the whiskey before setting the tumbler down on the coffee table.
Heading upstairs to my bedroom, I grab a pair of sweatpants from the walk-in closet before going to the bathroom.
I switch on the faucets in the shower, and while the water warms up, I strip out of my suit.
I place my gun on the counter, my thoughts circling Skylar like a vulture getting ready to swoop in for the kill.
Fuck, I’m growing impatient and have to decide what I’m going to do.
Watching Skylar Davies live her perfect life with Giulio’s kidney in her body is torture.
Stepping beneath the warm spray, I begin to wash my body while one thought after another rushes through my mind.
I could go to the mansion and give them a quick death after getting all the information from Harlan.
Or I could have them taken to the warehouse, where I can slowly torture them.
Or…
I can take Skylar’s precious freedom. Holding her captive would be the worst kind of torture for both of them. Harlan clearly loves his daughter more than life itself, and being separated from her would drive him insane.
Switching off the faucets, I step out of the shower and grab a towel. As the soft fabric wipes the drops from my body, the corner of my mouth lifts.
I like the idea of Harlan losing his fucking mind. I’ll have his precious daughter, and there would be nothing he can do to save her.
Slipping on the sweatpants, I grab my gun from the counter and walk out of the bathroom. When I head down the stairs, the smell of microwaved popcorn hits me, and then I see Dario sitting on my couch while watching the camera feed like it’s some goddamn movie.
When he sees me, he pops a kernel of popcorn into his mouth and says, “I got hungry from watching the woman cook. It looks like she has some serious skills.”
Grabbing the remote from the couch, I glance at the TV screen and see Skylar busy making a dish that could easily be served in the best restaurants.
I press the button on the remote, and the screen goes black.
“The whole place smells of fucking popcorn,” I mutter.
“Want some?” Dario asks with a smirk.
“No.” I walk to the kitchen, and opening the bag of takeout I ordered earlier, I pull the burger and fries out and put it on a plate before warming it for a minute in the microwave.
“You need to eat healthier,” Dario complains as he opens the fridge to help himself to a can of soda. His eyes sweep over the contents of the fridge. “You’re going to die of a heart attack.”
“Considering all the ways I could die, I’ll take it,” I mutter to aggravate him.
He shoots me a scowl. “I can send Esmerelda over twice a week to cook for you.”
“Hell no. Keep your housekeeper to yourself.”
I remove the plate from the microwave and take a huge bite of the burger.
Dario looks at the junk food with disgust.
The man is my opposite in every way. It’s a fucking miracle we’re friends because the only thing we have in common is the Cosa Nostra.
Opening the can, he leans back against the island before taking a sip. He clears his throat, then asks, “Have you found out anything new?”
I shake my head. “We keep chasing a bunch of emails and phone numbers. It’s pissing me off.”
“Maybe it’s time to grab the doctor. He’ll definitely know something we can use.”
I nod while taking another bite, and only after I’ve swallowed do I say, “Yeah, I’m thinking the same thing.”
“And Davies and his daughter?”
“Same thing.” I take the can of soda from his hands and help myself to a couple of sips before passing it back to him. “I’ll have Carlos and Emilio bring them to the warehouse after I’ve cleared out the shipment of AKs for the Mexicans.”
“When is that happening?” he asks as he starts crunching on popcorn again.
“In three days.”
His eyes meet mine. “Are you really going to kill the woman?”
I stare at him for a solid minute. “Eventually.”
His eyebrows lift. “What does that mean?”
“I’m first going to torture them,” I answer as I put the empty plate in the sink before walking to the living room.
Dario plops down on one of the couches. “Torture? The woman as well?”
The corner of my mouth lifts. “Careful. It sounds like you have a hardon for Skylar Davies, brother.”
“Not by a long shot. I’m just thinking she might be innocent in this fucking mess.”
My eyes flick to his. “Innocent? You’re kidding, right? Giulio’s kidney is buried in her fucking body.”
Dario holds my stare as he says, “That’s her father’s doing, Renzo. She might not know where the kidney came from. Did you even think about that?”
I give him a look of warning. “I’m done talking about this.”
He lets out a heavy breath, then nods. “I just don’t want you doing something you’ll regret.”
“I fucking regret not protecting Giulio better, but I sure as fuck will not regret killing anyone involved in his death.”
Considering the conversation over, I walk to the stairs. “You can let yourself out.”
Dario darts up from the couch and grabs hold of my arm.
When I turn to face him, he says, “I’m sorry. The last thing I wanted was to upset you. I’m just looking out for you.”
I lock eyes with him, and seeing the worry on his face, I say, “It’s fine.”
“We’re good?”
I pat his shoulder. “We’re good. I’m heading to bed. Switch off the lights on your way out.”
“You’re not going to give the junk you just ate time to digest?”
I shake my head. “No. Goodnight, Dario.”
Walking to my bedroom, I sit down on the side of the bed and cover my face with my hands. I exhale a heavy breath as the grief and anger swirl in my chest.
