Page 58 of Stolen Bride
Damiano
He’s in his office at this late hour, which doesn’t quite surprise me because what we do in the dark comes to light. I creep in while my men make sure there isn’t a soul who saw my presence.
“Good evening, Rodriguez.”
“Valentino. What are you doing in here? You shouldn’t be here.” His eyes are as wide as saucers, almost coked out. He peers outside, searching for something.
“Why would that be?” I challenge the high-and-mighty prick to tell the truth. This time, there will be no easy death until I get the answers I came for. Stella’s everything to me, and I’ll destroy the world to bring her peace.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he doubles down.
“Is that because I should be dead?”
“What? No.” I rush on him in a heartbeat, lifting him off his feet and into the air before slamming him violently against the wall, sending his framed awards falling as the worthless shits should.
“I swear I have no idea what you’re talking about, but if they see you here, they’ll kill my wife and kids,” he chokes out.
“Well, they tried to kill mine tonight, so excuse me if I don’t give a fuck.”
“Please, I didn’t have anything to do with your wife and I didn’t know you had children.”
“She’s pregnant.”
“I just haven’t ruled on the fires yet.”
“Why?”
“They want you to turn over territory and property to them. They figured you’d be weakened with my office breathing down your neck when we accuse you of crimes. They have leverage. I wouldn’t play ball, but they took my family tonight.” The tears in his eyes are real and vulnerable. His family portrait on his desk reminds me that a man will do whatever to protect his own. Even someone who is dedicated to the right side of the law.
“Who are they, and where did they take them?”
“The Otero Family.” Fucking Salazar’s relatives. That piece of dirt’s relations are behind all of this. I think back to that encounter in my office. No, it wasn’t because I offed that prick because they never came after him; hell, no one even bothered to look for him. He was just another pawn of theirs. They were just stealing from me, and he was their first test.
“Which Otero took your family?”
“Miguel.”
“If you’re playing me…”
“I’m not. I swear. I had proof it was arson and even who started two of the fires, but I got threatened before I could report it. One of their family members works for fire department.”
“By tomorrow, there will be no more Oteros,” I promise. “We’re going to leave. You don’t speak to no one.”
We walk out and wait because if they’re watching him, someone will be in contact shortly. Adriano pretends to drive away when a man walks back into the station and into the office. We follow and listen. “What the fuck did you say to them?”
“Nothing. He threatened me, wanting to know who started the fires. I told him it’s not that easy. It’s not like people write their names on the fires.”
“He let you live?” that bastard Otero says, voice laced with suspicion. He doesn’t know I’m about to get his ass.
“Killing a city official investigating his properties doesn’t seem like a smart move for him.”
“What else did you tell him? He had to want more.”
“Nothing. I swear.”
“You’re fucking lying, Cousin.”
“We’re not family anymore. Family doesn’t do this to each other.” Family?