Chapter Two

Luciano.

The smaller guard made no attempt to move as Adriano dealt with the bigger one. He was wise enough to stay still and let Adriano finish what he was doing.

Apparently, breaking the guard's hand wasn't enough to calm Adriano's pent-up rage. He grabbed the hair of the guard and angrily slammed his head against the wall over and over again. He released all of his frustration on him and only stopped when he realized the guard wasn’t moving.

Great.

“Are you satisfied?” I growled at him.

“Barely,” he answered, pulling back and letting go of the guard while watching him slip down to the ground with disgust on his face. He stretched his arms and cracked his bloodied fingers afterward. I would have done the same, but my whole body was on fire right now.

Even after a week of resting, I still felt pain in my sides anytime I moved.

“Are you going to be a headache now?” Adriano asked the smaller guard, who looked too shocked to speak. He gulped and quickly shook his head.

“Good. Lead the way.” The smaller guard regained his composure, pulling himself away from the wall he had almost compressed himself into, and started walking. I noticed how he looked behind him every few seconds, clearly scared that we would do something to him.

He took us down a familiar hallway—one my brother and I knew all too well. My anger rose as I saw the room where my brother and I were tortured for questions we had no answers for.

After walking out of the hallway, we encountered a warden standing outside another door. His brows furrowed as he looked at us, and quickly his hand reached for his gun. But he wasn’t quick enough for Adriano.

Adriano moved in front of the warden, placing his knife against his neck.

“Drop every thought you’re having right now,” he snarled.

The warden raised his hands in surrender, his chest moving up and down rapidly. I wondered where they had recruited these weak men.

“Where are our things?” Adriano asked as I leaned against the wall for support.

Just because I was in pain didn’t mean I couldn’t fight when the time came. I wouldn’t hesitate to protect my brother from them, and just by staring at the man, I knew that moment would arrive soon enough.

They wouldn’t let us out of here without informing him.

“Your things are in here. You can change inside while I see to your discharge,” he said, his voice a bit loud, and he couldn’t meet my gaze as he spoke. He did nothing to hide his fear, like the others.

“Very well; lead the way.” He should go inside, and we wouldn’t enter until a minute later.

There’s one thing I wouldn’t do, and that’s take a risk.

He gulped and exchanged glances with the other guard, who stood stiffly with his hands behind him. I didn’t pay him any mind because I knew he wouldn’t be able to do anything.

I watched as Adriano released the warden, who walked inside, opening the door wide so we could see the interior.

We waited for a moment before starting for the door, but before I entered, I paused and locked eyes with the smaller guard, who seemed frozen in place.

“Show me your hands,” I ordered.

Again, he exchanged glances with the warden inside before slowly bringing his hands forward. But before I could examine him, a loud siren blared throughout the facility.

“Fuck!” Adriano cursed as he rushed inside the room.

A moment later, he emerged, dragging the warden behind him.

“He did it,” I said, stepping forward and watching as the warden refused to look me in the eye.

I knew this would happen; he would realize we were out of our cell soon enough, but I didn’t think it would be this soon.

I grabbed him and held the collar of his uniform, pushing him against the wall and frowning at the alcohol smell that wafted into my nose.

“Is there something you’d like to tell me, officer?” I asked, and he shook his head, his eyes wide.

“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stammered, avoiding eye contact.

He must be either ballsy or just plain stupid to think I would believe this. The blaring siren was a clear sign that he was lying, but like always, they would deny it.

“Don’t be so stupid, warden. Your life is currently in the hands of my brother. I expect you to be cooperative with him,” Adriano said beside me.

“I really don’t know what you’re talking about, I swear,” he replied.

I couldn’t help but grin. They all thought they were protected by the 'one' because I was in here with them. They underestimated me, believing I didn’t know what was happening inside and outside this damned place.

“On what? Or should I say on who? Your sickly wife or your daughter, Lily?” I asked.

His eyes looked like they would pop out of their sockets after I said that. They always underestimated my capabilities.

“You bastard! Don’t you dare—” He began to protest, but I wrapped my hand around his neck, cutting off his airway and stopping every word he was about to utter.

“Why did you do it?” I didn’t have to guess the reason or who was receiving this signal right now, but I needed to hear it from him.

“You better start talking, or else you’ll get a call soon about your dead family,” Adriano said, chuckling beside me.

The bastard thrashed in my hold, trying to push my hand from his neck, but he was no match for me, even in my weakened state.

“Don’t you dare touch them! They have nothing to do with this!” he screamed, and I grinned.

“You should have thought of that before doing this.”

“I will kill you if you touch them,” he spat on my face.

I froze, processing both his words and his action.

Adriano cackled wickedly as I took the knife from him. “You’ve dug your own grave, warden.” From his tone, it was clear he found this amusing. He was enjoying this, just as I was about to enjoy killing this warden.

“Please… I didn’t mean to,” he begged as he realized the gravity of his actions, glancing between me and Adriano.

“You… you threatened them. I…”

He pleaded, and all I did was tighten my grip on his throat. One thing I detested was hearing the word ‘please.’ I had heard it and uttered it for far too long, and now I hated hearing it from anyone. It got you nowhere.

“You will what?” I snarled, relishing the fear and impending death mirrored in his eyes.

He shook his head, trying to speak, but the bastard couldn’t even breathe, let alone form words.

“Why aren’t you answering my question now?” I grinned.

“Ple….”

I despised that word.

“Do you realize who you’re talking to?” He nodded, but it wasn’t enough.

If he truly understood who he was addressing, he wouldn’t have acted that way. My name should be the last thing on his lips before he die.

“Hmm,” he hummed, and I loosened my grip slightly so he could breathe a bit.

He gasped hungrily for air.

“I…” I positioned the knife under his chin.

“Who the fuck are you talking to?”

“Don,” he answered.

“Say my fucking name,” I demanded.

His throat bobbed as he tried to speak.

“Stop acting like a fish out of water and answer his question,” Adriano said, inching closer and glaring at the warden.

“Rossi!”

My grip tightened around his neck, causing him to cough.

“Rossi. Don Luciano Rossi,” he yelled with the little strength he had left.

“Good.”

“Hand it over.” If I thought he had learned his lesson, I was sorely mistaken.

He shook his head in denial. “What? No…”

“Think twice before denying my brother what he wants again, warden. Deny him again, and I won’t hesitate to kill you myself.” Adriano’s warning seemed to do the trick.

The warden shakily reached for his pants pocket and slowly produced his phone.

I snatched it from him and pressed the knife against his neck. He choked and cried out, and then… something warm touched my pants.

I looked down and scowled when I saw his pants were soaked. The bastard had pissed himself.

My eyes returned to his, and they widened in fear. Before he could say anything, I pressed the knife deeper into his neck, slashing it open.

He choked on his blood, and I pulled the knife out, watching with satisfaction as his blood flowed profusely from the wound.

“About time,” Adriano remarked as he walked back into the room.

I stared at the blood on my hands, dropping the knife on the ground. I turned to the guard, who hadn’t moved or said a word. He could potentially be a snitch, and I wanted him dead.

“I… I wouldn’t tell anyone. I promise!” he begged, as if he could read my thoughts.

I grinned wickedly at him. “I know you wouldn’t, but I can’t risk it.” I threw the knife at him before he could protest.

He let out a grunt as the knife struck his forehead, and a moment later, he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Fucking idiots.

Adriano had already changed into his suit when I stepped back inside.

“You took your time out there. What did you do?” He grinned widely at me, and I rolled my eyes.

I said nothing as I grabbed a cloth from the side and wiped my bloodied hands.

I dropped the phone on the table without commenting as Adriano picked it up and changed into my suit.

“We should have asked for his passcode before killing him,” I said, snatching the phone from him. I typed in a number I knew he would likely use.

It’s usually their anniversary date or their birthday date. In his case, it was his anniversary date. The phone unlocked and automatically opened the message he’d received earlier.

My expression hardened when I read the text on the screen. Apparently, the siren wasn’t the only thing he used to alert someone. Adriano glanced over my shoulder, and his jaw tensed.

“Looks like we have some guests,” he said, and I snorted in agreement.

“Let’s go.” My hand instinctively moved, eager to stain it with blood again.