Alex’s eyes swept over to the weapons on the kitchen island. Drake had gathered a collection of guns, knives, ropes, chains, and surgical tools. She gripped the edge of the counter, studying each weapon carefully.
I moved behind Alex and slid my hands to her hips. “Choose one.”
She bit her lip. “I hate her, but I don’t think I can hurt anyone.”
I swiped her curls off her shoulder and kissed her neck. “In this room, you’re the judge and jury. We’ll be the executioners.”
Alex lifted a scalpel from the table. “How would you use this?”
Eyes wide, Savanna struggled against the restraints binding her to the chair. I reveled at the sight of her finally coming to terms with her imminent death. Even if Alex didn’t want to kill this bitch, I would gladly help her mother leave this world.
I took the scalpel from Alex’s hand. “This could take all night, a slow and painful death.”
“Get what you need from her,” Alex said in a hushed tone. “I don’t care what happens next.”
A sick grin tugged at my mouth.
Icouldn’t move from the kitchen island, frozen in place at the sight of my mother. Even after years apart, she instilled the same fear inside me. My head pounded, and my vision slightly blurred as I attempted to focus.
She didn’t deserve a reaction from me.
But I couldn’t control all the emotions sweeping through my body, especially not with my hormones out of whack from the pregnancy. Lately, I felt everything. And not just the sensitivity in my nipples and the rest of my body.
Emotions poured out of me. Even the unwanted feelings I tried hard to bury. Some days, I felt like I was losing control. The trauma of the kidnapping and the island stuck with me. And despite my guys and their best efforts, I still wasn’t myself.
I kept taking the pills Pops had given to Luca. Most nights, I needed them, or I didn’t get a second of sleep. Bastian and Marcello were the best at comforting me. If I was in one of their beds, I could usually fall asleep.
Bastian clutched my shoulder. “Are you okay, Cherry?” When I didn’t respond, he waved his hand in front of my face.
Just the sight of my mother sent a shiver down my arms, bringing back all the painful childhood memories.
The locked closets.
Pounding on doors.
Aiden yelling.
My screams.
Her laughter.
Marcello wrapped his arms around me from behind and kissed my neck. “We can go home if this is too much for you.”
Home.
That sounded good. But I couldn’t run away and let my men handle everything. They wanted a queen, so it was time for me to get my shit together.
Why was it so hard?
I could feel reality slipping out from under me. It took little to push me over the edge, and I was right there, ready to fall off a cliff and tumble into the darkness.
“Do what you have to do,” I whispered to Marcello. “I’m fine.”
Somewhat of a lie.
That was all Luca needed to hear before he set off toward my mother and the dark-haired man tied to the chair beside her. One of Lorenzo Basile’s men. He was still on the run with the help of The Lucaya Group.
Damian moved across the room with a scalpel in his hand and stood beside Luca, staring down at my mother. His eyes flicked between each of his victims. I didn’t have it in me to take a life. And since he enjoyed it so much, I wanted Damian to be the one to do it.