Chapter 47
Nico
I watched as Adrian Gallo walked out of the room, and waited until the door was shut firmly behind him before I let my shoulders sag. My breath came out in ragged gasps. Everywhere hurt, from the way that they had tied my hands behind my back to the soreness in my left side. It felt almost like a couple of broken ribs.
Nothing compared to the pain that I was feeling about what was going on with my family. I didn’t know if Rory was safe or if our kids were scared. I couldn’t help them. I couldn’t get to them, and I felt like a failure.
Still, I’d gotten to Gallo.
I could tell from the moment he stepped inside that he didn’t have a fucking clue what he had gotten himself into.
My father played him like a goddamn fiddle. And manipulating his own unease was almost child’s play. I had no illusion about what fate awaited me when I was delivered to my father. The old man wanted me to bleed for what I did to him. My fate was sealed.
But I couldn’t let him get to my family.
I couldn’t let him get to the children. I wouldn’t let him corrupt them in his sick and twisted ways so that he could use them how he saw fit.
And Rory.
My heart squeezed in my chest as I thought about how the brave woman I had as my wife had been a major player in taking my father down the first time. He made plenty of threats against her, even as he was being taken to prison.
I shouldn’t have let my guard down. I should have killed him when I had the chance, so we wouldn’t even be in this situation.
Tugging on the ties, I let my rage focus on breaking myself free, even if it was a lost cause. I couldn’t dwell on the fact that my family was in danger. Rory, the kids, and also Leda.
My father was out for blood and he must’ve known about her pregnancy. I had an inkling of what he’d do to her poor child. There would be no bastards, I could already hear him say.
No one was safe, but the seeds I had planted in Adrian’s mind hopefully would be enough to turn the tides.
Hopefully, it would be enough to force Adrian to move.
I’ve done my part, Leda.
Now you do yours.