“We’ll go together,” I tell him.
Tonight, I’ll ensure one of his greatest enemies meets a horrible death. It may not be the last one on the list that River and I plan to take down. But it will certainly not stop us from exacting justice.
When I reach the last name on my list, I don’t know what I’ll do. Perhaps take a vacation. Maybe I’ll find peace in knowing they’re all dead and buried. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll find a way to move on.
Thanos sounded excited when I spoke to him about the girl he’s got hold up in a cell. He thinks I’m meeting him for her. Perhaps I am. It’s been years since I laid eyes on the pretty girl. Years since I’ve wanted her, needed her to the point of being paralyzed with desire.
For a long time, I thought of myself as her savior. The sad thing is, she’s been there far longer than I care to think about. I know why he took her. She’s beautiful, or at least, from what I remember, she was pure and beautiful. Even though she was bleeding out on me, I knew I’d want her for the rest of my godforsaken life.
However, what intrigues me is why Thanos wanted her. Why he kept her for all this time, and he hasn’t yet killed her or worse. There were many girls who passed through our organization, but none of them ever grabbed his attention. I know he runs his own underground shithole, but I doubt it’s anything like my father’s.
Four years.
Long, lonely years.
It never stopped them before. But Caia Amoretto was stronger than the others. The thought causes bile to rise in my throat because I know what strong girls suffer. Shaking my head, I swallow my hatred down. Keeping a level head is the only thing I need to do.
Thanos is convinced I’ll be there to put money on the table to take her away, but I’ll be there to ensure he bleeds out all over his designer suit.
I make my way to the bedroom, grab my suit jacket, and shrug it on. A glance in the mirror reflects my raven-colored hair, blue eyes, and the cigarette hanging from my mouth.
“I’ll give you fifteen minutes from the moment you enter his house to the second me and the team sweep the dungeon and rooms,” River says. I glance up, and I see it in his eyes. The emotion he holds for me. Each time I head out on a job, he’s beside me. And as much as I don’t want him to care for me, he does.
It’s unwarranted. He knows it as well as I do, but that doesn’t stop him from showing it, feeling it. I don’t blame him, but I can’t offer it in return. Not right now.
“Is the room set up for her when we get back?” He nods in response. “I have no idea of her state of mind. Four years is a long time, and that asshole is a vile piece of work,” I tell him, and the recognition flickers in his green gaze.
“Are you talking about us or her?”
Turning to him, I find myself speechless for a moment. Thanos was one of the first clients my father introduced us to. River and I had to show him what we were capable of. Needless to say, it’s a memory I don’t often revisit.
“Drake, River, come in here,” Father calls to us. He’s meeting with one of his newest clients, and I should’ve hidden in my room with my best friend, but stupidly, I didn’t think he’d want us here for the contract signing.
“Yes, Father.” I offer a smile, but it’s fake, like so many things in this house.
“This is one of my newest partners,” Malcolm smirks. “He’s just invested fifteen million for two products.”
I know what that means. Those products will soon be brought in to the dungeons below and tortured.
“I’d like you to show him how well you’re doing within the organization.” My father’s expression is one of no nonsense. I can’t refuse him. If I do, he’ll hurt River. I think he knows about my feelings for my best friend. And that’s a dangerous thing.
“I . . . I’m not sure . . .”
The thunderous expression stills my mouth. My words fail in the moment my father rises and stalks toward me. His hand grips my throat, shoving me to my knees. He leans in, sneering as he hisses, “This is your future. I trust you’ll behave, Drake.”
Spittle flies from his mouth. I nod slowly. My heart thudding wildly in my chest, it’s beating a rhythm of agony and fear. A song I’ve heard far too many times.
“Or would you like me to call Dante in here?”
“No, I can do it,” I utter swiftly. Knowing that my brother would be hurt makes me confirm that I choose my life to be snuffed before his.