Page 85 of The Godfather’s Christmas Twins
"Back for more quality time?" Benny's split lip curls into a sneer. "This would go better if you’d agree to my terms.”
I grab his throat, cutting off his words. "I’m done fucking around with you. Start talking."
26
GIA
The rope bites into my wrists as I twist against the bindings, each movement making them dig deeper into my skin. I scan the large, dim area. It’s a warehouse of some sort, but it’s empty. The chair creaks beneath me with each attempt to loosen the ropes.
"Help!" I try to scream, but my voice comes out hoarse through my parched throat. The echo bounces off the concrete, mocking me.
I’m terrified, of course. I think of my mother, presumed dead although she was never found. Many women in my world have died or disappeared. It appears that I’m the next in a long line of casualties.
The kids. Oh, God, the kids. Will anyone know to pick them up from school? Will they be scared when I'm not there?
A fresh wave of panic surges through me as I think of their faces. I need to get back to them. I yank harder against the restraints. I try to focus, to think clearly through the panic clouding my mind. There has to be a way out of this.
I hear a door open. My breath holds, hoping for rescue but knowing it’s more likely my captor.
"Getting comfortable?" Ricardo’s lips curl into a sneer as he steps into the light. "You should try to relax. We’ll be here a while."
I force myself to study his face, to memorize every detail. Dark eyes, set deep beneath thick brows. A thin scar cuts through his left eyebrow. His nose has been broken at least once, leaving it slightly crooked. Clean-shaven, but I can see the shadow of stubble along his jaw.
"My brother will find me." My voice shakes more than I want it to.
Ricky circles behind my chair. "Good. It will save me the time to call him.” His fingers brush against my shoulder, and I jerk away. “For now, let him stew and wonder what happened to you.”
He moves back into view, loosening his tie. Sweat beads at his temples despite the basement chill. His hands twitch slightly as he rolls up his sleeves, making me wonder if maybe he's not as confident as he wants to appear.
"You really think you can take down Nic?" I lift my chin, meeting his gaze. “Not even my father could do it."
His face darkens, and for a moment, raw anger flashes in his eyes. He catches himself, smoothing his features back into that mocking smile. “Your father was a great man, but old and past his peak. I’ll succeed where he failed.”
"Why involve me in this? If your issue is with Nic, why drag me into it?"
Ricky stops pacing and laughs. "You Nardones really don't get it, do you?" He stands before me, crossing his arms. "Your brother didn't just take over. He destroyed a very successful business enterprise that your father built with my father’s help."
"The trafficking." The word tastes foul on my tongue.
"Among other things. Your brother somehow thinks getting rid of the girls makes him better than the rest of us.” He spits the last words like they're poison.
“He’s still raking in the money, money you’re making.”
He leans toward me menacingly. “This isn’t about money, sweetheart.”
“You’re the one saying he destroyed part of the business.”
“This is about power and sweet, sweet revenge.”
“So I’m bait?”
He nods. “Now you’re getting it. Nic is going to feel what it’s like to worry, like I worried when my father went missing. Then he’s going to know the pain of death and of losing like his father and my father had to endure. And you…” He steps closer, his cologne mixing with the musty basement air in a toxic scent that makes me want to puke. "You’ll be the first sale when I reopen the sex business.” His hand reaches out to brush my cheek, and I jerk away.
“Who’ll run the family?” I ask, although I suspect I know the answer.
“Me. When I take Nic down, they’ll see who really has the power and the vision. And those that don’t, well, they’ll join Nic in hell.” He gives me a self-satisfied grin and steps back.
I hold my silence. What’s there to say, anyway?