Inéz thought that separating the Capo’smen was a stupid idea. Easy never means that it was actually going to be like that. Especially when it came to the mafia, and for people who had been born into this life, Made Men tended to forget it a lot.
"Can I ask you something?"
Lynette rolled her eyes, annoyed. "You already have. Twice," she said, going back to doing something on her phone. "What?"
"When everyone was against you and Drew, how did you deal with it?"
A loud laugh echoed in the room. Lynette glanced at Inéz with inquisitive eyes. "Are you seriously asking me this? Inéz, I was sixteen years old and living in a golden cage. I could hardly do anything so meeting with Drew was my way of rebelling against the standards. If you’re aiming at finding out how to handle your relationship with Noah, you’re asking the wrong person. Flavio is a much better choice. He knows his brother, and he’s extremely smart."
"Flavio told me that our relationship was toxic and that I should end it before it goes further and destroys us both."
"So you have your answer." Lynette shrugged, completely unfazed by what she’d pointed out. Whether the girl would be with Noah or not, she didn’t care at all. It was just a choice for Inéz to make, and an easy one at that.
But Inéz clearly wanted her to state the opposite of what Flavio had and tell her to defend what she had. To tell her that it was natural to be lost in a relationship, but that it would pass. That within mafia circle it was always hard, but worth it. She didn’t.
Instead, she got up, adjusting her tight black dress. "It’s taking too long. I’m going to the warehouse. Are you coming?"
Inéz's eyebrows drew together. "You want me to go with you?"
"I don’t care if you do or not. Just decide quickly because I want to leave."
She thought about it. Something was pushing her to join Lynette and see everything with her own eyes. The way the Famigliaworked. Just like when Noah had taken her to see him dealing with his father’s man. And she had felt strangely satisfied while being there. She nearly agreed to Lynette’s offer.
However, in a moment of doubt, she shook her head, and soon the girl left. For the first time in a while, Inéz found herself alone, and it got to her. The silence echoing in her ears was a constant white noise that grew sounbearable in a matter of seconds that she decided to go after Lynette, hoping that she hadn’t left yet.
Getting down to the lobby, she nodded her head to the receptionist who was involved in the mafia business and always kept an eye on who was coming in. As she left the building, she looked around for a black Audi, but couldn’t see one parked anywhere close. Lynette must have driven away already.
With a deep sigh, she turned around, ready to go back inside. But then she felt a sharp pain streak through her neck and a paralyzing feeling of falling down took over her body as she lost consciousness immediately.
CHAPTER 44
Fluttering her eyes open, Inéz blinked a few times, getting used to the dim light in the room. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but her eyelids felt so heavy that she couldn’t help thinking she needed a few more hours of sleep to overcome the deep tiredness that had taken over her body.
Hearing the screech of a wooden chair, she looked around, realizing that she didn’t recognize the place she was in. Nothing seemed familiar.
Instantly, panic awoke inside her as she tried to shuffle around and leave. Wherever she was, it was a shabby and terrifying place. Like some kind of basement with nothing but the dirty mattress, she was lying on. Something was tightly holding her down as she desperately tried to move. But her efforts were futile as both her arms and legs had been restrained.
Her heartbeat picked up its pace as she tried with all her might to hold off the tears.
Suddenly, realization dawned on her as to what has happened. Her conversation with Lynette and going outside to try to find her and go with her. Then a piercing flash of pain that had overcome her body, and nothing else. Pitch black had engulfed her.
She tried once again to free her hands off the ropes, but all she did was cause her restraints to dig even deeper into her skin, the sticky feeling of blood mixing with the coarse material of the ropes. She groaned at the helplessness that settled inside her. There were many things that Nicodemo had taught her, but freeing herself, unfortunately, wasn’t one of them. And struggling only made them tighter and more painful.
The doorknob started to twist, and a second later it was flung open. Four men were standing in the threshold, all wearing black, their holsters strapped on their chests. The worst thing was that one of them was Gastone Conte himself. He was gripping a knife in his hand, smirking.
"You know," he began, coming closer. "I hate rats."
"Then you and I have something in common because I hate those who betray for their own gain," she spat, knowing that everything was out in the open. He knew she had been spying for Noah, so there was no use lying anymore. She gladly told the truth. Even if it might have been the last thing she ever did.
He pulled her hair back, making her look directly into his cruel eyes. A cold blade pressed against her throat. "Who the fuck
