“No, Sal wants him.”

Zan’s chuckle was a sadistic, evil tone. “Figures he wants me. You ever wonder why Sal killed your father?”

I stilled on the inside, my blood running cold from his words. “What?” I growled, knowing I shouldn’t play into his game, yet wanting to hear what the hell he knew.

My father had been the fucking world to me, and Zan knew it. He was hanging it over my head, and I was allowing it. I knew Sal hadn’t done it. I knew it, but I allowed him to continue.

He spit blood out of his mouth and smiled, blood covering his teeth, giving the old man a very eerie look. “Your father had a lot of enemies. Why do you think his killer was never found? Because the man you look up to killed him, and you didn’t do a fucking thing about it.”

“You’ve got no proof,” I ground out, clenching my teeth so hard the sound almost gave me a headache. I knew he had none; he was just trying to spare his worthless life.

“Might.”

My instant reaction was that the asshole was telling me a load of shit, but the glimmer in his eyes begged to differ.

I grabbed his bloody shirt with my fists, hauling him out of the chair and to his feet, bringing him nose-to-nose with me. I could feel his nasty breath on my lips.

“Let’s have it.” My fists gripped his shirt so tightly a small tearing noise was heard in the background, but the thumping in my ears from my racing heart drowned most of it out.

He laughed yet didn’t attempt to move his hands or body. “You didn’t want to know then, and you won’t know now,” he challenged.

I threw him back in the chair in a huff.

“You know something.” Fuck. This was supposed to be easy, but Zan’s words festered inside of me. “Tie him up securely. Cover his eyes. Use duct tape and rope. I don’t give a fuck if you wrap his whole goddamned body in it. Get him ready to go.”

“Brett!” I yelled and he came quickly. “Load it all up. Now. The plane leaves in thirty. Have Vinny set it up. Go.”

He nodded, taking off.

I turned to the man I had called family at one time, but only disgusted me now. “Well, you stupid S.O.B, you won’t be dying fast and painless. I’ll make sure it’s slow and painful. You will tell me what you know about my father.”

His eyes flickered as he opened his mouth, but Dan stuck fabric inside it then wrapped tape around his head. He didn’t bother making noises; he knew we were done listening for the time being.

“Out!” I yelled, picking up my phone. “Vino,” I said when he picked up, “we’ve got him, and I’ll try not to kill him before we get there.”

***

We touched down around four in the morning. With the night’s shadow, Vinny, Dan, Brett, and Rex were able to quietly move the trunk that carried Zan into the back of the black SUV.

Driving through the empty streets on the outskirts of town, I wondered if Catarina was still curled up in her fluffy teal blankets, looking like the goddess she was, or maybe she was getting ready for work. One thing was for certain though. After settling this asshole, I was finding my girl.

It had been so long since I had heard her sweet voice, and I fucking missed it. When she had stopped taking my calls, it had been a shock to my system. Hearing from her had been the only thing that had kept me sane daily, so when those calls had stopped, anger had risen up inside, eating at me. I wasn’t proud of that shit, but you couldn’t change feelings.

With every call I had placed, trying to reach her, she had rejected it, turning me inside out, and causing my bloodlust to get Zan to take over. All my focus had gone into finding him, and now that he was in the back of this damn car, I just wanted him dead. The sooner he talked, the faster it would be done, and then I could move on.

My cell rang in my pocket, jerking me to the present. I reached in, looking at the display and saw Val’s name.

“Yeah,” I answered.

“Abandoned farmhouse out on Townline. Just drive out and keep going. On the left hand side will be a dirt road, barely seen through the trees. Turn and follow it. It’s way back in the woods. When you think you’re close, keep driving. It’s far out. He goes in the basement, far room.” Val’s information was short, curt, and direct. “Got it?”

“Got it.” I disconnected the call then relayed the information to Dan, who seemed to know exactly where he was going.

I watched as the trees drifted by, my mind still turned to Catarina. Being this close to her and not physically seeing her ate away more of my remaining control. I tried my damnedest to hold on to what little I had left, but with each passing minute, I felt it slipping.

The old farmhouse was eerily quiet when we arrived. The old, white, two-story house with lights lining the outside sat in the middle of a large field. The outside looked well kept: a fresh coat of white paint, landscaping around the front, and yard mowed to perfection. I didn’t know who the hell owned it, but if this was where Val had said to go, it was safe.

The SUV rolled to a stop on the gravel road, and we climbed out quickly. The front door creaked open, and the noise caused all of my men and myself to grab our guns, pointing them in the direction of the noise with lightning speed.

“This is where the party is.” Val’s evil smile indicated he was ready to play as he held his arms out in welcome.

“Where the hell’s your car?” With nothing in the driveway, I expected no one to be there until later.

He pointed around the side of the house. “Garage. You coming in, or are we chatting out here?”

I nodded to Dan and Brett who went to the back to retrieve Zan while I walked up to the front door with Rex at my side.

“Wait, who the fuck is this?” Val’s eyes narrowed as his fists balled at his sides, obviously itching to fight. His thin thread appeared to be about as short as mine.

“Chill the fuck out. This is Rex. He’s solid. Vino and Sal know about him.”

As Val eyed Rex up and down, Rex didn’t so much as blink, which was expected. He was too much of a professional to let anyone get to him. He marched to his own drum, but right then, I was paying him a shit load to march to mine.

“Fine. Any trouble and I’ll wipe you out,” Val threatened.

Rex silently grunted, his arms crossed over his chest, but his eyes and wide-legged stance exuded confidence. I didn’t have time for this pissing match. I had shit to do.

Grunts and groans from behind me told me it was time to move. Without looking back, I brushed past Val with Rex, Dan, Brett, Vinny, and a trunked-up Zan behind me. Val moved in front, guiding us down the hall and stairs quickly.

The house was in pretty good shape judging by the painted walls, clean floors, and nice furniture. It almost seemed as if someone lived there.

Val opened a door in the basement, and we filed in. A lone, wooden chair with leather straps on the arms and legs sat prominently in the middle of the room. The floor of the room was concrete with a drain off to the side. Lining the sides of the walls were bright blue tool boxes with a sink at the end of the row. The fluorescent light above illuminated the entire room.

The guys lugged the trunk in front of the chair, setting it down with a thump. Dan reached for the latch, unlocked it, and tossed the top over, only the hinges holding it in place. Then he reached down into the box, pulling out a very bound Zan.

His feet and arms were wrapped in duct tape, surrounded with rope. Zan’s eyes were open, focusing directly on me. He wasn’t fighting Dan, but he wasn’t helping at all by lying limply in his grasp.

Dan placed Zan in the chair, straightening and adjusted his shirt that had become askew in the exchange.

“So this is my fun for the night.” Val clapped his hands together loudly, drawing Zan’s attention. “Nice.” He rubbed his hands together eagerly. “Hook him up to the chair.”