Blood and Lies

Chapter 1

CASTELLO

Seven months later

She had no idea what was going on. The drug that still lingered in her veins had her disorientated, and I was pretty sure her vision had been affected, too. Blonde hair stuck to her face, sweat beading on her skin while she shuddered as chills wracked through her body. I kept watching as she tossed and turned on the bed scrunching up the old dirty sheets beneath her while she cried and mumbled words that made absolutely no sense. Lines formed just above her eyebrows as she squeezed her eyes shut. Clearly she was in pain, but I didn't care. I didn't give a flying fuck that her face was contorted with agony. In fact, I relished her pain. It soothed the darkness inside me. It silenced the monster as I continued to stare at her, witnessing as she slowly started to resurface to reality—her new reality.

I've waited months for what was about to happen. I've dreamt about the moment when she would realize she no longer lived, but only existed. Soon she would discover there are worse things to fear than death, and that eternity in Hell would be a far lesser punishment than what has now become her world. Her world now only consisted of one thing...me.

Tatum Linscott would never know peace again. This all would be her payment, her atonement for what she has done, for what she has taken from me and my family. I planned to break her, then mend her, and then break her again.

The scary part—I would enjoy every fucking moment.

"Everything is going according to plan, brother."

I looked up from the monitor and watched as Vico took a seat next to me. I didn't say anything as I turned back to watch the woman on the screen.

"They don't know she's missing yet," Vico continued. "Her parents usually check in with a phone call every second night at 'round about eight." He leaned back in his chair. "They won't call before tomorrow night, and the fact that she won't answer won't raise any suspicion just yet since she's been missing a lot of phone calls lately. It's not unusual for her to not be at her apartment when they call. Apparently she's been quite the party girl the last few months."

I sat up and placed my elbows on the table, my hands clasped under my chin. "Does your associate have what we need?"

"He does. He will deliver the package within the hour."

"Good. The drug is starting to wear off, and we need it by the time she wakes up."

"We'll have it in time." Vico turned to the monitor and sighed. "Of all the women in the world, he had to choose the one who in the end destroyed him."

There was the slightest hint of anger in his voice. I understood the reason for his anger. He had every right to be. Our family had been broken because of this woman and the choices that had been made because of her.

"It's something we'll never understand, Vico. But we will punish those who have wronged our family. I will make sure of that."

Vico placed his hand on my shoulder. "I know, brother. I have no doubt that you will do right by our family. Revenge is within our grasp, Castello. I can practically taste it."

I turned my head to glance at him and nodded. There was no doubt in my mind that I would get the revenge I promised my mother. The day I watched them lower my brother and father into the ground was the day I vowed to avenge their deaths, no matter the cost.

"Let me know the second it arrives."

Vico got up from his seat. "I will." Then he walked out of the room.