He glanced at Cass, nodded then walked over to me and extended his hand. I took it this time.
“Hello, again. I’m Tonio.”
“Yes, I remember.” I nodded. “I hope you can forgive my earlier rudeness. I wasn’t exactly at my best.”
The guy’s smile widened into a grin and my eyes popped open as I felt a relentless tug of attraction. Oh God, that wasn’t right. He was Cass’s brother—
“No harm, no foul.” He released my hand but continued to smile at me. “Sorry, I can’t do anything about that, but you’ll learn to block it.”
What? How the hell could he know what I was thinking? Was it written on my face? I blushed and felt heat climb into my cheeks as I dropped my eyes.
“Hey, babe, it’s okay.” Cass put his arm around my shoulders and drew me into his side. “You can’t help but be attracted to him. It’s in his genes. A spell. I’ll explain Nino’s deal later. Right now, we have to figure out what to do with your uncle.”
There was a reason I was attracted to Tonio? And I could block it? Staring at Nino, I imagined a wet blanket covering that unwanted attraction, smothering it. Surprisingly, the attraction diminished a bit. How weird was that!
The bed shifted as Cass got to his feet, leaving me slightly off balance—or maybe that should be even more off balance than I already was.
Still, I wasn’t going to stick my head in the sand.
I stood, determined to contribute something to the plans—and figure out how to make my uncle pay for his crimes.
Chapter Nineteen
Cass
“So we’re clear? We need him alive.”
I watched my brothers nod as they sat around the table then turned to Sara, sitting on the couch, knees drawn up to her chest.
She hadn’t said a word the entire time, listening to me and my brothers discuss how we were going to take care of her uncle.
Her silence had made me uncomfortable, and I knew that was a problem just waiting to jump up and bite me in the ass.
Still, the plan was simple. The best were.
Sara would call Daniel and ask him to come pick her up at the cabin, where she’d spent the night after the party. Some guy with weird pointy ears had turned up at her door this afternoon. I knew her name and had wanted her to let me in. She’d refused. I’d disappeared, but she was afraid to leave by herself and wanted her uncle to pick her up.
After Bonnini agreed to come for her myself, I would send her back to my home while my brothers and I waited for her uncle to show. He’d probably have a few bodyguards with him but maybe we’d get lucky and he’d only bring one or two, because he wasn’t expecting Sara to turn traitor.
That aspect worried me a lot. After Bonnini realized she’d made that call to draw me here, he’d would know without a doubt that she’d turned on him—and that would be a huge, dangerous complication.
We needed Bonnini alive. The bastard knew too much about the Mal to be killed without attempting to extract information first. That’s what Leo was here for.
But what if Bonnini escaped before I could take care of him and he went after Sara? I had absolute faith in my brothers but there was always the possibility of something going wrong. Something unexpected. Something out of my control.
It made me crazy thinking about it. If the guy went after Sara, I’d kill him. Wouldn’t think twice.
If he hurt Sara… I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. Because it’d be my fault.
“Cass?” Nino’s voice drew my attention back to the table. “You want a few minutes?” My brother glanced in Sara’s direction.
I obviously wasn’t hiding my feelings well. “Yeah. Check the surrounding area. I haven’t gotten around to it.”
Nino’s eyebrows rose at my admission, but Leo’s snort of laughter was cut short, probably by Nino’s foot connecting with Leo’s shin.
Both men got up and left without another word but, once outside, Leo laughed and Cass heard Nino say, “He is so screwed.”
Tell me something I don’t know.
I walked over to the couch and sat next to Sara. “You okay?”
She set her chin on her knees and looked me straight in the eyes. “Yes. Probably. I guess I’m still processing.”
I lifted one hand and wove my fingers through her hair, cupping her head in my palm.
She leaned into me, her eyes closing for a brief second before staring back into mine. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”
Yeah, right. I didn’t think there’d ever come a time I wouldn’t worry about her. “I know you’ll be fine, because you won’t be anywhere near here.”
Her smile flashed bright for two seconds. “Another command?”
I shook my head. “A certainty. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I can take care of myself. I’m a grown woman.”
I looked at her and saw a beautiful woman. A woman who’d been lied to and betrayed in the worst way. A woman who just might hate me when I killed one of her last remaining family members.
But Bonnini’s death was necessary. It was the only way Sara would ever be safe.
* * * * *
“I like her,” Leo said.
Leo and I had dissolved ourselves into shadow and waited by the door of the cabin. Nino was outside in the forest, also shadowed, to cut off Bonnini’s escape, should he try to run.
Sara had called her uncle about an hour ago then I’d transported her to my house. She’d come without a fight, a sad smile on her face after she feathered her lips over mine for a brief second. Now they just had to wait. But that meant I had to listen to Leo.
“You gonna keep her?” Leo asked.
“She’s not a stray cat, ceffo. I can’t just keep her.”
“But you want to.”
If I’d had a corporeal body, I would’ve smacked Leo upside the head. “Just focus on what you’re supposed to do. I don’t want any screw-ups.”
“She’s not your usual type.”
No way would I respond to that. “After you’re done, I want you the hell out of here.”
“She’s blonde, for one thing. You don’t normally go for blondes. I always wondered if that was a conscious choice or what.”
If the kid didn’t stop talking, I was to going to strangle him. “Do you know exactly what to do, Leo?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m cool.” He blew off my concern with a snort. “She seems pretty into you, too. Guess there’s no accounting for taste, huh?”
“Are you done?”
“Oh hell, no. I live to rattle your cage. Don’t you know that?”
My brothers were the only ones I’d ever allowed to do that—until now. “Yeah, and you’re lucky I don’t take your head off for it.”
Leo snorted again. “Ooh, I’m so scared. Tell that to someone who can’t read your mind if I wanted.”
“Which is the only reason you’re here, saccente, so make sure you do your job right the first time.”
My youngest brother had been a surprise to our older parents in more ways than just by the fact of his birth. Though he didn’t have the ability to translocate, he was able to read thoughts through skin-to-skin contact. Since linchetto powers tended not to manifest until we went through puberty, Leo had been old enough to realize he had the power to torment the shit out of his older brothers. But he still lacked the ability to keep his mouth shut.
“Or what?” Leo taunted. “You’ll send me back to your house under lock and key? I hope you don’t expect Sara to take orders like that all the time. She’s too smart to put up with it.”
I knew that. That’s why I was so surprised she’d gone without a fight—and a little concerned.
But I didn’t have time to give Sara’s behavior more thought, because, right then, I heard a car winding its way toward the cabin.
“Heads-up. Someone’s coming.”
The car that eventually pulled to a stop in front of the cabin was one of the new Oldsmobile SUVs. Muscular, yet refined, and bi
g enough to fit at least eight people.
Fuck. There better not be eight people in that fucking car, because if there were, we were screwed.
Nino and I couldn’t take eight Mal. Not eight Mal with full powers. Of course, Bonnini expected to capture only one Fata, so that probably cut the number in the car down by two. Better odds. And if one or two of those in the car were humans, well, that turned the odds in their favor, even if only Nino and I fought.
Three men got out of the idling car. One from the front, two from the back. The driver stayed with the car.
Two men held guns. Mostly likely they were human. The third man was Bonnini.
Anger rolled through me, the urge to kill fast on its heels. The bastard was going to pay with his life.
But first I needed to calm down or I’d get my brothers hurt. With a huge effort, I submerged all feeling and watched the men walk up to the house. Bonnini showed no fear as he motioned for one of them to head for the back of the cabin then walked to the door.
I turned the knob silently and stepped through. I wanted both men in the house. Nino was supposed to take care of the driver and anyone else in the car then join us in the cabin. By that time, I should have these two and the one out back subdued.
It was a decent plan. And it would’ve worked.
If Sara hadn’t shown up.
Chapter Twenty
Sara
If I lived through this, Cass would probably never speak to me again.
But I wasn’t the type to sit on my hands and wait for others to take care of my problems.
And Uncle Daniel was my problem.
I knew Cass’s plan and, except for my presence, everything should go according to it. My only problem was when to time my arrival.
I’d waited in Cass’s house and thought I’d given them enough time, but obviously I’d screwed up—and come back too early.
I materialized in the middle of the room—directly in front of my uncle and his personal bodyguard. Cass was nowhere to be seen.
My uncle stared at me for several seconds while I silently cursed myself.
Stupid. God, you are so freaking stupid.
“Sara, you sneaky girl.” My uncle’s voice sounded just as it always did—indulgent and a little patronizing. “I see we need to have a talk. I was wrong to assume the arus I sensed in you was dormant since you exhibited no sign of power before now. Foolish me.”
Oh wow, Cass was going to be so pissed, considering I’d just screwed his plans all to hell. Now I needed to give him an opportunity to reevaluate the situation. So I played for time.
“Is it true, Uncle Daniel? Did you kill my parents?”
His expression didn’t change a bit, his gaze never faltered, and I knew without a doubt that he had. A fever-hot fire started to burn in the center of my chest.
Bastard. That coldhearted bastard. Why did I see that before?
“I loved my sister with no reservations, even when she refused to use her gifts for the good of the family business. Your human father,” he spat the word from his mouth as if it was used gum, “convinced her to live apart from our parents, from our family. Be part of the human world. He was a fool and he made your mother an insult to our race.”
I forced a confused expression onto my face. “What do you mean, an insult to our race? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Daniel’s eyebrows rose mockingly. “Don’t play dumb now, little girl. You obviously had your eyes opened since last night. Who told you what happened to your parents?”
I straightened and glared at him, determined not to give anything away. “No one. I’m not stupid, uncle.” Well, not completely anyway. “You’re not as good at hiding your tracks as you think you are.”
His small smile sent cold shivers down my spine. “No, that’s not true. I am very good at hiding my tracks. I’ve been doing it for decades. And I learned from the best. My father was one of the most powerful Malandante ever. And I plan to be just as powerful. You’re going to help me.”
Jesus. Had my entire family been evil? And if so, what did that make me? Had I been born evil, too? I needed more information and Cass needed more time. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. What does that mean, Malandante?”
My uncle’s smile twisted. “Ah, so you’re not as smart as you think you are. But now is not the time for a history lesson. We’ll have more than enough time for that later. I’m going to hate to lose you in human resources but I’m sure we’ll be able to put you to good use elsewhere.”
His obvious threat made my stomach roll. Now that he’d seen what I could do, he’d try to force me to use my gifts for his purposes. I had to get out of here, right now. I tried to will myself back to Cass’s, but my uncle motioned with one hand and I couldn’t move, literally couldn’t move a muscle.
Fear doused my entire body in goose bumps. I tried to scream but couldn’t get my mouth to obey. My vocal cords seemed paralyzed.
My uncle nodded to his bodyguard. “Paul, take her to the car. We’ll take her back to the lab first. Let them find out exactly what her powers are. Then I can decide how best to use them.”
Though the rest of my body was unable to move, fear made my heart pound in a furious rhythm.
Lab? What lab? Oh God.
Everything Cass had said was true. Not that I hadn’t believed him. I had. But I’d never thought my uncle would hurt me.
Apparently, I was wrong. The look in Daniel’s eyes made my heart freeze as if it’d been packed in ice. Cold calculation and evil intent shone from the dark depths.
Cass, I’m so sorry.
I’d messed up everything, all of Cass’s plans. He shouldn’t have to save me from my own stupidity. If I couldn’t save myself, I could at least try to save Cass and his brothers.
I tried to open my mouth to speak, to tell Cass to get the hell out of here. But nothing came out. Damn it, what had Daniel done to me? My uncle’s oversized gorilla Paul had nearly reached me when I felt a slight movement of air directly in front of me.
Cass. I should’ve known he wouldn’t let my uncle take me.
In the next second, Cass materialized between me and Paul. The bodyguard didn’t bat an eye as he deflected the blow Cass leveled at his head. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Nino and Leo materializing behind my uncle.
I tried to watch both fights but couldn’t keep my attention from Cass. I continued to struggle against the invisible binding around me, trying to find a weakness in it, though I had no idea what the hell I was doing.
They fought silently, the only sound the smack of fists against skin. Cass fought with the same ruthless intensity with which he made love. Paul didn’t stand a chance. He had Paul laid out on the floor only seconds before another of my uncle’s personal bodyguards burst through the kitchen window.
“Take Sara,” my uncle ordered as the man tucked and rolled, stopping only inches from me.
My uncle was holding his own against Leo and Tonio, fighting with a glee I saw in his eyes. The brothers fought well together, and they managed to land a few punches that weakened the invisible bonds. Just not enough for me to get free.
As the bodyguard reached for me, Cass disappeared and reappeared behind the man, clapping both hands on his head. Cass snapped it to the side with a sickening crunch.
“Sara, get the hell out of here now!” Cass yelled over his shoulder as he ran to help his brothers, who, despite the odds, were losing.
Daniel fought dirty and he was stronger than he looked—much stronger.
Leo lay sprawled by the door, his eyes closed and blood trickling from his mouth. He looked unconscious. I struggled harder against the invisible chains binding me.
Tonio was starting to lose ground, my uncle pounding his body with several punches before Cass jumped Daniel from behind and tackled him to the ground.
With a final push, I broke through the spell or whatever it was Daniel had woven around me and ran toward Leo.
Chapter Twen
ty-One
Cass
As I pulled Bonnini off Tonio, I caught a glimpse of Sara grabbing Leo under the arms and trying to pull him away from the fighting. I wanted to transport them all out of here, but I couldn’t do it. Not when I also had to keep working the spell that weakened Bonnini’s ability to cast my own spells. It was the only thing making this fight somewhat fair. But I knew if the bodyguard still in the car entered the fight, we might be done for.
With my arms around Bonnini, I threw the man away from Tonio, Leo and Sara. I had to get them the hell away from here. I knew I could take Bonnini by myself but not if I had to worry about my family. And the amount of energy I needed to keep Bonnini’s magic at bay was draining my strength too fast. I needed to recharge, to draw new energy to fight and get them out of here.
As if he knew what I was thinking, Bonnini smiled, all teeth and cold eyes. “It’s tough to fight when you’ve got liabilities, son. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”
A bolt of pain hit me in the legs as Bonnini flicked my fingers. The spell felt as if someone had cut my hamstrings and my knees buckled.
“Cass!”
Sara’s fear laced her words and I caught myself on the nearest chair before I hit the ground.
I strengthened my own protection spell and got back on my feet.
“You can’t win, boy. You’re not strong enough.” Bonnini taunted me as I tested his spells, searching for a weakness.
What the bastard didn’t know was that my family gave me strength. I would fight twice as long and three times as hard to protect them—and Sara—before I died. And I would make damn sure I took whoever was trying to hurt them with me.
Without warning, I lunged at the other man, getting in a solid blow to his chin before Bonnini hammered me with a right hook that caught me in the temples. Stars burst in my field of vision and I took a step back to shake my head.
Imprisoned by Desire Page 10
