Page 37 of The Butcher
Lucia nodded again, slower this time, like she was accepting it rather than trying to make sense of why it had to go that path.
I cupped her jaw, holding her long enough to make sure she stayed focused on me and not whatever was trying to pull her somewhere else.
“You’re not tied to him,” I said. “Whatever he’s doing, whatever he’s trying to build, that has nothing to do with you. You’re mine. That’s the only thing that matters here.”
Her breath caught, but she didn’t pull away. “I know, but it’s hard to ignore the fact he’s my brother. Even if I didn’t know he existed, he’s family.”
“Blood is only important when loyalty and safety come with it. Alessio has given you none of that.” Ikissed her temple and held my lips there for another second before stepping back. “I have some work to do, but I had to see you first.” I fucking loved the way her cheeks turned pink.
I led her back inside and she made her way to the library. I knew she loved to read, to get lost in a fictional world that wasn’t ugly and bloody or too fucking dangerous.
I stayed in the hallway and watched her disappear around the corner. I was hard again, my cock like this beast that just couldn’t get enough of her. When I finally forced myself to move, I went into my office, shut the door, and knew what came next required a different version of me, one that didn’t leave room for anything else but a monster.
I didn’t waste time before making the call. It rang once before he picked up.
“Alexei,” Vissarion said, his voice calm, edged with that quiet confidence that came from knowing he could get into anything if given enough time.
“Vissarion,” I replied.
There was a brief pause before he spoke again. “What do you need me to do?”
“I need everything found on a Rossi bastard,” I said, keeping it direct. “It’s not tied to their main operation. He’s moving on his own.”
“Who?” he asked.
“Alessio Esposito.” Silence followed for a second.
“He’s the bastard son of Francesco Rossi,” Vissarion spat without phrasing it as a question.
“Yes.” I leaned back slightly in the chair as I spoke. “He’s not recognized. He doesn’t answer to anyone, but he knows who his father is, and he’s using that to build an empire. He’s pulling in his own people, setting up his own routes, and making moves.” I clenched my jaw.
“And he crossed into your side,” Vissarion was the one to speak again.
“He hit one of ours,” I replied. “No legitimate backing or clearance. He just went for it to see what he could get away with.”
“He’s either fucking stupid or he thinks no one’s watching closely enough to see who’s calling the shots.”
“Well, he’s being watched now,” I said to Vissarion. “I want everything on him,” I continued. “Money, calls, names, locations, and anyone tied to him, even if it’s indirect. I want to know who he’s using, if anyone is feeding him information, and where he’s been moving.”
“You want full access.”
“Yes,” I replied. “Allof it. I don’t care how deep and dark you have to go. If he’s building something, there’s a trail. Find it.”
There was a faint sound on his end, keys moving, systems already being opened.
“I’ll start pulling from the dark channels,” he said. “Private forums, encrypted lines, and anything tied to that name or movement around it. If he’s been making deals, he’s left something behind and I’ll find it.”
“I don’t have time to wait,” I said.
“I’ll have something solid for you soon, Alexei.”
The call ended without anything else needing to be said. I set the phone down, my focus already locked on what came next. Alessio had stepped into something he didn’t understand. He pushed into territory that didn’t belong to him and used a name that didn’t give him the protection he thought it did. That mistake didn’t start a war. It put him directly in my path.
And I didn’t leave problems unfinished.
“I’ll finish this before he thinks he has time to build anything else,” I said quietly to myself.
Because once I found him, there wouldn’t be anything left to question.
