Page 4 of When She Unravels
Tito rolls down the window and blows out a cloud of smoke. “Me, my father, Lazaro, even Vince. We’re chasing down shit that doesn’t make any sense. I think it’s all a fucking distraction, but no one listens to me.”
At the mention of my older brother, my ears perk up. Vince is in Switzerland, working at one of the banks and managing a large chunk of the clan’s capital. If he’s involved, it means something major is afoot. Some kind of a business deal?
“Who’s the other party?” I ask.
Tito puffs on his cig and shakes his head. “Don’t worry yourself about it. Have you seen that new movie on Netflix about aliens? It’s a real mindfuck.”
We chat about TV for the rest of the ride, and I try to mask the suffocating dread I feel the closer we get to Lazaro’s house. I refuse to call it my home. I’ve never felt at home there. For me, it’s a prison with no way out.
We pass through the gate and pull into the long driveway. Tito kisses me goodbye on the cheek. “Take care of yourself, Vale. And let me know if you find anything good to watch.”
I promise him I will and pass through the front door.
My husband stands in the kitchen, looking down at his iPad, his back turned to me. He’s in a steel-blue button-up shirt, a pair of black slacks, and a leather belt, his usual business attire. My muscles soften with relief. Lazaro always changes into something more comfortable before we begin. Maybe nothing will happen tonight.
“Welcome home,” he says, his gaze not leaving the screen. “How was the bridal shower?”
He doesn’t really give a shit, but he likes to go through the motions. I don’t know why. It’s not like there’s anyone here he needs to convince we have a normal marriage.
“Fine.” I move to the sink and grab an empty glass to fill with water. “Tito said you needed me back here.” There’s a small leather backpack on the counter by the sink. That’s not mine. Did Lorna, our housekeeper, leave it there?
Lazaro lifts his gaze to me and watches as I drink. When I finish, he smiles softly and hands me the iPad. Cold dread curls inside my gut. I know that look. It can only mean one thing.
“I have something special for you,” he says in a low voice, bringing his hand to my face. His fingers trace my cheek. “Take a look.”
I swallow and look down.
On the screen is the camera feed to our basement.
And curled up in fetal position on the cold concrete floor is a woman.
CHAPTER2
VALENTINA
My surroundings dim.There’s a film of cold sweat on my palms. Beneath my skin, a million little worms start to buck and crawl.
Whenever Lazaro brings a new victim, it always starts like this. Adrenaline surges through my veins and makes me want to vomit. Sometimes, I wish my brain and body would just switch off.
I call them victims even though most of them are bad men. They’re thieves and criminals and killers with resumes as varied as a box of crayons. But they all die the same way.
At my hand.
“Who is she?” I ask.
My husband’s lips rise at the corners as he stares at the woman on the screen. “A little Casalese mouse. We might get to keep her for a while.”
I frown. What does that mean? And that strange nickname… He never calls the people he brings here any special names.
He extends his hand. “Let’s go meet her.”
He must feel how sweaty my palm is in his cool and dry one, but he doesn’t say anything about it. I’ve never figured out if he’s only pretending not to notice my discomfort, or if it genuinely doesn’t register with him. I’ve cried, I’ve screamed, I’ve begged—nothing. His soft smile never leaves his face as he gives me my commands. It doesn’t budge even when he tells me what he’ll do to me and Lorna if I don’t obey.
The skirt of my long flower-patterned dress rustles around me as Lazaro and I descend into the basement. The soles of my expensive flats are thin. I can feel the biting cold of the concrete through them. The woman on the floor must be freezing.
She comes into sight, and my heart pounds out an erratic beat. Her face isn’t visible beneath a veil of long blond hair. She’s wearing a pair of jeans and a button-up blouse that’s ripped in a few places.
Where did they catch her and how? Was Lazaro the one who got her?
