Chapter 27
27
Lorenzo
The Danforth estate looks smaller. Not physically.
Physically, it’s still a monstrosity of money and arrogance. But emotionally? This place used to feel like a prison. A gilded cage I didn’t have the keys to. Now it feels like the beginning of a horror movie, told from the villain’s point of view.
The beautiful part of my plan, though, isn’t the kill…
It’s how long I’m going to drag it out.
Torture them.
The gravel crunches under my boots as I walk up the drive. My steps are slow and deliberate.
I savor every step. This is my moment.
A full circle.
I died here, yet was born here too.
The house looms ahead, and while I was intimidated the first time I saw it, now it does nothing of the sort.
How could it?
I’ve gutted men.
Watched them gurgle on their own blood.
This shit is child’s play.
As I make my way up to the front door, I wipe my boots on their pristine marble step just to be petty.
A second later, a butler who looks like he’s two missed paychecks away from selling his organs opens the door. His eyes drag over me, hesitant, confused, and then terrified.
Does he recognize me?
“Mr. Amante.” He steps back quickly, spine snapping straight.
He knows who I am and is afraid. Terrified really. Good. Fear makes people polite.
I step inside.
The smell hits me first. I’m instantly transported to when I worked here, to the smell of old wood polish and expensive scotch.
Just the thought of working for these assholes has me wanting to rip out their skulls.
Okay, Lorenzo, there will be none of that.
Carving a hole in their head won’t give me the revenge I want.
I make my way down the hall, each step echoing through the marble like a countdown.
Her father’s office is exactly where I remember it.
I don’t knock.
I push the door open and step inside like I own the deed.
I will soon, after all.
Her father jolts to his feet, eyes bulging when he sees me. He’s aged, and badly. Sweat stains circle his collar. His hand twitches toward his phone like he’s debating whether to call for help.
Cute.
Help isn’t coming.
You let the devil into your house through the front door.
“You’ve been busy,” I say, strolling farther in, nodding at the stacks of paperwork scattered across his desk. “I’d congratulate you, but everything you’re working on is already dead. So this feels like watching a man perform CPR on a corpse p>
He stiffens. “Who the hell are you p>
I smile, slow, sharp. “The man holding your leash p>
“If this is about the fire, we p>
“Oh,” I interrupt, waving a lazy hand. “The fire was adorable. But no. I’m here about the rest of it p>
He blinks. “The rest p>
“Yes.” I lean in, tapping a finger against a framed photo of his family. “The part where I burn your whole world to the ground p>
His mouth opens, but before he can speak, the office door swings wider.
Her mother steps in, and she freezes right away, hand flying to her mouth. “Lorenzo p>
He whips toward her. “You know him p>
Her gaze never leaves me. “He… he worked here. Years ago. The summer Victoria p>
I tilt my head. “Good to know I made a lasting impression p>
Mr. Danforth stares, expression shifting from confusion… to recognition… to something close to horror. “You’re the boy who p>
“Don’t say it like that.” I cut in with a laugh. “You’ll hurt my feelings. Actually—” I pretend to think, tapping my chin. “No. Feelings require a soul. Mine’s been on vacation for a while p>
He narrows his eyes. “What do you want p>
I step forward until I’m in his space.
Let him see the boy he destroyed, who was reborn into a monster.
“Everything p>
His jaw clenches. “Why p>
A slight sound slips from the mother’s lips. “Is this because we sent you away p>
I grin, slow and unhinged. “Sending me away was the best thing you ever did to me.” They both freeze. “Because that boy you threw out like trash? He’s gone. Dead. Buried. And in his place is the man whose sole purpose is to ruin you p>
Color drains from their faces so fast I almost clap.
“That’s right.” I lean back on my heels. “You didn’t just piss off a teenager. You pissed off a psycho p>
Silence suffocates the room. I savor it.
“Let me clear up a few things…” I chuckle. “I took everything from you.” I pace the office.“Let’s recap, shall we? Your steel plant? Ashes. Your inventory shipments? Missing. Your overseas accounts? Gone p>
I turn and grin.
“Oh. And the house?” I gesture around the room. “It’s technically mine now. Paperwork was surprisingly easy p>
Her father stumbles backward until he hits the bookshelf.
“You’re lying p>
I hold up a set of folded documents between two fingers. Inside are his bank reports, his asset liquidation notices, and his bankruptcy projections.
I place it down in front of him. “Read it. This will be fun,” I purr.
Her mother sinks into the nearest chair, her face ghost-white. “Is this because of Victoria p>
“In part, but it’s also because of my mother. You treated her like she was beneath you. Mocked her often. And then there’s me, what you did to me…” I reply, pocketing the papers again.
Her mother’s eyes narrow. “You still love her p>
I laugh so violently it echoes off the walls. “Love?” I repeat, pretending to wipe a tear from my eye. “No. No, Mrs. Danforth. I don’t love your daughter p>
I step close enough that she will feel the heat of the threat behind every syllable.
“I hate her. And I plan to spend the rest of my very long and violent life making sure she regrets ever walking away from me p>
Her husband coughs. Hard. “What is this? What do you want? You’ve already taken everything p>
“Not everything,” I correct.
I stroll to the desk and drop a thick envelope onto the polished wood. It lands with the weight of a guillotine blade.
Inside is a contract.
A proposal. An ultimatum.
“I’m offering you salvation,” I say. “A bailout. Complete erasure of your debts, a restoration of your company, and protection under my organization p>
Her father stares at the envelope like it’s ticking. “What’s the condition p>
I smile. Like a wolf circling its prey. “I marry your daughter p>
He pales. Mrs. Danforth opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. She’s in shock, apparently.
It’s Victoria’s father who finds his words first. “That’s impossible, she’s already marrying Grant p>
“Nothing is impossible. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. And I can be very convincing, as I’m sure you’ve noticed already.. p>
“Victoria would never marry you,” the asshole grits out.
“She doesn’t have a choice p>
“You can’t be serious,” his wife shrieks.
I lift a hand. “You don’t want to fuck with me. I haven’t even started to show you what I’m capable of p>
“Fine.” Her father straightens his jacket, swallowing hard. “If this is the only way—if this saves the company p>
Her mother jerks to him. “You can’t be serious? You can’t let her marry him,” she bellows.
“It’s better than ruin,” he snaps, voice breaking. He turns back to me. “You have a deal p>
I nod slowly, savoring the moment he signs his soul away with words.
“Good, I’ll draw up the final paperwork. We’ll do it legally. Privately, though. No one can know. Do you understand p>
This part is imperative. If my uncle ever finds out what I’m doing, he’ll kill me.
Her mother’s eyes narrow.
“Don’t worry,” I coo. “I won’t hurt her.” Not that she cares. “Not physically.” I turn toward the door. “Tell your daughter,” I say softly, “the wedding will be soon p>
“She won’t agree p>
I pause, then glance back at the vile woman. “You’d be surprised what people agree to when they realize I’ve left them no other choice p>
With that done, I walk out of the office and down the hallway.
The last time I was here, I was a boy…
Now I’m not.
Now…
I’m their worst nightmare.