Chapter 67
67
Lorenzo
Tonight feels different.
Matteo walks beside me, hands in his coat pockets, eyes locked forward.
I haven’t seen this version of him since he retired, and I took over. But here he is, the scary motherfucker I need him to be.
“This is fun. We should do this more often p>
I glance over, letting my mouth twitch without committing to a smile. “Pretty sure your wife would be pissed if you came out of retirement p>
Matteo’s gaze drags over the dark corners, and he sees my men gathering in the corners to back us up. “Cute. You even brought bodyguards. What happened to the man who insisted on doing everything alone?” Low blow. He’s still pissed I didn’t tell him. He’ll get over it.
“We have kids.” I step to the door, ready to bust it down and end this for good. “They’re here so we don’t do anything stupid. Like die p>
“‘Bout time you finally got a head on your shoulders.” He winks.
I push open the door to the house and silently creep inside.
Hope Jax is right about this spot because it feels abandoned. When I turn the corner, I know he was. There, in an oversized recliner, is a man, and by the way he watches me, he’s the man I want.
He’s not panicking.
He lifts his chin as I stop in front of him, like he’s greeting a business partner instead of the end of his life.
Matteo drifts to my right, snagging a second chair and turning it backward before sitting. He folds his arms across the back, posture casual, expression anything but.
“Alright.” Matteo gestures to the man. “Let’s meet the last asshole on the list p>
The man’s mouth twitches.
I let the silence stretch, watching him and letting him feel the weight of my attention. Then I lean in.
“Name,” I prompt, voice soft.
He swallows. “You already know it p>
I tilt my head. “Humor me p>
His gaze lifts again, calculating. “Real name or alias p>
Matteo makes a face. “Seriously, I don’t have time for this shit.” Matteo turns to me. “You already know his name. Drop it and just kill the fucker p>
Marcus’s (Because yes, I do in fact know his name) lip curls like he wants to laugh, but he doesn’t.
I straighten, slow, and pace a small circle around Marcus’s chair. My boots echo across the wood floors in steady beats.
Every time I pass behind him, his shoulders tense like he expects the first strike.
He’s not wrong.
I stop directly in front of him again, bending at the waist, lowering my voice.
“You know why I’m here p>
His eyes glitter, dark and stubborn. “Because you’re obsessive p>
Matteo laughs once. “Oh, he is. You should’ve seen him when he was twenty. He once hunted a guy for a week because the bastard scratched his car p>
Marcus’s gaze flicks to Matteo. “That true p>
I don’t blink. “It was a nice car p>
Matteo points at me like he’s presenting evidence in court. “See? He doesn’t deny it. Psychopathic behavior p>
“I’m not a psychopath,” I respond, straightening. “I’m a romantic p>
Matteo’s brows shoot up. “No. Don’t. Don’t ruin the word romantic p>
I glance back at Marcus. “You know what you people did p>
Marcus’s mouth tightens.
“Grant Jacobson put the order out,” I continue, letting the name hit the room like a thrown knife. “He thought if he couldn’t have her, no one could. But he underestimated me.” I take a deep breath.
My throat tightens, but not because it hurts. Because I’m so close to closure.
I grab the bag Matteo is holding and start pulling things out.
Marcus’s eyes track the objects one by one, his throat moving as his body finally remembers fear.
Matteo’s voice follows the movement. “I hate to break it to you, Marcus, but if you thought your death would be fast, surprise, it won’t p>
Marcus swallows. “You’re really doing this p>
I pick up the rubber tubing, weigh it in my hand, as if I’m deciding whether to use it.
“You’re really acting surprised?” I turn back toward him. “Did you think the man who spent years erasing your whole network would rush the last kill p>
Marcus’s jaw sets. “I figured you’d want to end it and live happily ever after,” he scoffs.
I stop in front of him, letting the words hang between us. Then I nod. “Yeah. That would be smart… but no one has ever called me smart p>
“Nope. They haven’t.” Matteo’s voice slips in.
I let the tubing tap lightly against my palm.
“Every time Victoria jumped at a knock.” Tap. “Every time she couldn’t sleep.” Tap. “Every time she smiled, and I saw fear behind it…” Tap.
“She was safe. You had her well-guarded, apparently p>
“Safe,” I repeat, tasting the word. “You think safe means living p>
Marcus’s gaze drops, just for a second. That second is the only mercy he gets.
I swing the tubing.
Marcus grunts.
“Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to kill you slowly, and you’re going to enjoy it p>
His gaze flicks back to me. “Where did you hide Victoria p>
The question comes out of nowhere, like a slap. Matteo’s posture goes rigid.
“Don’t say her name with your mouth,” I hiss. “You haven’t earned that privilege p>
“Was just wondering how you kept her alive so long p>
I know what he’s doing.
He wants me to kill him faster.
He wants me to snap.
I won’t.
“How about instead of you asking me a question, I ask you one…? How does it feel? Being the final loose thread in a noose I’ve been tightening for years p>
Marcus smiles. It’s faint and bitter. “Your revenge turned you into a monster p>
I tilt my head, considering. “Yes. It did p>
Marcus breathes out, a sound like resignation. “We called you the Shadow p>
I still.
Matteo’s brows lift. “A nickname. Cute. Can’t wait to tell the boys p>
Marcus’s gaze stays on me. “Because you didn’t hit us fast. You stalked. You watched p>
My grip tightens on the tubing in my hands.
Marcus’s gaze flicks down briefly, then up. “You made it collapse from the inside p>
“Good p>
He braces, shoulders tensing.
I stare at him for a long second, then I smile. “It’s time to end this,” I tell him. “I’ve been washing blood off my hands, then going home to kiss my family for too long p>
I walk behind him, lift the tubing to wrap it around his neck, and pull.
He struggles against me, his body jerking, but I’m too strong.
I watch as the life leaves his body. As he ceases to struggle, his legs no longer kick.
When I know he’s dead, I let go of the tubing.
“Thought you were going to take it slow p>
“I decided he was right p>
“About p>
“Happily ever after and all that shit p>
That makes Matteo smile.
And then my own lips tip up.
I’m finally free.
“You realize what this means p>
I don’t answer.
Matteo smirks. “It means…that your secret soap opera can finally end p>
I raise a brow, not fully understanding where this is going.
“It’s time to tell the boys,” he clarifies.
I’ve put this off for so long, I don’t even know how to broach the topic, but no fear because apparently Matteo already has an idea as he’s pulling his phone out.
“You’re enjoying this.” I shake my head in mock annoyance.
“Immensely.” He smiles so broadly; I think he might break his jaw. Or maybe I’ll do that…
Before I can come up with a plot for murdering my cousin, my phone buzzes.
Fuck. I don’t even need to look to know what he did, but like the glutton for punishment that I am, I still check.
Matteo: Meeting. Cyrus’s place. 30 minutes.
Jaxson: If this is about murdering someone, I’m out. You know I hate that shit.
Trent: Context? I’m a little busy.
Matteo: Shut up, Trent. This is important.
Gideon: Someone better be dying.
Tobias: For someone who retired, you’re really fucking annoying.
Alaric: You really are.
Matteo: It’s Lorenzo-related.
There’s a pause. In the texts, and I wonder what they’re all thinking and who will break first.
Jaxson: Oh shit.
Cyrus: What did he do now?
Matteo: You’ll want to hear this in person.
Gideon: That’s ominous.
Tobias: Did he finally snap?
Alaric: I thought that happened years ago.
Matteo: 30 minutes. Cyrus’s
Cyrus: Why is this at my house?
Matteo: Because Lorenzo won’t host.
Cyrus: I hate all of you.
I put my phone down and look up to see Matteo smiling.
“You find yourself really clever, don’t you p>
“I do p>
I stare at him.
He grins wider.
Thirty minutes later, we head into Cyrus’s estate and straight into the poker room.
While there’s no game tonight, everyone is hanging around the bar having a drink.
Jaxson is already halfway through a drink and Tobias looks annoyed that we summoned him.
Gideon leans against wall, while Trent sits calmly. He’s most likely afraid to piss off Matteo again. Alaric and Cyrus stand together in the center of the room, both with drinks in their hands.
“You have exactly one minute,” Cyrus says as we enter. “And if this about some investment p>
“It’s not,” Matteo cuts him off. Cyrus narrows his eyes but waits for him to continue as do all the other men in the room. “Lorenzo has something to confess p>
Every single one of them turns in my direction and looks at me.
“There’s something I should’ve told you a long time ago,” I say evenly.
Jaxson squints. “If this is about you secretly reading rom coms, I’m leaving p>
“I’m married p>
Silence. Complete and utter silence. And shock too. It’s so quiet, you’d be able to hear a pin drop.
Cyrus mouth hangs open then he snaps it shut. “You’re… what p>
“Married p>
Trent stares at me. “To… a human p>
“No to an alien.” I roll my eyes.
Alaric lowers his phone slowly. “No fucking way p>
“Yes.” That’s all I can say.
“For how long?” Trent asks calmly.
“Yeah, so…it’s been awhile,” I admit.
“How long is awhile?” Cyrus chimes in.
“Over a decade p>
The room erupts into chaos.
“Over a decade?” Cyrus shouts.
“How the fuck…” Jaxson shake his head.
Gideon sets down his drink. “You’re barely a functioning adult. How do you maintain a marriage p>
“I prioritize p>
Tobias shakes his head. “Sorry I call bullshit. There’s no fucking way p>
Cyrus runs both hands through his hair. “You’re fucking unhinged. Kill on a dime… You make serial killers look tame p>
Jaxson’s eyes widen slowly. “Holy shit p>
“What?” I ask.
“Was this the reason for all cryptic shit?” Jaxson demands. “The list of names p>
“Wait. Years ago, you had me do some shady shit for you p>
I look Cyrus and then at Jax. “Yes p>
The silence this time is different. Then Cyrus lets out a sharp laugh. “You bastard p>
Jaxson points at me. “We’ve been running a covert wife op p>
“Yes p>
“You told me once,” Cyrus eyes are wide, “that you were handling a ‘delicate situation p>
I shrug. “She is delicate p>
Jaxson chokes on his drink. “Oh my God. Every time you said ‘personal matter p>
“You were going home to your wife,” Cyrus finishes.
I don’t bother answering.
Tobias actually claps slowly. “I’m impressed p>
Alaric starts to chuckle. “I’m not going to lie, I’m almost proud p>
Cyrus studies me carefully. “Why didn’t you tell us p>
I take a deep breath. Doesn’t matter that the threat is over, it still pains me to think about it. “There was a hit on her. Through a pretty fucking big assassin group… I couldn’t risk anyone knowing where she was p>
Cyrus’s expression tightens. “So…you let us think you were some crazy sociopath p>
“After killing forty-two assassins for my wife, I kind of am a crazy sociopath p>
“That’s not the point p>
“They’re all dead now,” Matteo adds quickly. “Every last one p>
The weight of that settles in the room.
Jaxson lowers his drink.
Cyrus exhales slowly. Then he steps forward and grips the back of my neck before pulling me into a hug. “You idiot. You should’ve trusted us p>
“I did. I do. Just not with her life,” I answer honestly.
He nods once.
Jaxson claps my shoulder. “What’s her name p>
“Victoria p>
Cyrus smiles. “Victoria p>
Tobias tilts his head. “Does she know about you? What you do p>
“Yes p>
“And she still stayed?” Trent asks.
“She chose me p>
Alaric lifts his glass. “To Victoria p>
They all raise their drinks.
“We’re happy for you,” Cyrus says, serious now. “You deserve happiness p>
Jaxson nods. “Yeah, you do. As much as it pains me to admit it p>
Gideon smirks. “We expect to meet her p>
Matteo folds his arms. “Preferably before Lorenzo locks her back in a vault p>
I let out a sigh. “Fuck you, Cuz. I didn’t lock her in a vault p>
Cyrus arches a brow.
“I didn’t p>
With that the room fills with laughter again.
I welcome it.
Because for the first time in ten years, Victoria doesn’t live in secrecy.
And neither do I.