Page 177 of Unchained

“My father. It was his idea of punishment, of teaching me how to become a leader.” I cringe as I say it.

Now I can see how utterly fucked up it was; how the hell can you do that to a child? Let alone your own flesh and blood.

He shakes his head. I know now that to him, the concept is absurd. It’s cruel. That the Sterling family would never, ever, do shit like that to their own. Because they are the true meaning of family. And I’m lucky to have been accepted by them. Loved by them.

“And you’re totally sure your father is dead. You checked,” Tate shoots back at me.

I huff out a laugh. “Yes. My father is dead. This isn’t him.” I pause, scanning the room. “But it’s someone who worked closely enough with him to know of these places. And it’s someone who wants me gone.”

I always knew I’d be walking out of these prisons alive when my father was in charge. But now? That isn’t fact anymore. And it’s starting to settle with me who could be behind this. I now understand why my uncles didn’t kick up a fuss about me murdering their brother and simply wanted his body returned. I told Dom that was weird.

But this isn’t screaming revenge. This is something else, something more twisted.

“Colt and Jett, they’ll come for us. We need to make sure we survive that long,” Tate tells me.

Resting my head against the bars, I close my eyes. “And how do you think they’ll find us? We’re underground. My father made sure these places were hidden from the feds. It’s safer for everyone if they don’t come for us.”

“Then you clearly don’t know what we’re capable of, Gianna,” Tate hisses.

I roll my eyes and turn to him. He’s pissed, but he’s also scared. And who wouldn’t be? Drugged and captured and thrown in a cell.

“I’d rather Colten didn’t get himself killed trying to save me, Tate. Do you really want the people you love to die trying? If we can’t do it ourselves, then that’s it. You get to die beside me, underground, and then we’ll probably be thrown out in the trash.”

Tate opens his mouth, but as he does, the door swings open; I don’t bother looking. I’m not giving whoever it is the attention they so desperately crave. I’m going to fight back. I’m going to do everything I possibly can to try and get out of here. But right now is the assessment phase.

They want me alive; they want something from me. Tate is most likely collateral, or the dumb fucks thought he was Colten.

“Well, well, well. I can see why you spent so much time in a cage, G. You look damn pretty in one.”

I snap my head up. I’d recognize that jarring voice anywhere. “Tomasso. It’s good to see you do have a pair of balls,” I say with a smile.

He stops in front of the door to my cell, hands on the bars. I don’t believe for one second this idiot orchestrated this by himself. He had power, money, and resources behind him.

“You know, Gianna. My suggestion was to kill you and take Dom.”

I push myself to my feet, taking a step closer to him. “Aw. Your suggestion? So you still aren’t in charge. I knew you didn’t have the brain power.”

His hands tighten around the metal. “I could unlock this door, walk in, and slit your throat, Gianna. Watch your tone.”

I bark out a laugh, holding my belly and tipping my head back. I didn’t know he was a comedian.

The room turns to ice when my eyes land on him. “So do it, Tomasso. I dare you. Unlock that door and set foot in here.”

“Gianna,” Tate whispers.

Tomasso doesn’t move. He can’t. Because his orders are to keep me alive. Because whoever wanted me here needs me.

So I close the distance and stop right in front of him. “I’m not scared of you,” I say.

“You should be,” he growls. His eyes dip from my face, down to my chest, and he smirks.

I don’t move as his hand stretches out through the bars. I let him brush his fingers along my shoulder, and even manage to hide the disgust on my face.

“You did us all a favor by killing Vito. And now that makes you fair game to fuck.”

I lean in closer and run my hand up the metal bar, biting my lip. “My husband said I’m a really good fuck too,” I purr.

He sucks in a breath, and while all the blood runs from his brain to his dick, I grab hold of his tie and yank as hard as I can, pinning him to the metal.