Page 93 of Perfect Vengeance

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The side of Gina’s face where Tino had backhanded her throbbed. A strip of duct tape covered her mouth, forcing her to breathe in the stench of oil and gas through her nose.

They were inside Franco Falzone’s garage. Seated on a chair with her hands tied behind her back and her coat and blouse gaping wide open, she was so cold her teeth chattered. Not even the residual heat from the engine in Tino’s Caddy did anything to warm up the place.

Tino and his men—correction, goons—stood by the connecting door to the house, talking in hushed voices. Psycho and Rocco were there, along with another goon—Meat—she didn’t recognize. Meat’s phone rang, the second time in less than five minutes. He glanced at the screen, then shoved it back into his pocket. Maria still sat in the front passenger seat of Tino’s car, her shoulders slumped and her head hung low.

Gina clenched her bound hands. Bastard. How a man could ever do that to a woman she’d never understand. Maria Falzone was not only physically battered but emotionally beaten to a pulp.

She had to get out of there, and she’d take Maria with her. Easier said than done. Not telling anyone where she’d been going was the right thing to do but had bitten her in the ass. She was alone but refused to give up. Certainly not to these assholes. Slowly, so as not to attract attention, she assessed her surroundings.

The only vehicle in the cavernous three-car garage was the Caddy. Two other vehicles were parked in the circular driveway in front of the house; she’d seen them as they’d driven through the large iron gates.

A wood workbench took up half of the rear wall of the garage, over which hung sheets of pegboard with various tools hanging on silver hooks. Tools she could never get to. Aside from the three closed garage doors, there was only one other way out. The connecting door to the house.

Meat’s phone rang again. Again he ignored it. Next to where he and the others stood was a short set of stairs leading to the connecting door. Leaning against the side of the stairs was a large crowbar. Even if she could somehow manage to grab it, with her hands tied as they were, she wouldn’t be capable of making any good use of it.

Not for the first time since Tino and his goons had grabbed her, a frisson of fear shot up her spine, only this time it was worse. I might be totally screwed here.

She could have told Margo where she was going. She should have told Jack. Then she wouldn’t be in this no-win situation. Coulda, woulda, shoulda. Three completely useless, after-the-fact words.

“I gotta make a call.” Meat headed up the stairs.

“What the fuck, Meat?” Tino’s brows slammed together. “Now?”

“Yeah, now.” Meat flung his arms wide. “My little girl got in a fight at school. That’s a big deal these days. I gotta talk to the principal before she gets expelled.” He pushed open the door and disappeared. The door banged shut behind him.

“Jesus Christ,” Tino muttered. “Kids. Goddamn pains in the asses.”

“Fun making them, though.” Psycho chuckled. His eyes lowered, taking in her exposed breasts. “Right?”

Behind the duct tape, Gina gagged. Tino had surrounded himself with an army of disgusting, slimy clones.

“Right.” Tino grinned. “Business before pleasure.”

He came toward her, and with each step her heart raced faster. When he fisted one of his hands, she tensed, preparing to take a punch to the face, but it never came.

“You stole something from me. From all of my men.” He canted his head to Rocco and Psycho, who’d come to stand on either side of him. “You didn’t know about the camera in my safe, did you?”

Camera? Uh, nope. Maria hadn’t necessarily dimed her out, after all. Judging by Maria’s apologies, Tino must have forced her to make the call and pretend she wanted to leave him.

“I recognized you from that fundraiser. You were with Gates. Are you his girlfriend? Or is he just fucking you?”

She gritted her teeth, exhaling through her nose. Even if her mouth wasn’t covered by duct tape, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of answering his questions.

“Doesn’t matter.” He curled his lip. “Whoever you are to him, it will make it that much sweeter when I fuck the shit out of you and leave what’s left for him to find. First, you’re going to tell me what I want to know.”

She couldn’t suppress the shudder that ran through her body. The idea of him touching her was so repugnant, she nearly gagged.

With one painful yank, he tore off the duct tape, leaving the skin around her lips stinging.

“Where’s my money?” He leaned down, resting his hands on the arms of the chair. Hot breath washed over her face. “Where is it?”

Pain exploded in her other cheek as he backhanded her again. She opened her eyes, trying to focus, but the room spun. All she saw were bright lights and a blurry shadow looming over her.

Maria’s muffled sobs came from inside the Caddy.

“Rocco, take Maria inside. Lock her in Franco’s study.”