DAMAGED [Martinez Mafia Dynasty, #2]

Chapter 5 [EDITED]

ACE

In the end, a messy one-bedroom in Xeon became my home.

Not that I had many options to choose from. According to Ares, the old manor was forcefully taken by the Bratva soon after I landed in prison. So, it was either returning home to face Padre's wrath or find a nice little spot in an alleyway.

I chose Xeon without any question.

"What's the plan?" Ares asks, pouring me a drink. I can feel his desperation from miles but my own smothers his in a heartbeat. Guilt. What a strange emotion to have when I can't even afford to show any weakness.

"Where's Dario again?" I grunt instead.

"Dario found his new master. I'll be surprised if he's anywhere without Dante." He scoffs, clearly disgusted. But I figured as much. Between all our men, he was the only one with eyes hungry for more power.

"And the rest?"

"Felix, Roman...all of them are in prison. Most probably serving more years than you. Lou, however...I don't know where he is."

What?

Ares's expression changes immediately something akin to grim. "Lou wasn't there when they raided our territories. If it helps, even Dante looked for him but it's like he vanished."

I want to say so many things about that. Vent, scratch, kill. But I bite down the impulse by curling my fists.

"You think he knew about the schemes?" Even saying it aloud doesn't make any sense. It's Lou for fuck's sake. "That's why he left town?"

"I don't know what to think, ok? All I know that he was the best damn hacker we've ever had and now he's missing."

He's impatient lately and so am I.

"We'll find him, hermano. For now, scout the area. Find if anyone is plotting anything against the Bratva. We need to look for our old allies. Some of them still had to be devoted to La Eme."

"But you did scout the area. For the last week, that's all you have been doing." He pauses, doubt creeping into his face. The same one I'm trying so hard to hide. "Did you find anything?"

There's no use in beating around the bush as I shake my head. The only solace I find that he doesn't wince at my words. "Didn't find anything. Though I did get to look around Dante's territory. He's breaching the area."

More like inhaling another's territory like a thirsty dog.

"Yeah, all of his territories end in Bratva lands. He's trying to take over little by little." It shows the things he can't say the way he delivers his words. Dante's trying to take over alright but is failing miserably.

"Don't worry though." He's quick to assure me. Typical Ares. "We'll throw them off their back. Hell, no one would see you coming."

"True," I mutter, finishing the glass in two gulps. He doesn't say anything when I stand up, fully intend to spend the next hours on road. But the moment my back is on display, he stops me with a damn whisper.

"What happened to you?"

I know what he finds in there. Numerous scars and bumps. All of them from either the whipping or the nights spending in the torture chamber. Dammit! I forgot to put on a shirt. A momentary mistake on my part that forces me to avoid his gaze at any cost.

"Fuck, hermano! Why didn't you tell me? What did they-I'm so-"

"¡No!" Snatching the offending piece of cloth, I don't even notice the force I used to open the door as it creaks loudly, even louder than my guarded voice. "It wasn't your fault. Don't ever apologize for what happened. Don't fucking ever."

"Ace-"

I feel him standing up rather than see it for myself. But I'm already a step ahead of him, shaking off his worried tone with a nod. "I'll be back."

"You mean you'll be gone for another week."

I don't have it in me to lie so I don't. Instead, with another nod, I leave Xeon in search of Bratva territory. After all, I already have an ally in their captive.

***

No one pays attention to me as I scout the new territory with flame in my eyes. Once this was all mine. But now they barely look like it belonged to La Eme. I have half the mind to confront Stefan Orlov all by myself but at the last minute, I change the course of my thoughts from feeling a particular eye on me.

It doesn't take long for whoever was on my trail to catch up. I must say, they are good. I briefly consider getting lost in the next alley...but curiosity wins over survival.

"So the rumors are true."

I don't have to turn back to know who this one voice belongs to. I can only manage to lift my lips into a smirk as he steps forward from the shadows.

"The boss is back."

"And you've become Dante's puto." If he's insulted, he doesn't let it show. Good old Dario, always playing games. Though how can I complain when all he has known by yours truly?

"You didn't change a bit, boss." I think just to humor me he laughs. "Still so harsh."

"And still could slit your throat for what you did." I gesture toward his throat that bobs once. He knows me, he knows I'll do it. And there will be no regret involved on my part. So I don't expect the sudden flinch that mars his face at my words. My smirk widens.

"What? Did my absence turn you into a coward? I can clearly see every emotion in your face, idiota." That's the first rule of being in La Eme. Don't ever show your emotion to the enemy. And the moment he sided with Dante, he declared himself as a traitor.

His eyes harden. "I did what I thought was best for the familia. Just because you went down doesn't exactly mean we all have to. Thanks to Dante, La Eme still stands."

Yes, barely peeking over the Bratva.

"And to think I did you a favor." He sighs, hiding from my gaze. "You think you'd be out if we didn't take care of your officer? Both FBI and DEA were after you, be lucky you are still alive."

"Maybe you're right." I wonder aloud. I give him a minute to feel smug but in a minute I crush it just as he did with the familia. "But when Dante will be taken down...don't expect me to vote on your favor."

He didn't help me, he betrayed the family when we needed him the most. With Dante being the head, soon Bratva will take over and I can bet on my unfortunate luck, that for the right price he will let it happen.

Dario finally seems to notice that there's no way he can sway me to his side as a long sigh leaves his lips. Pity. I thought I taught him better than that. With a scoff, I give my back to make a cut to the streets but he nails me to the spot with one question.

"Know anyone named Vick lately? Know who he is?"

I'm tempted to ignore his question. But don't know why I answer him anyway. "A dead man walking. That's what he is."

Apparently, he expects me to say the same thing as a series of laughter ripples from his mouth, forcing me to look at him. What's so fucking funny?

"So, you were the one who did it." The way he says it...

"Did what?" I ask, clenching my fists. A gun in my hand would be the best idea now but sadly, the DA still has all my ammo. When he doesn't answer in one go, I ask again. This time with more volume to make him flinch again. "Dario, tell me."

He hesitates for a minute before answering. "Don't sound so surprised now. Vick was found dead this morning. You killed him, admit it. That bitch still means something to you, huh? Even after five damn years?"

Vick was dead. That puto is gone before I can even reach him. Dario continues to ramble something but I tune him out. Who could have done it? Dante? I glimpse at Dario again. It doesn't look like they had anything to do with it. The Bratva wouldn't kill one of their own. Ares doesn't know shit about Vick. I thought only I had something to get by killing those bastards. But turned out-

I'm not the only monster back in town...