When I smiled, it terrified people.

I was used to having that effect on people because I rarely found humor in this life. I had no desire for it. I had one set mode and that was to kill. To annihilate my enemies.

He still didn’t talk, so I figured it was time to remind him. I’d already plucked his toenails and fingernails, but now I would extract his teeth, one at a time.

Two of my men lifted him, holding him still as I pried open his mouth. He thrashed, trying to get away, but he was no match for our strength. I used the right tool for the job, and within seconds, held a very healthy-looking tooth.

“Please, I’ll tell you anything.”

“I’m listening.” I was sure to keep the sight of the tooth for him to see as a reminder. It worked. He told me all about the knowledge of our treaty. How the Italians had insulted us by granting us a marriage with a daughter they wanted to get rid of and how there was a rumor of a takeover.

Now this was news to me.

He continued to explain the gossip running rife about our enemies, how they were willing to band together with some MCs, and even the cartels had been seen coming and going through their turf.

Once he was done, I had enough to work through, and so the death was clean, precise, and over with. He had given me far more work.

We intended to take the turf away from the Italians. Any attack now would be suicide. I filled Ivan in on the details I’d gained, and along with it, I heard the new anger in his voice. We’d been aware of Aurora’s lack of desire, but this went beyond that. We couldn’t attack now, but we would be aware, gathering the necessary intel that would be required for us to completely wipe them off the face of the earth.

“What do I do with Aurora?” I asked.

“Simple. I have a feeling if she’s as expendable to them as everyone believes, they won’t care about her death. We keep her alive. You use her. Host several more of those family dinners. Find out everything we know and play the loving husband. We will hurt them for this.”

I agreed and hung up.

My biggest problem … I didn’t like the way they’d disregarded Aurora. She was my wife, and it was my duty, for now, to keep her alive, but I had a problem with how they treated her. From the moment the agreed treaty of a marriage was negotiated, I’d seen the way she was handled. How they pushed her to one side as if she didn’t matter. Not only that, but even the other night with those women at the dinner table. They couldn’t stand to be around her.

I didn’t get it. Aurora was sweet. She was kind. I saw it in her eyes even though she tried to hide everything. What I also saw was acceptance. She lived with this, being constantly passed over, ignored.