Pietro cast his gaze up. His eyes were tortured. “You know what a video chat means, Dante. You know it.”

I did. Remo was going to hurt Serafina for us to see. It was the beginning of our torture, the next step in his game. “We can’t allow the women to watch it.”

Pietro nodded. “Ines will insist, but I’ll put my foot down. She mustn’t see this.” He sank down on the couch, closing his eyes. “Fuck, I don’t want to see it. I…” He put his face into his palms, taking a shuddering breath. “If he… if he…”

I walked over to him and touched his shoulder. “We’ll find her. That video is our chance to gather hints. The more we gather, the better for us.” It wasn’t any kind of consolation but I couldn’t allow my own despair to surface. My family needed my guidance and I would give it to them.

Ines had insisted she watch with us, but neither Pietro nor I had given in. It wouldn’t do any good.

Danilo, Pietro, Samuel, and I gathered in the conference room of the safehouse in front of a camera and screen. Of course, Remo wanted to see us as well. He wanted a taste of our pain. He’d relish in it.

“Try to remain calm,” I urged again shortly before the designated video time. “Remo will only get further ammunition against us if he sees how much this bothers us.”

Samuel glowered. “Bothers us? He kidnapped my sister! He’s going to torture her. And you think I can stay calm?”

Danilo gritted his teeth. His thoughts probably followed a similar trail but he’d learned to think strategically since becoming an Underboss. Losing our heads in this situation would be the worst thing we could do.

I sought Pietro’s gaze. I’d known him almost all my life. Pietro had nerves of steel but right now his emotions were written all over his face. I couldn’t blame him. If Anna was in Remo’s hands… I shoved the thought aside. I could only hope that Remo was bluffing, that he wanted to have us at our breaking point but not willing to risk war. Because if he hurt Serafina, war would be the result.

“One minute,” I reminded them.

Santino lifted his thumb. He’d set up everything since he was the one who had the most technical knowledge. I gave a small nod.

Then the screen flickered and the camera glowed red, announcing that we were life now. Serafina appeared on screen, dressed in a thin silver nightgown, arms crossed over her chest. Her face was pale, her eyes swollen from crying. Good Lord.

Samuel took a step forward, his face a mask of horror. Pietro and Danilo remained frozen.

My fingers twitched, my teeth clenching in an effort to keep my outward calm even as my insides shook with a hatred so pure and raw, it was almost impossible to contain.

Remo stood beside Serafina but he smirked into the camera, not at her. I’d seen photos and videos of him, so I recognized him immediately. The scar along his brow and temple twitched as he smiled triumphantly. “I’m so glad you could make it,” he drawled.

Danilo made the smallest sound, one hopefully only we could hear. His struggle was written all over his face.

Remo seemed to look straight at me for a moment, a challenge, an invitation for war. He wanted war, he’d get it. Then he faced Serafina who stiffened.

“Serafina, in Las Vegas women get a choice…”

“Don’t you dare!” Samuel shouted, storming toward the camera as if it were Remo and he could throttle him with his bare hands.

I clamped a hand down on his forearm and jerked him to a stop. Samuel’s eyes flashed to mine and for a moment he looked as if he considered hitting me. The anguish in his eyes reflected in my insides. I’d held Serafina when she was only a few days old. I’d seen her grow up. She didn’t deserve this. Least of all the choice Las Vegas was famous for.

Even without seeing his face, I knew Remo was gloating. He knew exactly what this did to us. Even if he didn’t care about anyone enough to feel the same anguish when they were tortured, he was well acquainted with human emotions.

Remo pulled a long, gleaming knife from his holster. I released Samuel who began to tremble. Pietro took a step closer, disbelieving, as if he wasn’t sure if what he saw was reality or his cruel imagination. This was a true nightmare that would certainly haunt us for a long time.

“They can pay for their sins with pain or pleasure.”

Danilo shook his head, murmuring, “No.”

Pain or pleasure. I’d kill Remo.

“You have no right to judge other people’s sins,” Serafina said in a shaking voice. She held her head high, tried to appear strong but her fear was obvious to me and it would be for Remo as well.

Remo moved behind her, towering a head over her with a smile I’d never forget. If I found a way to hurt him like this hurt us, I’d pay him back. Fuck, I wouldn’t stop until he was a shadow of the man he was now.

“What do you choose, Serafina? Will you surrender to torture or pay with your body?” He dragged his eyes down her body, lingering on her cleavage, undressing her with his leer for us to see.

Serafina didn’t say anything and her eyes flickered with terror. I glanced at Danilo. Dread settled in his eyes. Would he have to watch Remo rape Serafina? This choice Remo gave Serafina was a goddamn farce.

I wasn’t sure if I could bear seeing that. How were Samuel, Pietro, and Danilo going to survive?

“If you don’t choose, I will make the choice for you,” Remo said, his voice brimming with excitement as he barred Serafina from our view.

“I will choose the bite of cold steel over the touch of your unworthy hands any day, Remo Falcone.”

Surprised washed over me. Samuel’s eyes widened then he smiled slightly.

“I will enjoy your screams.”

“Remo, this is enough,” I snapped.

Remo jerked Serafina against him, her back flush to his chest, and grasped her chin, forcing her face up to his. I took a step closer to the screen, couldn’t stop myself.

Neither Remo nor Serafina looked at the camera. “Where would you like to feel my blade?” He showed Serafina the knife. “Or did you change your mind about your choice? Will you pay with your body after all?”

Serafina guided the knife to her forearm. I wasn’t sure what she was doing, what was going on between them. And then Remo cut Serafina’s arm. Blood welled up. She dug her teeth into her lower lip trying to keep her scream in. Remo gripped her waist, holding her up. I curled my hands to fists.

Pietro stumbled forward. “Enough! Stop it. Stop it now!”

Remo released Serafina and she fell to the ground, panting and dripping blood. Remo came closer and then the screen turned black.

Silence rang in the conference room.

Santino switched the camera and screen off then stood and slipped out of the room. Pietro sagged against the wall, his shaking fingers splayed over his mouth. Samuel stared at the black screen wide-eyed, chest heaving.

Danilo’s dark eyes met mine. “He won’t stop. He wants her. It was written all over his face. He wants her!”

I had seen it too. I wasn’t sure what exactly Remo wanted from Serafina. Maybe he didn’t know either. But he wanted to possess her. I knew because men like him and I and Danilo always wanted to possess what we shouldn’t. That look on his face it had been on mine when I fought against my desire for Valentina.