Bound To My Mafia Stepuncles novel Chapter 165

Chapter 165

Dante – First Person POV

He was already bleeding when I walked in.

The room was cold. Quiet. The concrete walls were stained from years of use. The single bulb above flickered every few seconds, casting shadows over his face. His name was Jim. That’s all we had for now. He sat tied to a heavy chair, ankles bound, hands behind his back, blood on his lips and chin.

Matteo was already there. He hadn’t said a word yet. Just stood in the corner, arms crossed, staring at him like he could kill him without moving.

Nico was by the table, preparing the tools. He didn’t talk unless he had to. That’s what made him useful. Clean. Focused.

I pulled a chair and sat in front of Jim. Close enough for him to see the look in my eyes. I wanted him to know I wasn’t here to play games.

“You know who I am?” I asked.

He lifted his chin slowly. His mouth curved, even with all the blood. “Yeah,” he said. “You’re Dante Russo. The quiet one.”

I didn’t blink. “Who sent you?”

He chuckled, słow and low. “That’s the part you want to know first?”

“You followed my sister. You followed Aria. You grabbed her. You made her shoot you. That’s personal.”

He licked his split lip and smiled again. “She’s got a steady hand for someone so soft.”

Matteo moved fast. He didn’t give a warning. He walked over and hit Jim square in the mouth. One hard punch. Jim’s head jerked to the side. He laughed again, blood now dripping from the corner of his mouth.

I didn’t stop Matteo. I wouldn’t. I stood up instead. Walked over to the tool table. I picked up the thin metal wire. Held it between my fingers. Jim watched me, his smile twitching.

“You think you’re tough?” I asked.

“I’ve been through worse.”

I walked back. Slowly wrapped the wire around his wrist. Just one. Tight. Not to cut anything yet, just to make him nervous.

“You’ve got one chance to start talking,” I said. “After that, I don’t care how long this takes.”

“I don’t break easy,” he muttered.

“Good,” I said. “I’ve got time.”

I pulled the wire just enough to make him grunt.

Matteo stepped forward again, face dark. “Say Aria’s name again, I dare you.”

Jim looked up at him, then at me. “You think I care about your little family rules? She was just a job.”

I nodded to Nico, He handed me the small torch. I clicked it on. The flame hissed quietly. I moved it near Jim’s skin, not touching, just

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Chapter 165

hovering.

His breathing changed.

I could feel the burn building in my chest. My patience was running out. The room smelled like sweat and blood, and every time lim coughed or groaned, it just reminded me that he was still holding out. Still protecting whoever the hell thought they could send him after Aria and Chiara. I walked around the room slowly, letting my footsteps echo. Matteo didn’t say anything, but I could feel his eyes following me. We’d broken tougher men before. Cowards who screamed the second a knife touched their skin. But this guy this smug piece of shit – he was different. Not because he was strong, but because he was stupid. I didn’t want to keep hurting him. Not because I felt bad. I didn’t. But because I wanted to get to the part where he broke. I needed a name. A direction. A face to go with the threat. Because until I had that, I wouldn’t sleep. None of us would.

I leaned closer. “You were watching them for a reason. Who told you to?”

He clenched his jaw. “I don’t talk.”

I touched the flame to the edge of his forearm.

—

He screamed. Matteo didn’t even flinch. Neither did I.

“Still feeling brave?” I asked after a few seconds.

He panted, sweat dripping down his face. “You won’t kill me.”

“I don’t need to. I just need to make sure you can’t walk out of here.”

Matteo grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him forward. “Was it money? Was it personal?”

“I don’t know their name,” Jim said through gritted teeth. “I never met them. They paid me through a burner.”

“Liar,” I said flatly.

He laughed again. I saw the edge start to crack in his voice.

“I’m not scared of you,” he said.

I leaned in close. “You should be.”

Nico brought out the needle next. I didn’t need to use it yet. Just laying it on the table made Jim go quiet for a minute. Silence hung hea

the air.

Then he whispered, “They said she’d lead me to the triplets. That she was the key.”

So it was about Aria. Not just chance. Not just some girl at the wrong place. That made my jaw clench.

“Who said that?” I asked again.

He just shook his head.

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