Watching Skylar scream at her father on the live stream from the camera in the room brings me a sliver of satisfaction.
It looks like she’s losing her mind, and it’s clear she had no idea where the kidney came from.
Not that it changes anything.
I’m still going to make her suffer for the rest of her life.
The way I have to suffer every day I’m forced to live without Giulio.
Skylar slumps down to her ass and leans back against the wall. She looks exhausted.
Not wanting her to die yet, I know I’ll have to make her more comfortable.
“Carlo, put a bed in one of the empty offices,” I order.
“On it, boss.”
My eyes are glued to the screen as I watch Harlan stalk up and down like a caged animal while Bentall stands in a corner.
Skylar buries her face in her arms that are wrapped around her knees, the skirt of her dress pinned between her calves and the back of her thighs.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I quickly pull it out. Seeing Dario’s name, I answer, “Did you find out anything else?”
“We officially have a photo of Manual Castellanos, and he’s popped up on several CCTV cameras around the city.”
“Send me the photo and places where he was spotted.”
“Already did that.” He yawns then asks, “How are things there?”
“Good. I have Davies and Bentall sweating.”
“When are you killing them?”
“When I feel like it,” I mutter.
“Do you need anything else?” he asks. “I have a ballet recital I don’t want to miss.”
Shaking my head, I let out a chuckle. “Go to your recital, and don’t forget your tutu.”
“Don’t diss it until you’ve tried it.”
“Enjoy the rest of the day, brother. Thanks for all the help.”
“Anytime,” he says, and I hear him moving. “I’ll send you my invoice.”
Chuckling, I mutter, “You do that.”
Ending the call, my eyes return to the screen, but then Elio walks into the office, pulling my attention away again.
Opening my emails, I click on the one from Dario and forward it to Elio. “I’ve just sent you an email. We have a photo of Castellanos. Get the men to search New York and tell them the one to bring him in alive gets a fifty thousand bonus.”
“They’re going to tear the city apart,” Elio mutters as he checks his email.
“That’s the idea,” I murmur as I look at the live stream from the room.
Skylar’s now leaning her head back against the wall, looking deathly pale.
“What’s Antonio’s number?” I ask.
When Elio gives it to me, I quickly dail it.
“Hello,” Antonio answers abruptly.
“It’s Renzo.”
“Yes, boss,” he says, his tone instantly filled with respect. “What can I do for you?”
“Bring Bianca to the warehouse.”
“Have you found the group responsible?”
“Not yet, but I need Bianca’s medical skills.”
“We’ll leave as soon as possible, boss.”
I end the call and keep staring at Skylar.
Don’t die on me, topolina. I need you to live a long and torturous life.
Carlo comes into the office and gives me a chin lift. “The office is ready, boss.”
“Come with me,” I order as I walk toward the steps. Taking them up, I signal for Emilio to unlock the door, and when I step inside, Skylar’s already scrambled to her feet and is darting to the back of the room.
Wanting to teach her that she has to obey my every command, I growl, “Come here, Skylar.”
She shakes her head, her body plastered to the wall.
“If you make me ask you anything for a second time, I’ll cut the kidney from you without any hesitation.”
“Please. This is insane,” Harlan cries as he moves between his daughter and me.
I hold out my hand, and a moment later, a gun is placed in my palm. My fingers close around the hilt and pointing the barrel at Harlan, I don’t hesitate for a single second and pull the trigger.
The bullet tears through the sleeve of his dress shirt, and before blood can blossom on the white fabric, the bullet slams into the wall less than a foot away from Skylar.
“Daddy!” she screams as she darts toward him.
“Skylar!” I shout to get her attention.
Her eyes snap to me.
“Come. Here.”
She hesitates, but now that she knows I won’t hesitate to shoot her father, she walks to me.
When she tilts her head back to meet my eyes, I lean down until our faces are an inch apart.
“Don’t ever disobey me again.”
She swallows hard as she nods.
Turning around, I mutter, “Follow me.”
I leave the room and hear Skylar’s rapid breaths behind me. When I walk into the office that’s now a makeshift bedroom, I use the gun to point at the bed.
“Get some rest,” I order.
“W-What?”
My eyes flick to her face, and she recoils while wrapping her arms around her waist.
“Do you really want me to repeat myself?”
She quickly shakes her head and hurries to the bed. When she lies down, her body is ramrod straight, and tension comes off her in waves.
I walk closer and look down into her terrified eyes that sparkle like the ocean when the sun shines down on the water.
“Sleep, topolina. You’re going to need your rest for what comes next.”
Instead of begging for her own life, her voice trembles as she pleads, “Please don’t kill my father.”
“You’re in no position to ask that of me,” I remind her.
She sits up, and with a tear spiraling down her cheek, she says, “I’ll do anything you want. Spare my father. Please.”
I didn’t plan on killing Harlan. Not soon, anyway. I want him to suffer knowing I have his precious daughter.
Bringing my right hand, which is still holding the gun to her face, I drag the barrel through the wetness left behind by her tears.
“Next time I give an order, you carry it out without hesitation.”
She nods quickly.
When I turn around and walk away, she calls out, “Will you spare my father?”
I stop in the doorway and say, “That all depends on how well you behave.”
When I step out of the room, Carlo pulls the door shut and locks it.
“Give me the key,” I order while holding out the gun for him to take.
When I have the key, I shove it into my pocket and head back to the other room, where I’m met with a worried father and cowardly doctor.
“What did you do with Skylar?” Harlan asks, his voice hoarse from the hell I’ve put him through.
“I’ve made her comfortable on a bed,” I answer honestly, knowing it’s going to make him worry whether I’ll have Skylar raped.
Much to my satisfaction, the air wooshes from Harlan, and his complexion turns a shade grayer.
“Please don’t hurt her. I’m begging you. I’ll give you everything I own.”
My lips curve up as I let out a chuckle. Walking closer to Harlan, I lean in and hiss, “I’m going to make her wish she was never been born.”
I watch as tears well in his eyes and unspeakable fear tightens his features.
I move even closer until we’re almost nose to nose, then say, “I’m going to make you feel all the pain I feel and then some. Because of you, I have to live without my brother, so you’ll live without your daughter, knowing I’ll fuck her raw until she’s nothing but a ghost of the girl you raised.”
“Please,” he breathes. “I’ll do anything you want.”
“You only have one thing I want, and I already have her.” Pulling back, my smile widens. “Your precious little daughter now belongs to me.”
His features crumble again, and seeing the unbearable pain my words are causing him fills me with satisfaction.
I tilt my head and breathe it in.
I’ll make them suffer, Giulio. I’ll make them fucking pay.
I stare at Harlan until he lowers his head, and silent sobs wrack his shoulders.
“I didn’t know they would kill your brother,” he cries.
I step closer again and whisper near his ear, “You would still have done it to save your daughter. You would’ve killed half of New York, if that’s what it took to keep her alive, because you love her.” I pull back and gripping his jaw, I force him to look at me. “I loved my brother, and you took him from me.”
I move backward, and my eyes flick to where the doctor is cowering in the corner.
“Dr. Bentall,” I say and wait for him to look at me before I continue, “Enjoy your last night. I’m killing you tomorrow.”
The blood drains from his face, and I watch as he realizes there’s nothing he can do to stop me.
Walking out of the room, I hear Emilio close the door before he locks it.
“Have men take turns to guard the prisoners,” I say to Carlo, who’s right behind me.
“Okay, boss.”
We take the steps down, and as I head to the office, Carlo walks to where a group of my soldiers are gathering.
I find Elio behind the desk, and he lifts his eyes to me from where he’s looking at the computer screen.
“Having fun?” he asks.
I slump down on the couch and mutter, “I need a drink.”
Elio gets up and walks to the small liquor cabinet, where he pours some whiskey into a tumbler. He brings me the drink then sits down beside me.
“Thanks,” I say before taking a sip.
Resting my head against the back of the couch, I close my eyes.
“The Mexicans are happy with the AKs.”
“Good,” I murmur.
“The Yakuza wants fifty full-auto Glock 17s. They have to be converted,” he informs me.
“Do we have enough carbine PDW conversion kits?”
“Yes. The men can get it done quickly, and the shipment can leave by the end of the week.”
“Good. Go ahead with the deal,” I give my approval.
“Why don’t you go home and get some rest?” Elio suggests as he gets up from the couch.
“I’m too hyped. It’s taking all my strength not to kill Bentall right now.”
“Kill him and go home. Why wait?”
Opening my eyes, I down the rest of the whiskey before saying, “I want him to suffer through the night.”
