“I’m so ashamed. If you go down there and wake the house then the truth will come out. Franco knows about us.”
Dominic blinked out of his stupor and focused on Catalina. She nodded, tears dropped and landed on his face. “He knows sweetheart. He says I’m a whore. He beats me because he says he’s ashamed of what I am. That I lied to him when I said I was a virgin.” Catalina dropped her head on his chest and wept. Dominic held her and closed his eyes. It was his fault. He should have never touched her. “Giovanni can’t know about us, Domi. You know he can’t. You have to kill Franco before he finds out.”
Her head lifted from his chest. Domi opened his eyes. “Don’t you worry he will never touch you again. He’ll be dead before sunset.”
Catalina hugged Domi and hid her smile.
****
Carlo took a bite of his sandwich. He sat next to Lorenzo with his chair turned backwards straddling the seat. “Is this the best you could do?”
Lorenzo’s gaze tilted up. “You think you could have done better?”
Carlo chuckled. “Fucker is useless.”
The bound and gagged man whimpered. With a noose around his neck and his hands tied behind his back, the only thing keeping him alive was his balancing act. He stood on a very shaky three-legged stool. His eyes bulged. Sweat ran down his face over the electrical tape holding the gag in his mouth.
“How the fuck is he going to tell us where Angelo is with his mouth covered?”
Lorenzo stood. He withdrew his gun and rammed it into the man’s groin. Carlo continued to eat, slightly amused. “Hear me. I can make this last all night. It takes a man exactly five hours to bleed out if his cock is shot off. Did you know that?”
The man whimpered.
“You will tell us where Angelo is, and we will consider sparing your life. Capisci?”
The man nodded.
“Cut him the fuck down.” Lorenzo put the gun back inside the back of his pants.
“Why do I have to do it?” Carlo frowned.
“Because I’m the fucking sotto capu. Now do as I say!”
Carlo cursed under his breath. He reached inside his boot and removed a knife. Lorenzo paced away. This was a long shot. Who knew if the fucking driver had any idea where Angelo was held up? But it was the only lead he had. If he played his cards right they could have Angelo before the night ended.
****
Mira opened her eyes to find herself alone. She sat up in bed and wiped fatigue from her sagging lids. Her head felt heavy, as if she’d been drinking. She hadn’t. Last night they made love until they both collapsed in exhaustion. The sheets were tangled around her waist and legs. She touched the four passionate bruises on her breasts from his sucks and love bites.
A deep whisper of a man’s voice echoed in the distance.
Mira froze and her attention was averted to the adjoining room, the door was partially closed. He was in there, and he sounded as if he were having a conversation. Mira drew back the covers and shed the sheets. She brought her feet around to plant them on the floor. The coolness sent icy shivers up her legs and spine. She found the strength to stand and quickly located a floor length nightgown and matching robe to cover her nudity. Tying the sash she approached the door to her daughter’s room curiously. When she opened it she saw Giovanni in a rocking chair holding a large book. Eve sat up in his lap fixated on the pages of the book. He read to her in Italian. Her daughter reached and turned the page prematurely blinking at the colorful illustration on the next page. Mira smiled. Giovanni continued with the story, rocking slowly. Eve sucked on her pacifier and dropped back against her father’s chest.
She watched them until the story came to an end.
“Lucciola, should Papa read another?”