Page 120 of War Within
Luca and Emilio held him by the wrists as he knelt on the ground, crying, begging for mercy. Sliding a set of brass knuckles on both hands, I grinned evilly. Repeatedly, I punched him in the face until he was no longer identifiable, falling limp. My brothers let him go. He crumbled to the ground, barely hanging on to his pathetic life. Blood pooled beneath him.
A clinking sound resonated as I allowed the brass knuckles to fall from my hands to the concrete. I wrenched my hand out. Emilio passed me his weapon of choice; a crowbar. Shoving it in the bastard’s mouth, I lifted my knee in the air, stomping his face twice.
“Check him!” I commanded.
Luca squatted, laughing mercilessly. “You didn’t pray, Giovanni.”
“God can’t help his soul now.”
Luca pressed his fingers to his neck, checking for a pulse. “Confirmed.” Clutching his rosary, he bowed his head, mouthing a silent prayer.
“Emilio, call clean up.”
Jane was rarely around anymore. Large sums of money started disappearing in my company again just a few days ago. I had her looking into it but there was no luck so far. She could not seem to figure out why.
I was excited for the baby on the way, but I was human. Life was not perfect in these past months. There was no doubt she was still angry at me, and I knew she would possibly never forgive me at this point. I gave her space. She was short-tempered and I did not want to stress our baby out.
For the past six months, since our return, Xavier had become quiet, but recently popped up on Luca's radar again. I knew how Xavier worked. I knew if he was only on Luca’s radar, there would soon be trouble. Xavier was about to toy with me.
I had gotten a call from someone who worked for Xavier, pleading for a meeting with me in the shipyard by the warehouse. They wanted to see me alone. Skeptical, I agreed. Though Jane and I had been giving one another more space than normal, I had a dreadful feeling about today. I kissed her goodbye for the first time in months, and I kissed her harder and longer than I ever had.
My life was about to change forever. I wish I could say I saw it coming, but I did not. While I was focused on the war with the Flynn family, a war within my own home was about to unleash hell on my life that very day.
“Of course you didn't come alone.” Kevin scoffed at Carmine.
I darted my eyes at Kyle. “Neither did you.”
Kevin rolled his eyes, enveloping his arms across his stomach. “We need to talk to you and frankly, I’m sick to my stomach about it.”
Remaining silent, I let him speak.
“For the past eight months,” Kevin took a deep breath, “Xavier has been planning something.”
I arched a brow. “No shit.”
“Your people are in danger.” Kyle snapped. “Your family is about to suffer.”
Kevin, threw his arm out, resting it on Kyle’s chest. “We want to join your team.”
“Absolutely not.” Carmine snorted.
“You have five minutes to explain.”
“Turn your phones off, please.” Kyle nodded to our pockets. “None of us can afford to have anyone hear this and it does not leave this circle.”
They were willing to talk. I was willing to listen, but I did not want them to assume they could bark orders at me and live to talk about it. Pursing my lips, I shook my head.
“We can’t take chances.” Kevin frowned. “Please. I beg you.”
Reluctantly, Carmine and I dug our phones from our jacket pockets, rolling our eyes and turning our phones off.
Lily and I went for a stroll in Central Park after having brunch at a nearby café. When I told Giovanni I was pregnant, he was the happiest man in the world. I was miserable, knowing that I had to carry something so evil. It would only be a matter of time before I would be free from this nightmare. I was due any day.
“I still can't believe you guys don’t know what you’re having!” Lily blurted. “I will have to know what I'm having. And I plan on having a lot. I want at least six.”
“I guess.” I rubbed the back of my neck. I loved Lily so much, but I knew she would not be in my life much longer. I lied here and there, just to keep hanging on to the friendship as long as possible. As horrible as I was, a part of me longed for the comfort of a friend, just not Giovanni.
“I'm so excited to be the godmother of your baby!” She gushed at my empty offer to her, failing to tell her that her godchild would be used as a bargaining chip before slaughtering.
