Page 49 of Urgent Vows
They aren't spiral fractures, but they'll do.
"Uncuff him."
Angelo does it and, grabbing his bicep, jerks Francesco into a standing position. Then I kick my former consigliere in the ribs, over and over. "We're still missing something aren't we?" I muse.
He can only groan in pain.
"That's right. You fucking shattered her hip bone when you knocked your wife down the stairs and killed her.You. Not Catalina, you bastard." Knowing he lied and convinced my father that an innocent child was the cause of her mother's death and not her abusive husband adds to the cauldron of rage that boils inside me.
My roundhouse kick lands exactly where I want it to and the crunch of shattering bones sounds just before more of Francesco's hoarse screams as he falls back to the chair, unable to stand up.
Convenient.
"Miceli, get the pliers."
My brother grabs them from the tool wall and brings them over. He knows what to do. I don't even have to force Francesco's jaw open because he's still trying to scream from the pain he's already in.
I look back at my men. "You lie to your don, this is what you get."
"This is for my father." I slice right through Francesco's tongue with my father's knife.
I brought it for this purpose. Miceli recognizes it and nods to me.
"Remember who didn't lie to me. You all saw Catalina lift her veil. She was no party to her father's deception. I chose to marry her and now she is my queen." My wife will not pay the price for her family's treachery.
If anyone treats her with less than the honor she is due, they will pay in blood for their mistake.
"Pick him up."
Angelo and my brother each take an arm and lift Francesco to standing again.
I go around so I'm standing behind him and facing the rest ofla famiglia'shigh ranking made men. I position my hands and he knows what's coming.
"This is for my wife," I say so only he can hear and then I snap his neck.
"Make it look like a car accident," I order. "Make sure our ME is the one called to the scene. I don't want any blowback from this."
I look toward my uncle, Big Sal De Luca. He's currently capo over our clubs. "Uncle Sal, I need a new consigliere."
The big man steps forward, his expression grim. He was my father's brother and learning how the dead man at my feet betrayed him has been a blow. "It would be an honor, Severu."
I nod and then look at my cousin. "Salvatore, you've been your father's underboss for ten years." Since he was twenty. "You are ready to become capo."
Salvatore jerks his head in affirmation. "I will never betray you orla famiglia."
"I believe you." I look around the now silent room. "Each of you is in the position you are because I trust you. We are all better off after getting rid of this cancer in our midst."
No one disagrees, not even fucking Lorenzo Ricci.
I hear one of the underbosses tell his capo that Francesco was an idiot to try to trick me into marrying his older daughter so he could keep the beautiful one to get a higher bride price. I don't tell them it's bullshit.
The rumor will protect Carlotta. Something, I promised Catalina I would do. But really? They think she's of more value than her older sister?
Fools.
I take a shower and change my clothes, putting the ones I wore to torture Francesco in the building incinerator. I will not return to my wife with her father's blood on my skin.
Chapter 17
