"P-please," he sputters. "I-I-I need-d t-t-the f-f-family to b-be mine." I can make out his words just enough to catch his explanation, but that doesn't mean shit to me.
I continue my task by gripping his flesh between the metal teeth and tugging it slowly from his body. He won't last much longer, and I know I should just kill him. But it's too much fun to hear him begging for mercy.
The chains clink as his body shudders. The agonizing grunts bounce off the walls of the warehouse as he's slowly drained of his blood and his life. I watch, my arms folded across my chest as the man who tried to kill my girl struggles to take in breaths.
I don't know how long I've been standing here, but the moment the light in his eyes goes out, I find myself smiling. Mario is at my side, Thiago on the other, with the two soldiers having a smoke as they watch the show.
For us, this is life.
For my girl, it will soon be her family who will protect her.
And for our future, I'm going to have to decide what we'll do once she's home. I want to move back into my childhood home. But to do that, it needs an overhaul. I glance over my shoulder at Mario. "Call the decorator," I tell him. "I want the De Rossi estate redone. I want a dance studio, a music room, and a library."
"Will do," he answers with a slight curve of his mouth. He knew I'd fall. But I don't know if he realized his conversation with Luna when they first met had perhaps nudged her feelings toward me.
We did have our fights.
She's tasted my blade a few times, but she never ran.
And that's what means more to me than she'll ever know.
By the time I'm back at the hospital, showered and changed, Luna is still in surgery. Night has fallen, and my anxiety is through the roof. I haven't seen either of her doctors yet, and that's only making me more nervous.
Mario joins me, settling in as we wait. My leg jumps as I count down the ticking of the clock which hangs against the sterile white walls. The stench of flesh is still in my nose, but satisfaction thrums through my veins. If Luna was home, I would've made my way straight there and fucked her in every room in my home. And then, I'd take her into the shower before making her come on my cock, over and over until she couldn't think straight.
"She'll be okay," Mario says, his voice low, just loud enough for me to hear. "She's a strong girl. Also, I think she quite likes to give you grief, so she'll fight this."
I can't help but laugh because he's right. She is strong. More so than I ever gave her credit for. There were times I thought she would break. At first, I wanted her to break, but then I noticed something else, her fire made me want to see more of that. And in the end, I craved her for the strong, assertive little minx she is.
"She will," I agree with a nod. "But there's a niggling of doubt that's fucking with my head, no matter how much I try to ignore it. You know?" I glance at Mario. He's been with me for so long, my sturdy rock, my best friend. I cannot imagine being able to run this family without him. "I want your brother to join us," I tell him then. "You're my blood, and so is he. Once he's finished his studies at Black Hollow, I want him in New York where we both can watch over him."
Mario's mouth drops open before he shuts it, and I don't miss the surprise on his face. "Are you sure? I just... I spoke to him and he's enjoying his time at the school. Made friends."
"Friends?" I arch a brow. "Is he hanging out with Judah and Jordan Venier?" The brothers are going to be taking over the school soon. Judah, the eldest is in his last year of school, graduating with flying colors. Their father and mine have been friends for many years. The small town in southern Italy has brought many men into the life, and when the Venier brothers step into their roles, that school will never be the same."
"Yeah," Mario says, grinning because he knows that they're as bad as he and I were when we were there. "I can't stop him, but at least they're responsible for the shit they cause."
"Not like us?" I challenge, shoving him in the shoulder. I miss the days when life was simple. When I didn't have an army to wield and a woman to marry. But when I hear the doors to the operating room slide open, I realize it's not true, because I would never change the moment that I rise to my feet to see Doctor Peterson walking toward me with a small smile on his face.