"I had nothing to do with." His throat moves as he swallows, "I swear, on the holy Virgin Mary, I was minding my own business when she comes along. I only noticed her because… Well, it’s difficult not to, the way she was dressed, and her figure, I—"
I bring my fist up, sink it into his stomach this time. He gurgles, bends over, and would have fallen if Antonio hadn’t jerked him back upright.
I slam my fist into his shoulder, then raise it again, only to be grabbed and yanked back.
"Fratellone,stop." Massimo grips my shoulder, "We need him to tell us what he saw."
"I’ll kill him." I say in a low voice. "I’ll tear him from limb to limb, then smash all his bones and throw him in a barrel of acid while he’s still alive."
"If you did that, we’d never be able to find her."
Find her. Find her.The anger drains away and silence fills my head. I step back, look thebastardoin the eye.
"Who took her?"
"I don’t know, I swear," he warbles. "I was watching her... Hell, we were all watching her—"
I fold my fingers into fists. I will not kill him. Not yet. Not until he’s told me everything he witnessed."
"And then?" Massimo prompts, "What happened after that?"
"A van drove up the road, pulled to a stop in front of her, and they took her."
My vision tunnels and a coldness grips me. "What kind of a van?" I ask in a low voice. "Did you notice the numbers on the license plate?"
"The license plate was c-covered in dirt," he stutters. "It was a white Fiat Ducato," he adds.
"Like that is helpful," Massimo growls. "There must be a million of them on the road."
"Any other distinguishing features?" Seb walks up to stand on my other side, "You’d better come up with something that is going to help us, if you want to live."
Thetesta di cazzoblinks, then glances between us.
"Or maybe, he wants to die right now?" Massimo raises his fist and the man yells.
"Wait, wait, let me think."
"Think fast," Seb prompts him. "Else your insides will be gracing the floor very soon." He pops his knuckles and the man pales.
"A…a…flower."
"What?"
"I saw a design of what looked like a flower on the windscreen."
"Are you sure?" I scowl at him.
"Yes, no, I don’t know," he pants. Sweat drips down his temples. "It... lt…looked like it, but I can’t be sure."
"What kind of a flower?" I glare at him and he blinks rapidly.
"I am not sure."
He glances between us, "Please, just let me go. I promise never to look at her again."
Fuck, if I don't want to pull his eyes out for daring to look at her in a lascivious way. And if I did, I'd never have witnesses come forward in the future with information. I roll my shoulders, narrow my gaze on him. "Get out while you're still alive," I snap.
The man turns and scampers out.