Ava bit her lip and nodded.
As we entered the building, the stench of burned flesh and turpentine penetrated the air, awakening my senses. A man screamed as I pushed back the plastic curtain for us to enter the torture room.
“Oh, my God,” Ava choked out, her eyes filled with tears. She put her head on my chest. “Don’t make me watch this. And the smell…” Covering her mouth with her hand, she whispered, “It’s horrible.”
I gripped her shoulders and turned her around to face the table. This was the reason Dante wanted her here. She needed to understand what we did to liars. The senator was trying to pass a bill that would negatively impact our casino. We did much worse to people who stole from us.
“Open your eyes,passerotta.” I bent down to speak against the shell of her ear. “You need to see this.”
“No,” she croaked. “Please, don’t make me.”
I looked over at Dante. With his eyes on Ava, he dropped the iron on the table and unbuttoned his jacket, tossing it on the tarp-lined floor. Blood splattered on Dante’s shirt and skin. He never looked more in his element than when he was hurting someone.
It wasn’t wise for Ava to poke him. When he snapped, she would not like that side of him.
I watched as Dante carved the senator like a turkey, smiling with each rip of flesh. He switched between cutting and burning him with a hot iron. No matter which form of torture he chose, Dante followed each act by dumping turpentine on his chest, using it as an antiseptic to make it burn more.
I didn’t budge, never flinched.
Desensitized to death and gore.
“Are you ready to do your job?” Dante growled at the senator. “Or do I have to repeat the same warning with your wife and daughters?”
“No, please.” Senator York sobbed. His face was bright red, with tears streaming down his cheeks. “Don’t hurt them. I will do anything.”
Dante loosened his tie and tugged on his collar. “I already gave you the chance to do the right thing, and you failed me. You owe this family a favor you will repay.” He dipped his head down, yelling in his face. “Are you not in a position of power because of me? Did I not make you the man you are today?”
The dark-haired man on the table closed his eyes, his face writhing in pain. “Yes.”
“Did I not tell you I’ll collect when I need the favor returned?”
“Yes,” he hissed. “I’m sorry. The bill won’t pass. I’ll make sure of it.”
Dante held out his hand to silence him. “Save it. If that bill goes through, my men will collect your wife and daughters and make you watch. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he moaned. “I’m sorry. Please leave them out of this.”
Dante looked at me. “Get rid of him.”
Ava glanced up at me, tears staining her cheeks. “I’m out of here if you ask me to help you bury a body.”
I shook my head. “Not today. But someday, you will.”
ChapterTwenty
AVA
When I heard the front door shut, I rolled over on the couch to see which of the brothers was invading my space. Shoes tapped on the tiled floor, and Nico entered the living room.
He looked good enough to eat, dressed in gray sweatpants and a tight black short-sleeve T-shirt. I could see the outline of his big dick and wanted to thank whoever had the idea to make gray sweatpants.
Nico raised a bottle of wine in his right hand and a pizza box in the other. “Hungry?”
For food or you?
I met him in the kitchen.
He smirked as he bent down to kiss my lips. “Did you miss me?”