“No.” Ricardo leaned to the side and spat out a mouth of blood before turning back to Castello. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“So the stories I’ve heard of you helping my little brother aren’t true?”
Instantly, Ricardo paled as if he had seen a ghost. “Of course they’re not true.”
Castello started to pace around him again, his shoulders squared, confidence radiating from him like rays of sunlight. “Then it wasn’t you who arranged the little get-together between Vico and our Mexican supplier?”
“What? Of course not.”
“So you’re calling my uncle Gino a liar then?” Castello stopped in front of him, his gaze never leaving Ricardo. “According to my uncle, you’re the snitch who has been paid very handsomely by my brother for setting up the meeting.”
Ricardo’s eyes darted toward where Uncle Gino was standing. Uncle Gino had the same hard look on his face as Castello. And with no other light in the room besides a lonely lightbulb hanging from the ceiling, cruel shadows fell onto the lines of their faces.
Ricardo started to frantically shake his head. “It wasn’t me. I swear to fucking God, it wasn’t me.”
Castello held his arms out wide. “Well then, it seems we’re done here.” He turned around, and Ricardo seemed to sag in his chair with relief. Even I felt slightly relieved, but by the way Castello’s entire demeanor darkened, screaming of anger and malicious intent, I knew the relief would be short-lived.
“Oh yes,” Castello started before turning back to Ricardo, holding his phone out toward him. “There is this issue of you being photographed collecting your payment from one of Vico’s men.”
I narrowed my eyes and stepped slightly closer to try and see the picture Castello was referring to.
Ricardo stared at the phone for ten seconds then started to fight against his restraints. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Castello. It won’t happen again. I needed the money to pay off some debts. But it was a one-time deal, I fucking swear.”
Oh God.
Castello put his phone back in his jacket pocket, seemingly unaffected by Ricardo’s confession and begging.
“Castello, please. I swear to God it won’t happen again—”
Castello swung his fist straight into Ricardo’s face, and I heard the distinct sound of bone breaking. I flinched, closing my eyes for two seconds. When I opened them, Ricardo’s face was covered in blood from a cut just above his left eye.
By the way Castello’s jaw clenched, I knew the monster was about to come out.
“Did you not lay down the oath? Did you not swear your loyalty to this family? Did you not vow to follow me the day my little brother decided to stand against me?”
“I did. Yes, I did. I’m sorry, Castello. Please believe me when I say I will never ever betray you again.”
Castello leaned forward, and Ricardo stared at him as if he were the devil himself.Istared at him as if he was the devil.
“The punishment of such betrayal is death.”
“Please, no!” Ricardo started to weep, his beaten face contorted with fear.
Castello straightened and looked my way. “Unlessshedecides to spare your life.”
My heart dropped, my gut instantly feeling like it had been filled with concrete. “What?”
Castello kept my gaze. “What do you say, Tatum? Should I be merciful and spare Ricardo’s life?”
“Oh God, please,” Ricardo started to beg again, only this time his pleading words were aimed at me. “Please don’t let him kill me. Please, God no.”
There were too many thoughts inside my mind shouting, screaming while the sound of my own heartbeat resounded in my head like a fucking jackhammer.
“What are you doing, Castello?”
“I’m asking you whether or not you want me to spare his life.”
I lightly shook my head. It felt like the world around me was starting to spin out of control.