Pure white rage took over me, and images of previous killings flickered in front of me. Nothing else mattered but finding ways to inflict pain on this man. I lifted Jacob and let the wheel tear into one of his arms until it fell to the floor. He became a rag doll as I removed the other arm, then both legs. Only the sound of the wheel could be heard now. I dropped the battered torso on the ground with a scream of my own. It ripped from my core as the darkness inside me was finally free.
“Please.” The other man looked up at me and begged for his life to be spared. Then, as I turned my murderous gaze on him, he sighed. “Just make it quick.”
Niccola handed me his gun, and I shot him between the eyes.
I huffed as the adrenaline started to wear off, and I looked around at the remains that surrounded me. Vinni and Francesco just stood there with stony faces while Niccola started to collect Jacob’s limbs to throw them in a crate.
“He got off easy.” I sniffed and rubbed my arm over my face to clear the blood from my eyes. “I should have dragged it out more.”
When I got back to the hotel room, I removed my clothes and tucked them into a garbage bag, along with the burner phone I’d used to alert my men to clean up the dockyard. I scrubbed myself clean, then did it again, and then texted Niccola how great the live show of Hamilton had been. He responded, saying he’d had a little too much to drink and was heading to bed. We knew our phones had pinged the correct towers all night on the off chance we ever had to prove where we were.
Once in bed, I checked my texts. The last one I’d sent to Sienna still had no reply. I wondered what was going on with her. I knew she was upset with me, so perhaps I shouldn’t expect a reply. I would call in the morning and make sure she was all right. I slipped off to a restless sleep.
* * *
Our flight was early, and once we were in the air, I rubbed my eyes and wished I had another few hours of sleep.
Niccola and Vinni were on their phones checking to make sure our arrival would go smoothly without any unwelcome visitors, and Francesco was talking away updating Papa on what happened. When Vinni suddenly hit Niccola’s arm, I looked up, knowing something was off.
“What?” I grunted as I sprinkled some pepper on my eggs.
“It’s nothing.” Vinni cleared his throat.
“It’s not nothing, so out with it.”
“Sienna has decided to spend a little time at the hotel where her mother is staying.” Niccola took over for his brother. I dropped my fork and cursed.
“Is that so?”
Francesco butted in. “I think that’s a good idea. They could use some time together.”
“The last I heard, her mother wasn’t exactly a fan of our family,” I reminded him. “All I need is that woman getting inside Sienna’s head.”
“Sienna is a smart girl, Elio. Give her a little credit,” he said softly, but I eyed him a warning not to push me too far. “You were gone. I bet she was feeling lonely.”
I pushed my plate away, closed my eyes, and tried to control my temper.
When we landed, I was shocked to be greeted by my nonna and Abramo, who wanted to take me for a ride to discuss a few things. I just wanted to get home, but I would never disrespect my nonna. So, I handed my bag to Francesco, who gave me an uneasy look before he disappeared into Vinni’s car.
“How was your trip?” she asked as I sat next to her.
“Productive.”
“That’s good to hear.” She kept her eyes on her window as she absently worked over her ever-present rosary. “Have you questioned Sienna any more on the ten years she was away?”
“A little. I really don’t see anything that stands out.”
“Perhaps you need to dig a little deeper.”
“Nonna, I’m really not sure why I need to question her further. She’s been nothing but—”
“Did you know that she met up with her old friend, Cara, from the Di Vaio house yesterday?”
“No, I—”
“Did you know that Cara drilled her on questions about you, what you do for a living…?”
“No, I didn’t, but—”