Nikolai snorted and stared at Fredo, watching as he sputtered, the wet sound coming from the blood filling his lungs.
I kept the cigarette in my mouth as I snagged the pliers and pried his mouth open. I wanted him still alive as I did this.
I reached in with the tool, gripped his gold tooth, and pulled that fucker right out. I set it on the table beside me and took the gardening shears.
Fredo was barely breathing, but I knew the prick could feel every second of this.
I rested his pinky between the blades of the shears, and I stared into his face as I cut the finger off.
Snip-snip, motherfucker.
The digit fell to the ground and rolled over to Nikolai. He curled his lip and kicked it away.
“The fuck, man.”
I pulled the cigarette out of my mouth, blowing out a cloud of smoke at Fredo’s face.
He gave one last death rattle, and then his body went limp.
“What the fuck is up with trophies, man?”
I shrugged.
“Giving your girl fucking body parts after you kill him?” He was silent for a moment before muttering, “Why didn’t I ever think of that?”
I looked over at my brother and could see he was seriously thinking about it. He’d probably stew over the fact that he hadn’t ever given Amara any little pieces of the men he killed for her.
We were so fucked up. Then again, we wouldn’t want it any other way.
“You got someone ready to clean up?” I snatched a rag off the tray where all the tools were and started wiping the blood from my hands.
Nikolai grunted and walked over to stand in front of Fredo. He reached up, used his knife to slice the rope that held him suspended, and then chuckled softly as Fredo’s body crumbled to the ground.
“Course I fucking do. I’m not a damn amateur.” Nikolai pulled his cell out and, after a second of it pressed to his ear, said, “Got a sale on some used lawn mower parts. Model 5024 Hudson. Gonna need about”—Nikolai took a step back and eyed Fredo—“three men to help you carry them all out.” A second later he was off the cell and facing me.
We didn’t speak as we headed outside. I glanced at my brother once we sat in the SUV, the vehicle started and idling.
“Did you get the information I needed?”
Nikolai looked at me as he sat in the driver’s seat. If he was the type of person to roll his eyes, I was sure he’d be doing it right now. He pulled out his phone, tapped on the screen a few times, and a second later my cell chimed with a message.
I opened up the attachment, scanned it briefly, and gave a grunt of acknowledgment. When I felt Nikolai watching me, I asked, “What?”
He was silent for a second, and I looked over at him as I tucked the phone into my pocket, waiting for him to say whatever the fuck he was about to spit out.
“You’re going full-on psycho stalker mode, brother. I just feel like I should point that out.”
I gave a humorous laugh, and when he looked at me, scowling like a grouchy bear, I flipped him off.
“You’re one to talk. Weren’t you staking out Amara‘s house before you even got married? Stalking your wife-to-be like a fucking creep?”
“That was different.” Nikolai shrugged, but I could see him smirking. “We were arranged to be married. Totally normal for me to check out my future bride.”
I snorted in humor. Sure. Totally fucking normal, man.
I knew he wasn’t offended that I’d called him out. In fact, I knew he was fucking proud of that predatory shit he did with Amara. What he felt for his wife went well above being obsessed or in love. I didn’t even know if there was a word for what he felt for her.
“Seems like perfect law-abiding-citizen behavior to me.”
Nikolai absolutely had a screw loose, but then again, didn’t we all?
“Gonna have issues with her brother.”
“Fuck her brother.” It was Nikolai’s turn to laugh. “Bastard won’t do shit. He’s got to much on his plate to worry about what the fuck I do.”
“Nah, Dmitry. He’s protective of his family, as he should be. You really want her, you need to make that known to him. Last thing we need is some asshole going rogue because you fucked his little sister and offended his sensibilities.”
He was right, but we also both knew Gio wouldn’t start any shit with us, not even if I offended his family name. He’d never put the alliance we had between the Bratva and Cosa Nostra at risk.
“This isn’t just about fucking Claudia.” I stared out the window, the image of doing just that to her instantly in my head and causing my cock to stiffen. “I want everything. I want it all with her.”