Deadly Vows - Chapter 29 (Patreon)

Luca

I sit in my office, with Matteo seated across from me. Revenge. That’s what he wants. And I am more than happy to give it to him. I lean back in my chair and study him closely. His body language says that he wants this, but something small is holding him back. It’s been three weeks since we’ve taken him home from the hospital. His recovery has been going well. As well as my own. I am quickly starting to feel like my old self again. And I love it.

Although I’ve been injured, that hasn’t stopped me from having sex with Elise every day. Even times throughout the day when she happens to be alone, I find her and fill her with my seed. I smile to myself. Her last shot was actually a prenatal drug instead of birth control, which means she’s been injected with a substance that will make her fertile. Not only that, but I’ve been putting those kinds of pills in her food too. For some reason, recently I have been wanting a child. Whether it is from almost dying or my feelings before that event, I can’t tell. But I know that if I express that with Elise, she will do everything in her power to make that impossible.

“So they’re still alive.”

Even though Matteo’s voice comes out very quiet, he interrupts my train of thought. He almost reminds me of Elise in this moment, averting his gaze from mine like she always does. They both do that when they are asking about something they have no business in.

“Yes. It is traditional for the capo to decide how those who have risen against him will be punished.”

Matteo finally looks up. “And how do you plan on punishing them?”

I sit back in my chair. I haven’t really thought about that. Lately, I have been so preoccupied with Elise I haven’t even bothered to think about those people. But since I am almost as good as new and Matteo is also, their punishment can very well be carried out.

When Matteo asked me in his room in the hospital that day, he wanted one thing. Revenge on the person that has caused all the pain and suffering to him and Elise. And I am more than happy to give that to him. But we have to delay it due to the fact that we’ve had to get stronger and heal from our wounds.

Now that we have recovered, it is time for me to fulfill my promise to Matteo.

“You need to know I can’t swear you in. I made a promise to your sister.”

Matteo looks at me and nods. “I know. I won’t ask you to swear me in, but I do want to ask you another request.”

I lean back in my seat, waiting for the question I already know he is about to ask.

“I want to be the one to kill Arianna.”

The room is silent as his request hangs in the air between us. In all honesty, this has all worked out perfectly. Matteo’s killing of those that threaten his capo’s life will make him somewhat acceptable into the North family even though I can’t swear him in. He will have some form of respect, and a target won’t be on his back because of his bloodline.

I open my mouth to respond, but something catches my eye. There is a shadow underneath the door. It’s barely there, and if it hadn’t moved, I wouldn’t have noticed it. I can feel my irritation bubbling up. I stand, and Matteo looks at me with fear on his face. Probably from my abrupt stance. I stalk over to the other side of the room and jerk the door open. Sure enough, Elise is standing on the other side.

She stumbles back, staring at me with wide eyes. If I weren’t so furious, I would have smiled. She looks like a little kid that’s been caught stealing from the cookie jar.

“Is there something I can help you with?” As I speak to her, I let my irritation seep through.

She continues to look at me, speechless. Her eyes then travel past me into my office, landing on Matteo. She slowly reaches out, and my eyes immediately follow the movement.

Her frail fingers clasp around the sleeve of my jacket, and she slowly tugs me away from the office. Her steps are unsure and fearful. I decide to just follow her and see what it is she wants. When she pulls me far enough away from the door, she finally speaks.

“Luca, you can’t let him do this … kill Ari. He’s only fifteen, he doesn’t know what he’s saying! He’s just acting out on anger.”

If I weren’t so entranced by her innocence, I would have slapped her across the face. Instead, I reach out for her face, cradling it in between my thumb and forefinger, forcing her eyes to meet mine.

“Elise, how old was I when I became a man? I’m sure you know.” I give her an amused smile, trying my best to hide my anger.

She avoids my gaze and looks at the ceiling instead.

“Ten.” Her voice comes out in a whisper.

“So I think Matteo’s decision is very reasonable, don’t you?” I ask.

She still doesn’t look at me. She is looking at the floor. My anger immediately flares. I thread my fingers through her hair and shove her with all my force into the ground. She cries out, kneeling.

“You wanna look at the fucking floor? Fine. Take a good look.” She just kneels there with her head down, not speaking.

“Luca, if you let him kill them, I will never forgive you.” Her voice comes out controlled and strong.

I can feel a laugh bubbling up within my throat. I can’t help myself as amusement flares within me, and I laugh. And laugh. And laugh. She can’t be serious. I don’t give a damn if she doesn’t forgive me. And she has no damn business trying to demand me, the fucking capo. It is obvious she has forgotten her damn place since I have been injured as of late, and I am going to have to remind her.

Before she can move again, I yank her up from the floor and carry her quickly up the stairs.

* * * * *

Drip drip drip.

I stand in the middle of the abandoned barn in the middle of nowhere. This is where we do some of our executions. Matteo is standing next to me, a serious expression on his face. It is obvious from his stance he is ready.

The four traitors stand in front of us. Arianna and Stefano and their two men on the inside posing as my men. There is a table of implements next to me, all kinds of different tools on the walls, but as I look at these people, something snaps inside of me. Something primal and evil. Something I’ve tried to keep down, because once it takes hold, it is hard for me to shake it, and it changes me into a worse person than I already am. But looking at these people makes me blind to being rational.

“You two are in luck,” I say, looking at Arianna and Stefano. I let all the malice seep into my voice. Stefano keeps his gaze down, and Arianna is looking at me with fear in her eyes. “I hate you. Both of you. You’ve put me and my wife at risk too many times. And if not for my wife, you would have been dead a long time ago.”

I step away from them and pulled out the gun I keep in my holster, handing it to Matteo.

“He wanted the honor of killing you. And since I don’t want anything to go wrong during torture, I want both of you dead now.”

I step away from Matteo and up to my two men, looking them deep into their souls. I can see the fear pouring off them, and it heightens my excitement.

“You aren’t as lucky.” I snap my fingers, and Romelo comes up next to me, ready to take them into the next room. I am going to make their deaths slow and painful. I turn to Matteo.

“You can dispose of them however you wish. Once you’re done, you can come watch my handiwork or go wait in the car. It’s your decision.”

With that, I exit the main part of the barn, heading into one of the rooms with the poor souls that will next die at my hands.

As I sit in the room, getting ready to begin, I hear a beautiful sound that makes the hair on my skin prickle with excitement, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

The gun I gave Matteo goes off.