Page 119 of Ruthless Devotion
At least I didn’t flip out like this in there. I was so close. If Maddie hadn’t pulled me back, I don’t know what I would have done. I might have had a full blown episode, and that would have done nothing to minimize her fear of me.
Maybe she’s right to be afraid. I am a full-on motherfucking psycho.
I splash my face with water one more time and turn off the faucets. I take a few more deep breaths, and check the mirror to make sure I don’t look like I’ve been crying like a fucking child. I straighten my suit and check my hands for shakes. When I’ve pulled myself together, I move the trash can back next to the paper towel dispenser and return to the party.
“Are you okay? What was that back there?” Maddie says as soon as I open the door.
I’m surprised she was coming to look for me, but I avoid her gaze. “Fine. It’s nothing. Let’s go to our table.”
Nearly an hour later, one of my guys brings me a note. Two words are scrawled in crisp black ink. “He’s ready.”
I nod at my guy and slip away from the table. I go out the main door, down the hallway, and make my way to the main aquarium exhibits. I go through the winding, twisting maze of fish and sharks and jellyfish and penguins until I’ve descended to the bottom level, far away from the party.
Our guests will get to go through the exhibit on their way out, but for now, no one has strayed outside the perimeter set for them. I go through another employee-only door, down a couple more dark barely-lit hallways, until finally I’m in the out-of-the-way room we picked for this. No cameras here. Too far away from the party or any staff for witnesses.
The room has been covered in plastic. Father Rossi is secured to a steel support beam with a piece of tape over his mouth. He’s struggling and trying to speak.
Brian and Mina stand off to the side. Mina takes one look at me and she knows something is wrong. I can’t hide from her. She crosses the room in three long strides and places a hand on my cheek, forcing me to look into her eyes.
“Are you okay, Aidan? What happened?”
I shake her off. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
She doesn’t know about the fireworks. Not just tonight’s display, but my overall aversion to them now. No one knows. Cats and dogs are scared of fireworks. Babies are scared of fireworks. I will take this to my grave.
I don’t think she fully understands how fucked up I still am over that night over twenty years ago. And as demented as it is, I don’t want her to know because I don’t want her to feel bad about it. If it weren’t for her, I would have died that night.
Mina searches my eyes, not convinced by my bravado. “Are you sure you want to do this tonight?”
“He needs to do it tonight,” Brian says. “He told that goddamned priest way too much. He should have done this a long time ago.”
I roll my eyes in Brian’s direction.
“I need to do it tonight,” I confirm to her. But my need to do it isn’t the same as Brian’s need. I need to feel in control again, and nothing offers that feeling like a good kill. I think I’m addicted to the violence now, that feeling of power when the light goes out of their eyes, like I’m God.
Mina finally lets it go. She knows I’m not about to break down and have a hug-it-out cry fest in front of Brian and Father Rossi. I may have told Father Rossi all my secrets, but he doesn’t need to see me break down like a child. Besides, I already did that tonight.
Brian already has everything laid out for me on a side table. Tonight was the perfect opportunity to take care of Rossi, especially with Brian and Mina’s help. They’ll handle all the clean-up when I go back to the party.
I change out of my suit and socks and shoes, and into my normal killing attire.
Father Rossi’s eyes are wide when I finally approach him. He’s screaming behind the gag. The guy wants to talk. Plead. Beg. We all know the drill.
“Listen to me very carefully, Father. I’m going to take the tape off, but if you scream, you will be dead before the sound fully escapes your mouth. Are we clear?”
He nods frantically.
I pull off the tape. He starts talking immediately.
“You know I would never break the omerta. Or my vows to the church.”
“Oh, really?” He’s probably thinking that tough guy warning look back at the church was ill-advised right about now.
“Yes! Please! What are you doing?”
“Do you know why you’re here, Father Rossi?”
“I… I… Because I know too much? Because you don’t trust me, now. Because I was worried about your bride and…”
