“Do you need some tampons, Gio?”
He gives me a quizzical look.
“My bad. I thought you were on the rag seeing as you somehow think I want to talk about my personal shit.”
He chuckles. “Gone. So far gone, Lo.”
He stands up and heads toward the bar as I finish my drink. I don’t wait for him. I turn and leave. I’m no longer in the mood for company.
∞∞∞
“Please. Don’t hurt me. I will tell you whatever you want to know.”
I can smell the piss on his pants. This kid would have never made a good member of the family. I don’t know why Fillipo even recruited him.
Sure, you do. He’s being shady. Taking what he can, my inner beast growls at me.
He isn’t wrong. Fillipo has been up to something ever since Tommaso went to prison. He fought to be his proxy. When he failed, it seems he sat back and bided his time.
I stare down at this man now. A boy really. He barely seems eighteen. He’s tied to a chair and looking much worse for wear.
“How long have you been working with Fillipo?”
“Six years.”
I quirk my eyebrow. He must be older than I thought. “How old are you?”
He looks relieved by my questions. These must be easy for him. He doesn’t know what’s coming through. “Twenty.”
Fuck. This kid had been recruited when he was only fourteen years old?
“What does he have you doing?”
He looks a little more nervous now. “I can’t tell you that.”
“Sure, you can, bud.” I slap his shoulder like we’re old friends. Inside, I’m boiling.
“He will kill me. I can’t.”
I let out a sinister laugh. “Oh, kid, what do you think I will do if you don’t tell me?”
He starts to shake. “Kill me then.” He acts brave.
“I’m not going to kill you.” I look at his chest. There are already several marks I have made there. Burns. Cuts. Bruises. I walk over to my table of tools. “What should I use next?” I pick up a scalpel from the first aid kit Dr. Fields gave me.
Mia
Shit. Every time I think I’ve forgotten her, something makes me think of her. This kit reminds me of Dr. Fields, which makes me think of the gorgeous angel working with her. Working to take her place.
I shake my head to rid myself of thoughts of her. Now’s not the time to become distracted. I walk back to Leo. He eyes me warily as he sees the scalpel in my hand.
“Please. I can’t. He threatened my family.”
I let an evil smile fill my face. His family. That’s what motivates him. He has a mother and a younger brother. Let’s see how much he loves them.
“Don’t worry, kid. They will be safe. As long as you answer my questions. Now, did you know men have no real use for their nipples? Not like women. We can’t feed our young with them. I’ve always wondered what one would look like without them.” I walk closer to him and run the back of the scalpel down his shoulder to his nipple. He shudders before struggling to get away.
“Please! I beg you.”
