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“Since you can’t seem to keep your hands to yourself, I ought to help you.”

I walked over and he shook his head rapidly. “No, no,Diavolo, please—please—” he was cut off as I used the pliers to snap off his pinky finger. He wailed, trying to pull his arm from me. “Don’t do this—Ah!” he cried as I snapped off another finger.

He whimpered in pain as I went through all five of his fingers, letting them drop to the floor, one by one.

I stepped back, lightly swatting the blood off my gloves. I tossed the pliers onto the steel table, letting it land with a loud thud.

“I can’t tell you anything, so just stop,” he heavily breathed, sweat dripping down the sides of his face.

“El Demonio? Is that right?” I asked and his head snapped up to mine. His eyes that were once half closed, were now wide open.

“H—how did you—”

“Oh, come on, Sylvester. You’re insulting me,” I shook my head. “You’re more afraid of another man than you are of me?” I slightly tilted my head to the right.

“Y—you don’t under—understand— he’s crazy,” Sylvester trembled. I sighed, looking around the room.

“Well, I look forward to meeting him,” I shrugged my shoulders and Sylvester groaned, dropping his head. “Why don’t you tell me where to find him, hm?” I asked, roughly gripping his face with my hand. He stayed silent and I let go of his face, standing up.

“I’m a very patient man, Sylvester. But when my patience runs out… you do not want to be on the receiving end.”

“I know what you’re capable of,Diavolo,” he swallowed hard, his head still hanging low.

“Yet you still fear another man over me, so clearly, you have no idea.”

“I’ve only ever heard rumors about you, I’ve never seen what you’ve done,” he heavily breathed, shaking his head. “I’ve seenEl Demonioin action, so forgive me if I trust my own eyes over. some horror bedtime story,” he looked up at me.

I walked over to the table, picking up a blow torch. “All rumors have to start somewhere, don’t they?” I asked, turning the torch on, and a great blue flame spiked out.

CHAPTER 23

Nirah

IT HAD BEEN two weeks since I had my run-in with Sylvester.

Antonio’s nurse had been taking really good care of me so far, so my healing was fast and easy. Rosalia helped an awful lot, too, and I couldn’t be more thankful.

For the first week, Antonio did not allow anyone into the house because he didn’t want anything coming in the way of my healing. I appreciated that he cared, but it got really boring being alone in the house.

Although Rosalia tried her best to spend time with me, she had her work to do.

Logan—who was as stiff as a board, might I add—was not much fun either. He did not smile, laugh, or even talk. He would give me the shortest answers possible without even looking at me. It made me miss Cesar even more.

I still haven’t seen him, yet sometimes, it felt as if he were still here. I could feel his dark, looming presence.

And speaking of a dark, looming presence, Antonio had been MIA as well. He wouldn’t check up on me, have dinner with me, or even be in the house.

Rosalia and Logan would always tell me that I had just missed him, or he was too busy to see me right now. I hate that I hurt him, but I could not let myself hurt the way I did before. Never again.I can’t.

I wished I could just talk to him, but then again, I practically threw it in his face that I had no feelings for him, and was basically just using him when that wasn’t the case, whatsoever.

I really needed to apologize.

Even if he won’t admit it, I could tell I hurt his feelings. I guess he hasn’t fully forgiven me for all the hurtful things I said and did. He probably hates me now.

I lazily clicked the TV remote in the living room, switching through channels. I finally gave up and tossed the remote next to me with a sigh of defeat.

I froze, seeing a figure appear in my peripheral vision. My head snapped towards it as a big smile grew on my face. “Cesar!” I shrieked, jumping off of the couch and charged towards him.