“Yep. This is Arika, the special woman in my life. Take care of her,” he said.
“We will. We’re making ciabatta, so she can help.”
He took Arika’s hands, smiled at her, and handed her over to Aunt Shauna, knowing she’d be safe.
“I’ll be back.” With that, he turned his back, and started to walk away, heading outside to where Daniel and the rest of the men were waiting for him.
“I can’t believe this is going to happen today,” Daniel said, climbing behind the wheel.
“It has to happen. You know that. If he doesn’t do anything it’ll make him look weak, and we can’t have him looking weak, not now.” Vincenzo glanced back at the house. He was doing the right thing, he knew he was.
****
“You’re the first woman Vincenzo has brought around here,” Aunt Shauna said.
“I am?”
“Yes. I know that means you’re special, and I will keep on hoping for a better life for him rather than the one he’s been trained to do.”
Arika watched as the woman crossed her chest as if she was praying. “You don’t think he’s fit for this life?”
“I believe Vincenzo is more than fit for the life of the killer they’ve made him. I just don’t think he had to be that way.”
“He told me how Galiza found him. At the foster home.”
“That nonsense. Yes, he was a … strange boy, but there was also a lot of good in him as well. Of course, Galiza saw the opportunity to create the beast of a man he always wanted, and Vincenzo can do everything so easily.”
“Vincenzo is a monster,” said a pale woman, who was drinking some dark amber liquid that she guessed was whiskey.
“That’s Annette. She’s Galiza’s wife,” Shauna said. “My sister.”
“I don’t get why you can always keep defending him. He’s a monster who’ll burn in hell.”
“You can stop spilling your vile curses right now, dear sister. We wouldn’t all be here if it wasn’t for Vincenzo. You should be spitting that nonsense at your son. The one that caused all this mess. You spent way too long babying him to make him believe he was something special, and now we all know what he’s capable of. He wanted to kill Antonio, take his place, murder him.”
“No, I won’t believe it. My Rafe is not capable of such nastiness. He’s special. His father spills lies to have me turn against him.”
“Forgive my sister, she’s a little … different. You’re safe here though. Galiza keeps her under control. He has no choice. Before they left, he told us what happened. Until then, it had been a secret. Rafe was never a good boy. Always doing bad things, but she considered him her angel. How wrong she was.”
Washing her hands, Arika got introduced to the art of making bread, every now and then seeing Galiza’s wife spitting and cursing as she drank the entire bottle of whiskey. After an hour or two, she passed out, and the conversation between the women picked up again, acting as if nothing had happened. This was the life she’d have to get used to.
****
“Well, if it’s not dear old Daddy, his fucking minion, and my brother come to save the day. I see you’re still alive,” Rafe said.
He was tied to a chair, waiting for what was coming to him.
Vincenzo stayed back as Galiza approached his young son. Antonio’s arms were folded as if trying to control himself so he didn’t strike back.
“Shut your fucking mouth,” Galiza said.
“Oh, Daddy’s going all macho, playing the role of who is boss.”
“You didn’t think you could plot to kill me, take out your brother, bring back the Vitale scum, and get away with it.”
“Oh, I planned to bring war back to the streets, to have a little fun before it was over. Tell me, Dad, how are you going to tell Mom about my demise, huh? You’re going to let her know how you chained me up like a dog?”
“You’re not being chained up like a dog,” Vincenzo said. “We let them roam free.”
“Ah, the little bitch speaks,” Rafe said. “The piece of shit that stopped my evil plan. Tsk, tsk, tsk. I could have turned you into a god.”
“No, you couldn’t. I don’t work for weak men.”
Rafe glared at him.
“We want to know everything you’ve told the Vitale clan.”
“I’ve got nothing to say.” He spat at his father, to which Galiza struck out at him.
Rafe burst out laughing.
“Vincenzo, get started,” Galiza said, stepping back.
Still, Rafe was laughing.
Daniel brought over his tool kit and placed it near him.
To start, Vincenzo didn’t use any tools other than his fists, drawing blood as he wiped the smirk off Rafe’s face. The fucker wasn’t laughing any longer now.
When the time came for him to start cutting, he made a few slashes against his wrists, watching him bleed a bit before Rafe told them everything they needed to know. That he’d spoken with the father of the Vitale clan, how they intended to rule together, and also the agreements he had in place. Considering the shitstorm he’d created, Rafe hadn’t done so much to change their deals, just attempting to divert power to himself when the time was up.