“Boss. Who gets to have fun tonight?” Lola asks me as she stands next to Volt.
“I was going to give this night to Acid and Torch. I need the screams.” everyone goes to work getting the chains and acid containers in place. Once they are strung up and dangling from the ceiling, Lola walks up to each of them and cuts their clothes away leaving them in nothing but their drawers. As I walk up to them, everyone goes still. There are no subtle breaths, no throat clearing, nothing. When we are in this space, they know I am unreachable. Sudden movement on their part could get them hurt. This is my blackout space.
I circle around the three pieces of flesh hanging. I watch as they struggle to get free but maintain their bravado. Have you ever seen a grown man sweat and sneer at the same time? Seen the fear in his body language but hear his mouth spit venom? It’s like watching a pit stare down a python. “So, Pagolo, does your uncle know you just forfeited his downtown loft?” See, Piero wanted to dabble in real estate. The problem is, he sucks at financial management. Within six months his property was going to go to auction from the bank. He came to me and asked for a loan. Now, I am a hardass, but I am also a businessman. So, I agreed. Of course there were stipulations. Like, don’t cross me. No prostitution happening in the property. No drugs. I get 40% of the escrow and should he fuck with me, he forfeits it immediately.
“Suck my dick, Hahn.” he spits at me and I stun him when I laugh. I hear Acid moving around behind me. The laugh wrenches from me, coming from the deepest darkest part of me. This piece of rat food just invited me to suck his dick. Hilarious.
“What dick, eunuch?” I walk away as Acid throws his namesake on his dick.
“Ahhhh!!!! Christ!!! Ahhhhh!” the piece of shit screams as he moves around. We watch the blood and body fluid drain from his cock and run down his leg as it melts.
“Focus.” I slap him in the face not giving a shit about his pain. “Did your uncle send you to try to take me out?”
“No. You sick fuck. Christ.” I find I am genuinely disgusted by his sniveling. The tears running down his face are a disgrace to men everywhere.
“Was it you who hit my house?” I dig my knife into his chest. Not enough to kill him but enough to make it bleed.
“Shit. No. It was Tommaso.” he cries more.
“Thank you for your help.” walking away I give the go. “Acid.” I turn my back, not fazed by the screams as Acid drops the bucket from overhead onto his person. I have already moved on to dead fuck number 2. Seeing his fallen comrade melting before his eyes, I can see the eagerness in him to give me what I want. This also causes bile to rise in my chest. These are not men. They are scum. Rats. Rodents. Real men don’t sniffle.
“What were you hoping to gain from this foolish attempt?” I ask trash number 2.
“He wanted to see… if the rumors were true.”
“What rumors?” I know what he is going to say before he says it, but I need confirmation. I need him to say the words.
“Word on the street is you have gone soft for a bi..” I jab my knife into his leg before he can finish the word that would disrespect my Queen.
“Shiiiiit. Ahhhh.” he screams, vibrating the concrete walls. I watch entranced by the squirting of his blood from severing the femoral artery.
“Watch your mouth or swallow your tongue and choke on it. Try again. Now...answer the question. The rumor is...”
“That there is a Queen in the castle.” Son of a bitch. I knew when I sniffed her that day, she would become a target when I took her, but fuck if I am still unprepared for how it was going to make me feel. Especially knowing that I have kept her inside for the majority of the time she has been claimed. This mole is trying to destroy me from the inside out.
“Thank you. You have saved your family from your fate. Torch.'' I nod toward the firebreather before walking over to number three. Groveling and screaming fill the void as the smell of burnt flesh permeates the room. A couple of my guys walk outside unable to handle the smell or the act itself. I don't hold it against them. Even the strongest has their limit. I know I do, and she is sitting at home waiting for me.
Standing in front of the last pieces of shit, I don’t bother beating around the bush. “By now you know there is no leaving here alive. The only option you have is to choose. Do you go by torture or in peace? It’s up to you.” I find myself feeling a little pang of respect for him. He is not begging, crying or fighting. Hell, he is hanging out like it's an everyday thing for him. Too bad he put mine in danger. I might have spared him and used him as my message.