"I'm rooting for you, bella. Even after you broke my heart so many times. No matter though. We'll fix everything once you remember who you belong to," said his shrill voice moments before he took the gag off and cut the ropes around my wrists and ankles. Moments before he dumped me in this place that I soiled with blood many times, human and animal alike. The hallucinations were a bitch to deal with. The guilt from seeing everything I did all those years ago play out all around me weighed heavily on me. Once, I took out a guy's eye with a dart because he dared to win a game against Don Angelo. Another time I cut out someone's brachial plexus after he stole from Don Angelo. Honestly, the gunshot injuries, which were the norm, may have been more humane. "Always start with the kneecaps. Hurts like a motherfucker," said Don Angelo the very first time I held a gun with a man before me in these very woods. In an ideal situation, the ankles and elbows were next. It was never about slow
I can't remember who you are, but baby you could take a girl to hell and make her beg to stay. Because I was in hell and yet I just couldn't quit. Had to kiss him one more time. Hold his hand one more time. Hear him speak one more time. Stay awake. Stay alert. Next question: what was his name? Remember his name, Stacy. Remember his name. Distracted by apparitions of my mystery man, Joey caught me off guard, wrestling me to the ground. "Die, you traitorous bitch," he said, lowering the muzzle of his gun to my forehead. "That's sorella to you," I said, not hesitating to shove my gun into his groin and pull the trigger. He rolled off of me into the fetal position while covering his junk, refusing to let his gun go. I crawled to a tree and pulled myself up against it until I was on my feet again. "You could have shot my dick off. I'm going to fucking kill you, you crazy whore," he screamed in agony, blood pooling around his hands and gun. … You're not some conquest. You're
Jeff was going to lose his shit when he found out what I walked into despite him expressly forbidding me from accompanying either him or Luca. "A psychotic murderer wants his apprentice to kill you. Just because you happen to be sleeping with her, doesn't mean you should be stupid enough to go near her right now, Scott," Jeff preached to me just this morning. In hindsight, he was probably right. Based on Luca and I losing the shoot out that ensued when we finally found the right place, I'd say we were dead men walking. Even if I knew how this would play out beforehand, I'd have come out here to find her regardless. Was it stupid that I was happy about seeing her soon? I could feel myself becoming calmer with every step I took towards her. Three fucking days of torturing myself with where she was, how she was, whether she was dead or alive. I was just relieved to know that I'd found her. Stupidly hopeful despite the implications of what three days in a place like this could do to
An overwhelming surge of affection hit me like a tidal wave, drenching me to the bone in love. His love meant having a conscience though. The horror of me standing over my near defenseless brother hit next, making my hands shake so hard I almost dropped the gun. "Shut your fucking mouth, you annoying, whiny, idiot," said Don Angelo, pulling up in a Jeep. I couldn't do this. This wasn't me. Not anymore. There were fates worse than death. Being by Don Angelo's side for life. Being without Scott. He wouldn't understand. He wouldn't love me anymore. I can't live in a world where you don't love me, Scott. "Dad please. Make her stop. She deserves this, not me. She's the traitor," Joey cried, raising the gun at me with shaky hands. Before I knew it, Don Angelo was by my side, breathing down my neck. Waiting for me to perform. "Seven shots. Do me proud. Make them count," said Don Angelo, kicking the gun out of Joey's hand. "Such creative choices. Where would you like the next
Jeff didn't trust me for shit. He had a tracker sewn into my jacket before he left to check out a lead this morning. That came after I defied him multiple times to check out possible places Don Angelo may be with Luca. As was the case once again. The real question was how long would it take him to realize Luca and I were both missing? "I mean they're the ones with the guns, but sure," I said, shaking my head as I threw him a glance. "These guys? Mere foot soldiers. I'm not worried about them," Luca said nonchalantly. "What worries me is what you'll say when you come face to face with your worst nightmare." "Shut up and walk," the guy behind us said, nudging Luca with his gun. What was I going to say to her? No matter how desperately I wanted this, I wasn't ready to see her and I knew it. Despite Luca's warnings about what was coming, my brain was far too fixated on the reunion. It was skipping right past the life and death situation we were in. I didn't have a plan. I hadn't bee
"Spare me," he croaked out. "Please don't kill me, Stacy." My eyes wouldn't let me look at him. I was scared shitless. Of her. Of my beautiful girl. Shook to the core. Then Don Angelo spoke and the anger returned with a vengeance. "You're a little early, Scott. You don't mind if we finish up here before we get to you, do you? Don't worry, you're next," said Don Angelo, throwing me a manic smirk. The sick fuck was having the time of his life. She took her eyes off the man on the ground to look towards me, but the soulless eyes remained. She was looking right through me. Like I didn't mean shit to her. "Don't," Luca seethed, keeping his voice low. "No sudden movements. You want to be useful? Use your head. Fucking talk to her." That look. Those dull eyes. I knew what came next. If I opened my mouth, she'd be in pain. "Hi Luca. Long time no see. Thanks for gift wrapping yourself for me. Our little spat was becoming a nuisance. We'll deal with you after Scott," said Don Angelo, h
I thought back to Prague, when she didn't believe that I loved her. That was what my girl needed now. To believe she was loved, despite her holding her own brother at gunpoint. If I couldn't sell it, Luca and I were dead men. I didn't know if Luca believed what he said, but he was right. Don Angelo and Stacy weren't a them. Not yet. Not until she pulled that trigger. Whether Don Angelo knew it or not, despite him giving her orders, he gave her all the control. She was in charge. That was the cost of begging for her love. She took you over completely. Who knew better than me? This was her party. Luca, Don Angelo and I were just guests. What was it that got her to put away the dull eyes in Prague and believe then? I know I fucked her, but that wasn't it. She wouldn't have let me inside her if she didn't believe I loved her first. I could feel my heart beating in my chest as fear caught up with me and I finally opened my mouth to speak to her. Baby, please use your brilliant
"Do you want me to shut him up, boss?" the guy behind me asked. "If you fucking touch him, I'll put a bullet in you," she said, her voice hoarse but stern. She still wouldn't look at me, but the words had my heart soaring with hope. "Oh that's hilarious. Do you actually think some boy with puppy dog eyes is going to make you any less my heir?" Don Angelo's poisonous voice filled the air, followed by a boisterous laugh. Don't focus on him. Focus on her. Don't think about being in a desperate tug of war for her love with the mad man controlling the guns. It only mattered that she was the one controlling him. Baby, how strong is your love for me? Is it stronger than his hold on you? "How many times do you have to hear that you're mine, baby? Obviously that includes this. Oh and I love you too," I said with a calm smile, blocking Don Angelo's presence out to lay my heart at her feet one more time. This one was a reference to a moment we had in the coffee shop where she worked
"Clearly telling you I love you every day isn't enough. For some fucked up reason, you don't believe I will always love you, no matter what dumb shit we go through," I said, willing her to believe that that was as true today as it had been that night in Prague. Baby, remember how we brought down our walls for each other and you shared everything with me that night. Remember how we made plans together as partners. Come home and share with me again. Let me fix what he broke in you. No matter what, I'll always be your friend. A sharp intake of breath as she sought to hide her emotions. The outrage on Don Angelo's face said he noticed, despite her hooded eyes. "Look at what I'm willing to do to get us back to that. I'm sacrificing my only son to make you the best you can be. To make you strong again," said Don Angelo, his voice gentle and coaxing, like a loving father's. This was his fucked up way of saying he loved her, wasn't it? Using murder to try and bind her to you isn't sa
"Do you want me to shut him up, boss?" the guy behind me asked. "If you fucking touch him, I'll put a bullet in you," she said, her voice hoarse but stern. She still wouldn't look at me, but the words had my heart soaring with hope. "Oh that's hilarious. Do you actually think some boy with puppy dog eyes is going to make you any less my heir?" Don Angelo's poisonous voice filled the air, followed by a boisterous laugh. Don't focus on him. Focus on her. Don't think about being in a desperate tug of war for her love with the mad man controlling the guns. It only mattered that she was the one controlling him. Baby, how strong is your love for me? Is it stronger than his hold on you? "How many times do you have to hear that you're mine, baby? Obviously that includes this. Oh and I love you too," I said with a calm smile, blocking Don Angelo's presence out to lay my heart at her feet one more time. This one was a reference to a moment we had in the coffee shop where she worked
I thought back to Prague, when she didn't believe that I loved her. That was what my girl needed now. To believe she was loved, despite her holding her own brother at gunpoint. If I couldn't sell it, Luca and I were dead men. I didn't know if Luca believed what he said, but he was right. Don Angelo and Stacy weren't a them. Not yet. Not until she pulled that trigger. Whether Don Angelo knew it or not, despite him giving her orders, he gave her all the control. She was in charge. That was the cost of begging for her love. She took you over completely. Who knew better than me? This was her party. Luca, Don Angelo and I were just guests. What was it that got her to put away the dull eyes in Prague and believe then? I know I fucked her, but that wasn't it. She wouldn't have let me inside her if she didn't believe I loved her first. I could feel my heart beating in my chest as fear caught up with me and I finally opened my mouth to speak to her. Baby, please use your brilliant
"Spare me," he croaked out. "Please don't kill me, Stacy." My eyes wouldn't let me look at him. I was scared shitless. Of her. Of my beautiful girl. Shook to the core. Then Don Angelo spoke and the anger returned with a vengeance. "You're a little early, Scott. You don't mind if we finish up here before we get to you, do you? Don't worry, you're next," said Don Angelo, throwing me a manic smirk. The sick fuck was having the time of his life. She took her eyes off the man on the ground to look towards me, but the soulless eyes remained. She was looking right through me. Like I didn't mean shit to her. "Don't," Luca seethed, keeping his voice low. "No sudden movements. You want to be useful? Use your head. Fucking talk to her." That look. Those dull eyes. I knew what came next. If I opened my mouth, she'd be in pain. "Hi Luca. Long time no see. Thanks for gift wrapping yourself for me. Our little spat was becoming a nuisance. We'll deal with you after Scott," said Don Angelo, h
Jeff didn't trust me for shit. He had a tracker sewn into my jacket before he left to check out a lead this morning. That came after I defied him multiple times to check out possible places Don Angelo may be with Luca. As was the case once again. The real question was how long would it take him to realize Luca and I were both missing? "I mean they're the ones with the guns, but sure," I said, shaking my head as I threw him a glance. "These guys? Mere foot soldiers. I'm not worried about them," Luca said nonchalantly. "What worries me is what you'll say when you come face to face with your worst nightmare." "Shut up and walk," the guy behind us said, nudging Luca with his gun. What was I going to say to her? No matter how desperately I wanted this, I wasn't ready to see her and I knew it. Despite Luca's warnings about what was coming, my brain was far too fixated on the reunion. It was skipping right past the life and death situation we were in. I didn't have a plan. I hadn't bee
An overwhelming surge of affection hit me like a tidal wave, drenching me to the bone in love. His love meant having a conscience though. The horror of me standing over my near defenseless brother hit next, making my hands shake so hard I almost dropped the gun. "Shut your fucking mouth, you annoying, whiny, idiot," said Don Angelo, pulling up in a Jeep. I couldn't do this. This wasn't me. Not anymore. There were fates worse than death. Being by Don Angelo's side for life. Being without Scott. He wouldn't understand. He wouldn't love me anymore. I can't live in a world where you don't love me, Scott. "Dad please. Make her stop. She deserves this, not me. She's the traitor," Joey cried, raising the gun at me with shaky hands. Before I knew it, Don Angelo was by my side, breathing down my neck. Waiting for me to perform. "Seven shots. Do me proud. Make them count," said Don Angelo, kicking the gun out of Joey's hand. "Such creative choices. Where would you like the next
Jeff was going to lose his shit when he found out what I walked into despite him expressly forbidding me from accompanying either him or Luca. "A psychotic murderer wants his apprentice to kill you. Just because you happen to be sleeping with her, doesn't mean you should be stupid enough to go near her right now, Scott," Jeff preached to me just this morning. In hindsight, he was probably right. Based on Luca and I losing the shoot out that ensued when we finally found the right place, I'd say we were dead men walking. Even if I knew how this would play out beforehand, I'd have come out here to find her regardless. Was it stupid that I was happy about seeing her soon? I could feel myself becoming calmer with every step I took towards her. Three fucking days of torturing myself with where she was, how she was, whether she was dead or alive. I was just relieved to know that I'd found her. Stupidly hopeful despite the implications of what three days in a place like this could do to
I can't remember who you are, but baby you could take a girl to hell and make her beg to stay. Because I was in hell and yet I just couldn't quit. Had to kiss him one more time. Hold his hand one more time. Hear him speak one more time. Stay awake. Stay alert. Next question: what was his name? Remember his name, Stacy. Remember his name. Distracted by apparitions of my mystery man, Joey caught me off guard, wrestling me to the ground. "Die, you traitorous bitch," he said, lowering the muzzle of his gun to my forehead. "That's sorella to you," I said, not hesitating to shove my gun into his groin and pull the trigger. He rolled off of me into the fetal position while covering his junk, refusing to let his gun go. I crawled to a tree and pulled myself up against it until I was on my feet again. "You could have shot my dick off. I'm going to fucking kill you, you crazy whore," he screamed in agony, blood pooling around his hands and gun. … You're not some conquest. You're
"I'm rooting for you, bella. Even after you broke my heart so many times. No matter though. We'll fix everything once you remember who you belong to," said his shrill voice moments before he took the gag off and cut the ropes around my wrists and ankles. Moments before he dumped me in this place that I soiled with blood many times, human and animal alike. The hallucinations were a bitch to deal with. The guilt from seeing everything I did all those years ago play out all around me weighed heavily on me. Once, I took out a guy's eye with a dart because he dared to win a game against Don Angelo. Another time I cut out someone's brachial plexus after he stole from Don Angelo. Honestly, the gunshot injuries, which were the norm, may have been more humane. "Always start with the kneecaps. Hurts like a motherfucker," said Don Angelo the very first time I held a gun with a man before me in these very woods. In an ideal situation, the ankles and elbows were next. It was never about slow