Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
His howl of pain eases my thirst for vengeance a little, and I walk to the other garden chair and take a seat again.
Out of fear that I’ll lose my temper, I hold my gun out to Massimo. “Take it before I end him too quickly.”
My right-hand man comes to take the weapon and remains standing beside me.
Tilting my head, I ask, “Why kill the Messinas?”
“Dead people can’t talk,” he groans, blood streaming down his legs and forming pools on the paving.
“Get towels or something to wrap around his knees,” I order. “I don’t want him bleeding out too fast.”
“Give me your belt,” Dante orders Ricco while he removes his own.
I wait while he fastens them around Nicolo’s thighs to slow the bleeding. Ricco grabs towels from the other side of the pool, where the women were probably sunbathing before we interrupted the private party, and jogs back to us.
When they’re done patching up Nicolo as best they can, I lift my eyebrow at the fucker. “Tell me what happened that night.”
“You know what happened. I sanctioned the attacks to eliminate your family. Anyone who got in the way was collateral damage.”
“And Carina?”
“When the men came back with the girl, I sent her to my brother and helped him with the paperwork. You should thank me. She lived a good life instead of dying like the rest of her family.”
I stare long and hard at Nicolo. “Crawl to me.”
He lets out a bark of laughter. “Fuck you.”
“Someone find a knife so we can cut off his dick,” I call out.
Fear fills Nicolo’s eyes, and he shakes his head wildly as Ricco runs into the mansion.
“If you can crawl to me before Ricco returns, and beg me for mercy, I’ll shoot you in the head. If Ricco beats you to it, then you’ll find out how much it hurts to have your dick cut off.” I lean forward and rest my forearms on my thighs. “Your choice.”
Nicolo slides off the chair, crying out when his knees touch the pavement. Unable to stay up, he face-plants hard.
“Come on. You’re not even trying,’ I taunt him, my eyes feasting on the excruciating pain etched all over his pale face.
Nicolo pushes up, but unable to use his knees, he begins to drag himself toward me.
Ricco comes out of the mansion, and with one hard push and an agonizing roar, Nicolo dives forward, landing at my feet.
When he rolls onto his back and looks up at me, I growl, “Whatever you’re feeling right now is nothing compared to what I felt when you killed the Messinas and took Carina from me.”
“Mercy,” he gasps.
“Beg!” I roar, my body shaking with rage as I hold my hand out.
Ricco places the knife in my palm, and it has Nicolo sobbing, “Please, Leo. I’m sorry.”
“No.” I shake my head. “You’re just sorry I found out the truth.”
“Leo.” His voice is filled with terror as I lift my arm into the air, then he begs, “Have mercy on me!”
Standing up, I keep eye contact with him, my entire body shaking with every ounce of pain this man has caused me and Haven.
“Leo!” he cries desperately when I crouch beside him.
My voice rumbles like thunder as I say, “Slithering like a snake wasn’t the deal, Nicolo. You didn’t crawl.”
He tries to reach for me, but I slap his hand away before I use all my strength to plunge the knife into his chest.
I hear a bone crack and air bursts from Nicolo’s mouth.
Our eyes remain locked as my thirst for vengeance wins out. I begin to stab him repeatedly until he's nothing but a bloody mess, and his gaze turns lifeless.
It’s still not enough, and I toss the knife to the side so I can beat him with my fists, a shout tearing from my chest.
“Everyone, clear out!” Massimo orders, then he pulls at my shoulders and drags me away from Nicolo’s mangled body.
His arms lock around me from behind. “It’s over. You’ve killed him.”
I grip Massimo’s arm, gasping for air as the realization sinks into the depths of my soul.
I’ve finally killed Nicolo Romano.
I’ve avenged the Messinas.
Chapter 27
HAVEN
Leo’s only been gone to look for Nicolo a day, and I already miss him.
I was supposed to visit Mom, but I ended up cancelling because I need time to process everything I learned about my past.
When we found out who I am, Leo lost his shit, and I had to focus on calming him down to keep him from going on a killing spree.
Sitting on the couch, I stare through the windows at the view of the ocean, my Kindle forgotten on my lap.
Sofia, the housekeeper, left two hours ago, and since then I’ve been sitting here trying to remember my family.
There are only little bits and pieces, but no real memories. I Googled it, and they say it’s normal for memories before the age of six to be vague and fragmented.