He shrugs her off him. Ma looks as if she’s been struck. So do I. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen Pa use aggression towards her. He’s always been so passive. Adoring. Kind. It reminds me all too well of the moment he lost control in my bedroom. His fist through my wall. And I can’t help but wonder if his fist strikes ma next.
“This is mob business, Sherry,” he stresses furiously, spit spewing from his mouth. “If you can’t handle it then leave.”
“Seamus.” Her voice cracks. She wipes her tears with the back of her hands before clutching her heart. “That’s our baby girl. My sweet deary baby girl.” Pa works a swallow, his eyes fluttering shut.
“Please.” She begs him. “Please save her.”
“Seems like your wife has the right idea. Need more convincing, Seamus?” Pietro nods his head and all four of the soldiers close in on me. Panic sets in. I begin to choke on it.
I feel the butt of the gun pressed to the back of my head. Another pressed to my right temporal. The other pressed to my right.
Then there’s the last soldier. He wears a slimy grin that has spiders crawling across my skin. With his grimy fingers he starts to pry my mouth open. I bite down on his fingers, metallic exploding in my mouth.
Snapping his fingers back he lashes at me, “Fottuta stronza!”
I spit his blood at him and smile with all my teeth.
He pounces forward, hooking my mouth open and placing the gun there. His hand dangerously plays on the trigger.
“Seamus please!” Ma pleads hysterically.
“Enough Sherry!” He roars with finality. “Leave this to me. This ismyconcern.Mybusiness.”
Her eyes bulge out of her head. She throws her hands to emphasize her pleas. “It’sourdaughter!”
“A game of Russian Roulette is always fun, isn’t it?” Pietro snickers.
“Sebastian, take her. Now,” he commands.
“Yes sir,” he says in a baritone voice. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard it. The man I was supposed to marry. He cuts in front of the camera and begins to manhandle ma.
I yell, though it’s muffled and hardly translates from the gun being in my mouth, “Let her fucking go!”
Rico’s gaze burns through my skull.
The soldier shoves the gun further in my mouth and I gag. My eyes water profusely.
Sebastian wraps his arms around her and with force takes her away as she kicks and thrashes. Her screams ring in my ears. They become the only thing I can hear. Over and over.
I try my best in getting out of the restraints but they only cut into my skin. Old wounds reopen. New ones burst. A warm stickiness floods my hands.
But I have to get to ma. I need to get to ma.
“Nicky,” Pietro orders and I still fight. At least if I die I know that I tried. The soldier behind me presses the gun harder against the back of my head and pulls the trigger. Stunned, I freeze.
He really did it. This sick bastard is allowing this to happen.
“Tony.” The soldier to my left pulls the trigger. “Only two left, Seamus. You’re really willing to risk your daughter’s life for revenge?”
“And how do I know you’re going to fuckin’ keep your word on keeping her alive? What insurance do I have that you won't betray me?”
Pietro shrugs. “I guess you’ll just have to trust us.”
Pa scoffs. “Trust? You want me to trust you? After killing my boy? You fuckin’ Italians couldn’t do a fair shake if your life depended on it. You slimy two-timing bastards!”
“Now that’s not nice to say,” Pietro playfully reprimands him. “Deano.” The soldier to my right pulls the trigger. It comes up blank. “And we’re left with one. What do you say, Seamus? Your precious revenge or your daughter’s life?”
Something sick and twisted takes over in the soldier in front of me. A cruel smile plays on his lips. His finger itches to pull the trigger.
