“I want them to see how you put Dmitri Ivanov first. You see,” Matias turned toward the woman and child, “Your husband has decided you don’t need him, and that Dmitri is a better cause to die for. I want you to watch as he begs for mercy. Death is better than what I plan to do to him.”
Aldo watched as Cristian flipped the heavy blade around in his hand, his eyes migrating over to his petrified daughter. “Close your eyes, baby. Daddy loves you.”
“They will watch, or I’ll kill them next,” Matias barked, his eyes drilling through the woman who was being held firmly in place by Pedro.
The woman leaned into her daughter, urging her to bury her face against her. “Please, I will watch, but do not do this to my child. She is only four.”
Matias blinked at the woman and glanced down at the small child by her side. “Benji. Take the girl out of here. If you turn away at all,” he glared at the wife, “I will kill you next.” The woman nodded and held her head high.
Matias turned back and grabbed ahold of Aldo, forcing his head backward. “Your boss has something of mine. Tell me where he is, and I’ll show you mercy.”
“Fuck you.”
Matias grabbed his chin, forcing him to open his mouth. “Wrong answer. Cristian.” Cristian slipped a pair of tongs into his mouth and snagged hold of Aldo’s tongue. “You won’t tell me… then you won’t tell anyone.” Matias pressed the blade against the tender flesh, piercing the skin. Aldo grunted, mumbling unintelligible words. “Last chance, Aldo. Where did you take Jorge?”
Fat tears dripped down Aldo’s face as his eyes sought out his wife. She held his gaze as she begged him to tell Matias where Jorge was. Aldo closed his eyes and nodded his head no. His last words were a muffledI’m sorryas Matias sliced the fleshy organ from his body. Blood sprayed across the warehouse floor as his wife screamed out in agony. Aldo gaggedon his own blood as Cristian stepped away, holding Aldo’s tongue in the tongs.
“What use are you now? This is only the beginning, Aldo. You may not speak again, but for now your hands work. Perhaps you will write the answer we seek,” Matias growled.
Aldo, barely conscious, moaned. His body jerking in response to overwhelming pain he was in. Matias cut the bounds holding him in place and dragged him from the chair. His body fell from his seat and slid through the pool of blood gathering on the cement floor. Cristian tossed the appendage to the ground and grabbed Aldo’s other arm. Together, Matias and Cristian propped him onto the table.
“Write down where Jorge is and you can still live if you give me what I want, Aldo.”
Aldo could barely keep his eyes open. The pain and blood loss were taking its toll. Cristian placed a pen in his hand, urging him to write, but Aldo dropped the writing utensil and grunted.
“He’s made his choice.” Matias turned to his wife, who was standing there stone faced. “Your husband has chosen the wrong side to be loyal to.”
She nodded in understanding as she watched the scene play out in front of her.Cristian had retrieved an axe and was standing beside her husband. Matias held Aldo’s hand firmly against the wooden surface. “You truly are a dumb man,” Cristian said as he brought the heavy blade down, slicing through Aldo’s skin and bone in one swing. His arm detached from his hand, causing Aldo to drop to the floor. Cristian kick his body, rolling him over to his back.
Matias loomed over him, a sinister smile spreading across his face. “I want your wife’s pained eyes the last thing you see as you leave this world.”
Aldo blinked; his body too weak to move. His eyes tracked to his wife just before he gave into the darkness and heard her speak.
“I know where Jorge is. I heard him talking with a man.”
Cristian and Matias’s head shot toward the woman. “Why didn’t you say something? We would have spared his life.”
“I do not want to be married to a traitor. My daughter deserves a life free of worry. He brought shame to us the minute he made a deal with the devil.”
“Holy shit,” Cristian muttered. “You hear that, Aldo?” He bent down and grabbed his face. “Your own wife thinks you’re a piece ofshit. I hope you can still hear us. I want you to die knowing you died for nothing.”
“Ma’am.” Matias guided the woman toward the door as he untied her wrists. “You and your daughter will be taken care of; you have my word. Now tell me, where is Jorge?”
“Vegas.”
Thewarmsprayofthe shower pelted Katya’s body as she stood beneath it. She scrubbed her body until it bled, trying to rid the feel of Jorge’s touch. She had become his punching bag on a regular basis. Everything about his touch made her nauseous.
“Get out of the shower, Katya,” Jorge’s voice filled the bathroom. “There is no amount of water or soap that will clean the Silva stench off you.”
“Funny,” she mumbled to herself. “It’s your stench I am trying to get rid of.”
Jorge’s hand burst into the shower and latched on to her hair. “What the fuck did you say?”
“Please,” Katya begged as he pulled her out into the bathroom. “I didn’t say anything.”
Jorge appraised her wet body and sneered. He pushed Katya against the sink and tugged her hair, forcing her to look at herself in the mirror.
“If we weren’t being beckoned by your father, I’d remind you again who is in chargehere.” He shoved her hard against the porcelain edge, nearly knocking her down.
