Her smile faded. She studied my face, searching for something.
I couldn't look at her. Couldn't maintain eye contact while lying directly to her face.
"Get ready. Five minutes." My tone changed. Went cold. Professional. "We need to leave soon."
I walked out before she could question the shift. Before she could see the self-loathing written all over my face.
The drive took two hours. Aria sat in the back seat, staring out the window, not speaking. The silence wassuffocating.
Marco drove, occasionally glancing at me in the rearview mirror with an expression that clearly said this is a terrible idea.
Yeah. I fucking knew that already.
The compound appeared—isolated, surrounded by chain-link fence, guard dogs patrolling the perimeter. One of our major distribution points. Or it had been, before the dealer running it decided to get greedy.
Our cars pulled up. Four vehicles total. Marco, Tony, Sal, and six others. Enough manpower to handle whatever resistance we encountered.
The dealer—Vincent something—stood in the center of the compound yard, trying to look casual. Confident. His crew flanked him, all of them radiating nervous energy.
"Stay in the car." I looked at Aria directly. "No matter what you hear or see, you stay in this car. Understood?"
She nodded, face already pale.
I got out. Marco and the others fell in behind me.
"Mr. Accardi." Vincent stepped forward, hand extended. "This is unexpected. If I'd known you were coming, I would have prepared—"
"Where's the product?"
His smile faltered. "The product? It's all here, properly stored, ready for—"
"The product you've been skimming. Selling on the side. Where is it?"
All color drained from his face. "I don't know what you're talking about. There must be some mistake—"
"Search the place." I didn't raise my voice. Didn't need to. "Every building. Every room. Find it."
My men moved with practiced efficiency. I kept my eyes on Vincent, watching him sweat. Watching his crew exchange panicked glances.
Marco emerged from the basement fifteen minutes later, carrying a duffel bag. Opened it to show me stacks of product. Pills, powder, everything our organization moved.
"There's more. Looks like about fifty thousand dollars worth.Maybe more."
Vincent's face went gray. "Look, I can explain. This is all a misunderstanding. My crew, they must have been—"
"Your crew." I moved closer. "You're blaming your crew for your theft?"
"I didn't know! They must have been skimming without telling me. I would never disrespect the family like that. I'll make it right. I'll pay back everything, I swear—"
I glanced back at the car. Aria was visible through the window, face pressed close to the glass, watching.
This was the part I hated most. Not the violence itself—I'd long since made peace with being capable of terrible things. It was making her watch. Making her see the worst parts of me.
Making her hate me a little more.
"Marco. Make an example of the crew."
What happened next was systematic. Brutal. My men moved on Vincent's crew with practiced efficiency. Fists. Bats. Breaking bones. Drawing blood. Making sure the screams carried.
