“Do we know where they are?” Sulley asks. And I nod. “They’re home. They’ll be there most of the day.
“And you trust the intel?” Jonah side eyes me. And I roll mine back at him.
“Yes—the housekeeper, she’s been feeding me intel, they killed her nephew, she wants a fresh start for her and her sister, they want out of this life and country.”
“And you will give them that?” Sulley asks, crossing his arms and leaning back in the chair.
“I’m a woman of my word, Sulley. I have new IDs, cash, and a car. We will drive to the house. I’ll leave the bag on the passenger seat, she’ll walk out, and we’ll walk in. She’ll secure the house before we get there so they can’t escape, and then…” I grin. “Let the games begin. You guys are there to keep me alive. I’m gonna have some fun. I want you to secure Mateo in his office while I… play with the boys!”
“Play?” Jonah eyes me curiously.
“Things are about to get bloody, gentlemen. Welcome to the fun and games.” Vittorio waltzes in dressed in combats, boots, and a long-sleeved black t-shirt, and my mouth waters. I toss him a wink.
“Ready?”
While the guys fall in, I turn and nod to Marianne. And we step out into the garage. I wait for her to lock the door. The guys climb into the truck, and I slip behind the wheel of the modest family sedan, the bag stuffed full of enough cash for them to have a decent life, and the envelope resting on top with the new identities nestled safely inside.
We travel in convoy until we pull into the driveway. As I reach the house, I turn the car around and leave the engine running, and I make my way to the front door. The guys step out of their vehicle and step up beside me. The door clicks open. The housekeeper steps outside, handing me a set of keys. She nods, and I step back, letting her see the car.
“Everything you need is in that car. Don’t look back.” She nods.
“The boys are in their rooms. Mr Mancini is in his office. All doors are locked.” She hands me a pile of keys.
“Anyone else in the house?”
“No.”
I nod, and she walks straight to the car, climbs in, and drives down the driveway.
“Take your positions, gentlemen. I’ll meet you in Mateo’s office when I’ve had my fun. Keep him secure for me.”
Vittorio winks at me as I pass. I step inside. The boys step in behind me. We all share a look and splinter off in separate directions. They’ll secure the house while I round up the stray Mancinis.
I climb the stairs, my knife sheathed on my thigh. My gun is tucked in the back of my combats. Extra ammo in my pocket and my baseball bat in my hand.
I wait until I hear the yells and grunts from Mateo before I continue to climb the stairs. I gently click open the first door; Tommaso’s asleep, so I click the door closed and step to the next door. I’m greeted with another of the brothers, Giuseppe, mid-game ofCall of Dutyor some other shooting game. Shouting at the screen with headphones on, so I back out and check the next room. Edoardo, still sleeping. I step inside and click the door closed behind me. I creep right up to his bed. His light snores fill the room.
“Wakey, wakey,” I whisper.
Edoardo groans, and I smile, stepping back. I want him to see me. I want that recognition to fill his face before I end him. He rolls and scrubs at his eyes. They flicker open, and there it is, that moment he realises he’s fucked. His mouth opens, but before he can scream, I bring the bat down hard into his face. It crunches, a satisfying sound that fills the room. There’s a gurgle before I bring it down again across his nose, then again acrosshis forehead. He thrashes and bucks, wrapped in the covers, but I keep smashing.
Blood splatters my clothes and my arms. Tiny droplets freckle across my face as I beat his head like a watermelon. Once his head is cracked open enough, his face is mulch, and the bat is just making squelching noises. I stop. I take a step back, pulling out my knife. I stare down at the remnants of Edoardo, flesh and bone, and turn my nose up, unable to carve him up as one of my offerings. Pausing for reflection. I need to show more restraint with the next one.
I slip into Giuseppe's room, who’s still gaming. I hold my bloody bat over my shoulder and tap him on the head. He spins around, and I mouth, “Run.”
His eyes widen. He rips the headphones off the cable, yanking them out of the port, and the sounds of the gunfire from the game rings out around the room. He ducks his head as he runs for the door, screaming for his dad.
I step out into the corridor and wait for Tommaso to rip his door open from all the noise. He sticks his head through the gap in the door. I swing, connecting with his temple. He drops to the floor face-first, half in the corridor, half in his room. I toss my bat back over my shoulder and step over his unconscious body. I listen for the other one as he screams, running through the house, clearly heading towards his dad’s office.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” I sing as I step down the stairs. There’s a scream as he clearly tries to run into his father’s office and is greeted with a less-than-perfect situation.
I round the bottom of the stairs, and he’s already running back at me, and I grin. He tries to halt slipping and skidding, crashing to the floor. Trying to gain traction, to scurry back and run in another direction, panting as he looks back towards hisfather’s office. Vittorio is standing in the corridor, arms crossed against his chest, filling the whole space.
He pushes up and runs. I smile at Vittorio and head after him. He darts through the kitchen. He grabs for the knife block as he heads to the door, trying to open it. He tugs and yanks, panic across his face as he keeps flicking his eyes to me as I slowly make my way towards him. He turns, brandishing the knife, slicing it through the air.
“Don’t come any closer, I will cut you,” he screams at me, slashing the knife through the air as his hand behind his back is fumbling to get the door open.
He lunges, stabbing out with the knife, and I grin at him. “We appear to be at an impasse.”
