Fernando's guards were still in the mansion. Clearly not close enough to hear, but I was sure they'd notice me if I ran into the street in my underwear.
And if Fernando was still alive, eventually, he would wake up and rape me.
I have to do it.
I had to be the one to end his life. But could I? I'd imagined someone's death plenty of times in the darkest corners of my mind, but to actually carry it out…
My hands shook, a tremor of fear and dark excitement. I gripped my wrist hard, using the pain as a reminder of what was at stake.
I thought back to the party, to the years of manipulation and abuse.
My view of morality was skewed. I wasn't a good person and would never claim to be. But I'd always believed there was a line I wouldn't cross, one that kept me human or at least made me better than my father. But as I stared at the man who planned to make my life a living hell, that line seemed to blur.
I didn't want to be a monster. I didn't want to be evil like Simon, Fernando, or their co-conspirators. Yet here I sat, contemplating doing something unforgivable: taking Fernando's life with my own hands.
But then I thought about today, everything I'd witnessed, even the folder Fernando had prepared. He had everything I'd ever wanted—businesses, money, influence,power.He was untouchable, but as his wife, if I killed him, it would all becomemine, and why shouldn't it be?
I thought back to the wedding, how someone could have helped me, asked a question,cared. But they hadn't. They'd turned a blind eye because it didn't fit their narrative.
Why couldn't I do the same?
If I killed Fernando and his guards, I wouldn't have to run anymore. I wouldn't need to look over my shoulder anymore. I'd finally have complete control over my life through the mafia, and no one would be able to take that away from me again.
I'd save myself and claim his power as my own.
But first, I'd have to kill him, and I'd kill anyone else whodaredto get in my way.
I dragged myself and the heavy vase closer to him. My hands trembled, but I clenched my teeth in resolve. I raised the vase above my head, then slammed it down with all my strength onto Fernando's skull.
My first two attempts missed, but on the third strike, I hit him. The sound was sickening, but I didn't let it deter me. I hit him, over and over, until blood pooled around him and onto the floor.
I'd hoped that was enough, that he was finally dead, and my nightmare was one step closer to being over. But as I reached down to check for a pulse, I found the bastard was still alive.
I didn't have the strength to keep hitting him, but there was no room for me to fail. Determined, I searched his body for the gun I was positive he kept on him, and found it and an extra clip at his hip.
It was heavier than I thought it would be, but once I found the small safety switch near the barrel, I flipped it off.
I grabbed a nearby pillow, hoping it would muffle the sound like it did in the movies. Pressing the gun against the back of Fernando's head, I squeezed the trigger.
The gun jerked in my hand from the recoil, and the smell of burnt gunpowder filled the air as it seared my skin. But I focused on the task at hand.
I fired two more shots for good measure, making sure he was truly dead. And when his guards finally appeared, looking for their deceased boss, I’d shoot them too. Then the empire would be mine.
The boss got himself a pretty whore, didn't he?
Do you think he'll let us fuck her?
Yes, if she still has some spirit left to break.
5
Catalina
Forty hours later
Iclenched my shaking hands and took a deep breath.
Calm down. You can do this. You have to do this. You can pretend like you always do.
