Page 43 of Lust and Honor

I straighten up, pulling my switchblade from my coat pocket and slide the blade free. “But death’s something you’ll have to beg me for. I sent your buddies to hell, but for you, I’m bringing hell to earth. Death is a gift you’ll have to earn, Leo.”

Grabbing the phone on the table, I dial emergency services and give the address. “There’s been a robbery here.”

I glance at Nicola, pale as a ghost, no longer moving and I add before hanging up, “Two bodies and a guy with his dick cut off.”

Leo’s muffled sobs behind the tape betray his dread of what’s coming.

I grab his vile junk, the weapon that hurt my mother most. Locking eyes with him, I smirk. “You don’t need this anymore,” then drive the blade into the flesh, slicing it clean off.

His stifled screams are pathetic whimpers behind the tape. I hurl the severed piece out the window, toward where I’d seen stray dogs earlier.

That’s when I notice the two girls, clinging to each other, staring at me in terror.

I already know the answer but ask anyway. “You whores?”

The one who’d been in my father’s grip shakes her head no. “They kidnapped us.”

“Get up. Find something to wear.”

I turn back, grab Nicola’s pants from the floor, and press them against Leo’s open wound. “Don’t worry, you’ll be saved in time. I’m counting on hunting you for years.”

I scoop up my pistols and clips from the floor and head for the door, but pause before leaving and glance back at the two girls standing dazed by the living room. “Come on. I’ll drop you somewhere safe.”

***

I walk up the black marble steps, regal and gleaming, heading toward the VIP lounge, Carlo and Brando’s usual hangout. Carlo drops in on his brother now and then to chat about the casino and the underground fights Brando runs in its basement.

They’re both lounging on a plush velvet couch, smoking cigars. Brando might chain-smoke like I do, but Carlo only lights up occasionally, savoring the finest hand-rolled Cubans from Brando’s collection.

I sink into a single armchair and wave off the young waitress hovering nearby. She glances at Brando, waiting for his permission. He dismisses her with a lazy flick of his hand, and once we’re alone, he pours me a glass of whiskey and offers a cigar. I take the whiskey, sipping it.

Carlo’s in a gray V-neck tee, looking as sharp and lively as ever. “So, how’d it go?” he asks.

I cut straight to it. “I chopped his dick off.”

Both their cigars freeze mid-air. They stare at me, stunned. And when they see I’m dead serious, they burst out laughing in unison.

Brando sets his cigar in the ashtray. “He still alive?”

“Hope so. I’m not done with him yet.”

Carlo takes a final drag, leaning forward to stub his cigar in the glass table’s ashtray. “You should’ve finished him. You’ve got enough enemies as it is. You don’t need a wounded beast on your ass too.”

I shrug. “He can’t do shit.”

Carlo leans back, eyeing me for a moment before warning, “Don’t forget, Maxim, you’re not untouchable anymore. You’ve got someone else to think about now.”

A flash of orange curls pops into my head. I know Carlo’s right.

I nod. “I’ll end it soon.”

Brando chimes in, “How’s it going with your little carrot? You win her over yet?”

I flash him a smirk. “You underestimate me? I know how to get a lady’s heart.”

“Nah, Maxim. You know how to get a lady’s pussy,” Brando snorts.

Carlo smirks, but I answer seriously. “I’m an expert in women. Whores might not need effort, but you know I’ve bagged half the supermodels in Italy. Let me drop some wisdom for when you want to sleep with someone besides your maids, buddy. The way to pussy is through a woman’s heart. And the formula for that is simple: treat her with class, spoil her with expensive gifts, and drown yourself in the most luxurious cologne money can buy.”