“Vita Mia, look at me.” His tone forces my gaze, ripping my blurry vision to his face. “Remy is going to kill me.” I shake my head even harder and he stops it, grabbing my face once again. “Listen to me… Remy is going to kill me and it’s not going to be as simple as a gunshot.” He kisses me one more time, a hard press of his lips that makes mine tremble when he pulls back. “I want you to do it, Vita Mia. I’d rather die at your hands, seeing your beautiful face than the inside of a bag.”
He grabs my hand with the gun, pressing the end to his chest as I shake. “I can’t kill you.” It’s a broken sob as I try to rip my hand from his grasp.
He keeps it there with one hand using his other to brush along my cheek. “Yes, you can. I need you to, Vita Mia.”
“Ollie isn’t going to kill you. I know he isn’t, he wouldn’t do that.” He looks sad at my words, still touching my face. “I can’t do this. I won’t do it.”
He must see the resistance in my face because he drops my hand holding the gun and I let it fall from my fingers to crash to the floor. The loud heavy thud like a shockwave, echoing along the walls as he stares into my face. “Okay, Vita Mia.”
He opens his arms for me and I press my face to his chest, crying over what he almost made me do. I’m shaking over just the thought. My heart is beating so loudly it’s filling my ears with the noise. “Ollie isn’t going to kill you.” I say it into his shirt, his hand stroking the back of my head.
I feel him press a kiss to the top of my head, whispering into my hair and repeating what he’s already said but doesn’t sound like he believes. “Okay, Vita Mia.”
I listened to the message three different times before the words actually made sense. I’ve never been on the receiving end of the call and it was unnerving. I can only assume he sent one to the three of us. Donatello, Laney, and me. My timestamp is set earlier than the others because I had to help set up and hear every detail from the Capo Famiglia himself. My punishment isn’t a physical one, but it’ll be just as painful. I almost wish the roles were switched because then I wouldn’t have to be witness to the pain I’m going to have to endure.
The Boss and I are standing outside the warehouse with several of his men waiting for the other two to arrive. It feels like I’m cranking the lever of a jack in the box. Each turn getting me closer to the monster, each turn building my anxiety, each turn scarier than the last.
Donatello’s SUV starts driving our way and Capo Famiglia’s voice pulls my attention off of Laney in the passenger seat. I knew she was going home to get some things, but I guess I didn’t realize they’d be together. “Remember Wolf, no talking, no touching, no contact.”
Swallowing past the tension coiling in my chest, I nod. “Understood.” There’s a steel to his voice, a sharp edge that speaks to how this appointment is about to go. I’m not sure if I’m grateful for knowing what to expect or if I’d prefer to be in the dark. Both would be painful, but at least I wouldn’t be thinking about it beforehand.
I watch as they exit the vehicle, eyes moving from Laney’s worried face to Donatello’s. His eyes lock with mine and if hate could kill, I’d be pushing up daisies on the spot. He’s smart enough to know I provided the information that’s about to put the nail in his coffin.
“Ollie what is this? Why are we here?” Laney’s eyes find me and her frown deepens, confusion painted across her face. I look away from her, trying to lose her focus.
“Consequences have actions, Piccolina. It’s time you learned that.”
My eyes keep going to Jessie. I can tell he’s purposefully trying to avoid eye contact and it’s making me more anxious. “I don’t know what you mean, Ollie. What actions?”
Remy almost looks sad as he looks at me, watching as I wrap my arms around me in an attempt to calm myself. He doesn’t answer me, eyes flicking to Donatello who comes to stand next to me. “I’m unbelievably pissed I have to do this.”
Donatello scrapes his hand over his jaw, a humorless chuckle coming from his chest. “I can’t say this is how I wanted things either.”
Remy holds his hand out and the man next to him places a folder in his palm. He opens it, tossing it onto the ground at our feet so photos and papers scatter across the gravel. Donatello doesn’t look but I do, picking up a photo of him behind a half naked Olivia, palming her breasts. I drop it to the dirt and grab another, a fuzzy black and white shot of her at the hospital. Letting it fall from my fingers with the rest, I realize it’s all the same content, just different versions and angles.
“It seems Jessie has been keeping tabs on you, Donatello.” Remy pulls his gloves from his pockets, sliding them over his hands. “I really fucking wish you would have just let Delaney go when I had asked.”
Donatello doesn’t respond, just blinks at Remy as he silently watches him.
“I’m sorry you have to learn this way, Piccolina, but hard lessons are usually remembered the best.”
“What are you even talking about Ollie? Can someone please explain to me what’s going on? Did you all forget I don’t do this shit?” I turn to find Jessie, his eyes avoiding me again. “Jessie? What’s happening?”
No one answers
