Chapter 28
Cipriana
Jacky’s cry radiates through me like a siren. We’re being dragged harshly through a meat locker and it’s freezing in here. I’m still more than half naked thanks to being nabbed mid-shift, and my mouth feels like there’re rocks in it from the hard slap Nicky gave me at the club.
Worst of all? My friends are in danger, and it’s all my fault.
Gil tries to be strong, but he breaks into sobs. Even Charlie – the stoic one of us – is catatonic staring at the floor.
Meanwhile, my mind is racing. Even though Trino is the most capable man I’ve ever met, he might not make it in time.
This ‘Nicky Frits ’ is acting like a real monster.
He doesn’t play with his food like other mobsters I’ve seen.
He’s straight-faced, like Trino, only without the heart.
Twice he’s pressed a knife to my neck, inspecting me to see if I’ll reveal the whereabouts of my father.
‘Rocco’s daughter, in the flesh,’ his voice rings in my head. ‘Once I find his address, maybe I’ll mail him a slab at a time.’
There was no joy in his expression. Just factual consideration. His crew on the other hand…
“No!” Jacky flails in an enforcer’s grasp. “No! Please ,” her voice turns into air.
“No one can hear you, sweetie.” He pets her face, then whacks her with his backhand. “And your voice is really starting to get under my skin. Quiet, or we’ll run a fucking train on you to really make you sing.”
I shiver at the idea. It’ll be okay, Jacky. Just hang in there.
Survival is all that matters right now. Just stay alive.
I’m focusing on the side-conversations taking place behind me. My skin is all torn up from being dragged down concrete stairs into a scrappy dungeon, but that’s not my priority – I have to buy time for Trino.
“Nicky’s throwing a fit upstairs,” I make out what the guy with a baseball cap is saying.
“Why? We fucking got her,” the other is in disbelief.
“We lost some of our guys in Frankie’s crew. The card game—”
“Yo! What do you mean? We were supposed to be playing hold ’em right next to them.”
“I know,” baseball cap says. “Six dead.”
“Six? What the fuck? Same time as we took her?”
“Same fucking time.”
“How? Can’t believe it, Stones. That’s gotta be some bullshit karma right there.”
“Yeah… worst part? The prick got away.”
A cannon of hope shoots endorphins through my body. Trino was headed to Frankie’s shop. He said he was going to play nice with them, since strangling anyone in Nicky’s crew would mean a war between the families. So the only reason he’d act out… is because it was a trap from the beginning.
God, what the hell is going on?
Okay, think, Capri. Can I use any of this?
The sight of flayed cows hanging upside down in the light paints the worst horror movie scene in history. Here we are, in a freezing dark corner, waiting for our fate. We’d make a horrible dinner. Most of us are just skin and bones.
“I said give it a fucking rest .” The biggest of the bunch scrapes his loafer, giving a death stare at Jacky.
He’s standing over us, blocking some of the light from the main room – just a huge silhouette with light shining around the edges. He’s wearing a suit, and his pants are unbuckled.
Oh no.
“This one might be off limits,” he points at me, “but boss didn’t say anything about freckles over here.”
“Don’t you fucking touch her.” Charlie gets to his knees, puffing his chest. He looks pathetic though with that gash over his face and chains rattling behind his back.
“Or what, little white-collar? You can’t talk your way out of this one.” He takes a step forward, angry eyes alive above his crazed smile. “You know what? Just for that little outburst, I think I’m going to have a little fun with her. Make you watch .”
“No, please.” Jacky shivers.
Gil shoves himself in the darkest part of the corner, unable to watch. If there ever was a moment to contrast the two men in my life, it’s now. Trino would never cower like that. Ever .
“This your girlfriend, white-collar? Want me to show her what a real man tastes like?”
“Check it. Darko’s at it again.” Baseball cap thumbs our way, then motions for him and the other guy to leave the room.
No!
I kick my heels over the pavement to inch closer to Jacky. If she’s shielded, he can’t do anything to her while I’m there.
“ Scared. I’m scared, Capri,” Jacky cries. Her arms are like two quivering sticks around me.
“It’s okay, baby. We’ll get out of this.” I squeeze her hand.
“Move it, princess.” Darko grabs my arm, and I bite down so hard I draw blood.
“Arh shit!” He raises his hand to strike me, then balls his fist.
I stare at him while spitting out the nasty skin flap in my mouth. Nicky this. Nicky that. Everyone’s afraid of Nicky. No way he’d strike me without his approval.
I dare you…
Now I’m the one puffing my chest, with two little pieces of cloth covering my nipples.
“Brave little cunt, aren’t you?” He snarls, lowering his fist. “Alright. You know I won’t hit you, huh? But no one would be able to see the bruises on the inside.”
I swallow past a lump in my throat, but hold strong.
He whips out his veiny, stinking cock drenched in a plush of hair, and I fall back with one arm protectively shielding Jacky.
Darko wags it, cackling.
When Charlie tries to crawl out of the confines of his chains, a wide hook from Darko knocks him right out.
“Charlie!” Jacky yelps.
Now Darko’s cock is flopping everywhere. It’s getting bigger. Like the man is turned on by violence.
“I’m going to take you both. And you’re going to like it.” Darko grabs for my hair, but I duck out of the way. “Don’t play hard to get, Capri.”
The mention of my name makes me want to crawl out of my skin. Hearing the disturbed hanging meat creak back and forth transports me into one of the Saw movies, and the smell of frozen steak makes me want to vomit.
I have to be strong… for my friends.
“Ah!” Jacky yelps when Darko grabs a handful of her hair.
“Wait. Stop! ” I shout. “Take me. Leave her alone.”
My heart beats in my throat as his predatory eyes center on me.
It’s a moment of quiet hell.
Fear doesn’t paralyze me anymore. I can take whatever comes my way.
I don’t just play the noble friend. No. That won’t be enough.
In a moment of desperate brass, I pull the side of my skimpy top, revealing one of my breasts. “C’mon.”
Darko snarls, nearly drooling. Then his smile widens. “Too easy.”
No…
Should’ve seen that coming a mile away.
I read this all wrong. He doesn’t want me for attraction. Of course not. This is a beast I’m dealing with – he wants the fight.
“Your friend here knows how to play along best.”
He whips me out of the way like I’m a plaything, and I quickly cover myself back up, thoughts running a mile a minute on how to make this nightmare end. He’s got Jacky by the hair with one hand, his cock in the other, wiggling it near her face.
“Open up. And if you dare think to use your teeth, I’ll put a bullet in your brain.” He shoves it close to her lips, but she keeps turning away. “Nod if you understand.”
Jacky doesn’t comply. Instead, she just squeezes her eyes tightly shut. The aura of this man was gifted to him straight from hell. Dark and venomous… he loves that she’s resisting.
Darko let’s go of his cock and pulls out a gun.
“I said nod , if you understand.” He taps the gun against a pipe to get her attention.
“I’ll put up a fight, Darko, you big piece of shit,” I shout. “C’mon, you pussy!”
He doesn’t even point the gun my way. He’s infatuated with Jacky’s cowering nature now.
His cock hardens closer to her mouth, hungrily waiting for it to touch her lips.
“Big pussy. You couldn’t handle me!” I’m jerking in my chains to get free and tackle him. Don’t ruin her , I pray. Don’t—
The lights suddenly flicker, leaving Darko cursing under his breath. Maybe that’s some kind of signal that Nicky’s coming. Yes!
He shoves that big unkempt snake back into his slacks and squeezes Jacky’s cheeks. “I’m not done with you.” He let’s go of her face, and she falls on her back.
Oh thank God.
I sigh with relief, but I know deep down, if he’s scared, then the worst is yet to come.
The clack of Nicky’s loafers echoes through the underground warehouse of hanging meat. Catching glimpses of his outline as he paces quickly toward us makes me quake in my shackles. My instincts tell me he’s going to start lopping off limbs to get what he wants.
No matter what , I have to keep my friends whole.
I have to.
“Time’s up,” Nicky’s even voice unnerves me to my core. “The whereabouts of Rocco Dotelli and Stanzo DeMatteo.” He flicks open his butterfly knife, judging me harshly, likely deciding which one of us to harm first.
I shake my head defiantly. “You shouldn’t have messed with Trino. He took out half your crew in one sitting.”
His left eye twitches. How do I know that, you wonder? That’s right, asshole, I’ve been paying attention.
He slowly walks over to me and crouches to my level, knife hanging slack in his wrist. His cold, dark eyes are the most frightening of all the mobsters I’ve ever seen.
“How does a fawn like you know all of that? Does Trino confide in you? Maybe it’s him I should mail your parts to. Yes… I think that will work.”
“That would be a big mistake,” I say.
He stands up and snaps his fingers, prompting his crew to drape a clear plastic tarp on the floor.
Jesus, he’s going to cut me up.
I’m shivering again, my lips twitching no matter how tightly I press them.
“Get a torch to cauterize the wound,” Nicky says calmly. “I can’t have such a prize bleeding out. We’ll keep her face intact, but we’ll mail one finger at a time. Then an arm. But we’re doing all the cutting now .” He nods to another. “Gag her.”
My vision tunnels as Darko stomps over to me with that evil smile of his. All my toughness flees along with the blood rushing from my face. I must be as pale as a ghost. I’m numb.
“Mistake,” my voice dwindles to air. “You’re making a mistake.”