Ruthless Beasts

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

ADAM

“Do we have a deal, Father?”

I fought the urge to shift. My body cramped into the small confessional booth. Through the mesh of a window, I could see the faint shadows of the man aged with the weight of sin. I felt no guilt about adding to it.

“Will I be seeing you in my pews on Sundays?” he questioned.

“Now Father, I think we both know I’ve overstepped my welcome in the house of God long ago.” I leaned forward, getting closer to the window, trying to make out every line of his profile. “Let’s not tempt fate, or I might burn myself alive and take this whole place with me.”

“Nonsense.” His rebuttal was harsh.

“The devil tried once,” I reminded him. “I think a second time, he may win.”

“Adam.”

I cut him off before he could offer his pity or his false promises about God’s plan. I have my own plans, and I’ll burn again before I let God take credit for the revenge I seek. “Do we have a deal?”

“I really?—“

“Do we have a deal, Father? That’s all I want to know.”

Even in the darkness, the shadow of him licking his lip was apparent. So was the swallow he took before clearing his throat. “We have a deal.”

“Thank you, Father.” I stood, even though I was forced to stoop in the small booth. “I’ll wire your account within the hour.”

I didn’t need to wait to collect his account information. This wasn’t the first time we’d worked together, though this exchange was probably the most unsavory of our interactions. My foot had just stepped out, the sole of my shoe touching the slate tile, when his voice stopped me.

“You were always such an ambitious kid.” He sighed. “I shouldn’t be disappointed in the path your life has taken when you turned away from God. But I had expected more from you. Revenge isn’t always the way.”

“Revenge is the only way, Father.” I stepped out, leaving him behind in the sacred space. I didn’t need a man of God to tell me of his disappointments. I’ve lived the pain of my life, sunk to the depth of sorrows, to know just how far I will go.

My footsteps echoed through the empty room as I walked away. The high ceilings carried the sound, spread it through the candlelit chapel, and expelled it into the night.

The air was cool when I exited the heavy wooden doors, the surrounding life deep in slumber at this ungodly hour. A car pulled up, the black tinted windows making it impossible to see through as I approached. I didn’t need to see him to know that the man inside was no threat to me.

I stopped in front of the car and pulled open the door, climbing into the passenger seat before slamming it closed. The car was already in motion before either of us spoke.

“Is the plan a go, then?” Ace, my best friend since childhood, asked as he took a right turn.

“I’m wiring the money now,” I informed him, not bothering to look up from my cellphone.

“And you’re okay with this? I mean, you can handle it?”

I looked over at him, a shadow of a man staring straight ahead. The glow of the dashboard gently illuminated his face. Even without seeing, I knew he was concerned.

He was there with me the whole time. He felt second-hand the devastation and the pain my heart endured. That pain never touched the physical turmoil that ripped through me and still tormented me to this day. But he knew the lasting effect it all had on me.

“I’m ready.”

And I was ready.

I was ready to end the life of Joseph Accardo; I just needed to cause him some turmoil first. Destroy everything he valued. Ruin the empire he built.

Five years. I’d waited five years to seek my revenge. It took the full five before I could stomach the attempt. Even now, when time has passed and memories have faded, my hand still tremored slightly at the thought of finally repaying what was owed.

A life for a life.

It never would be enough.

His death would never sate the craving I had to see him suffer the same fate as I had. He’d always have the advantage, always have the win. He took everything from me. Even though my blood still ran through my body and my heart still beat, my heart stopped on the side of that road with hers. My blood spilled over the pavement until my veins felt dry from my stolen life. Our life we’d never get to have together.

“Tomorrow morning? Should I gather our men?” Ace’s words were a casual question, one asked many times before. Only this time, the meaning behind them was heavier than previous uses.

“I want them set before the first of Accardo’s men even step foot in the church.”

“This will cause a war. You understand that, right?” Ace wasn’t judging me, wasn’t acting like my thoughts of revenge were crazy, only reminding me of what was to come.

“The war was set into motion long before now. My lack of action only lulled them into a false sense of security. If he thought I wouldn’t retaliate, then he deserves the death I’m issuing.”

“I don’t just mean with Accardo’s men. Killing his son, that’s deserved. But the girl? Her family did nothing. She’s done nothing.”

“Collateral damage.” I spoke the words while a reel played behind my eyelids. Images of fire and smoke, and the sinister smile on Accardo’s face as he sentenced me to death. He used that exact phrase, the words so carelessly tossed about as I roared my pleas to save them.

“They might come,” Ace pointed out.

“We’ll be ready,” I reminded him. I hadn’t laid low for so long, growing stronger, building my crew tighter, to not be ready for any counter attacks. I know how this works. I’ve been in this world for too fucking long not to know. Killing the son of an organized crime leader would put my name at the top of the death list, but I was too far gone in my need for vengeance to care.

He had taken everything from me, and before I left this earth, I’d repay the favor.

Take my life.

Take my pain.

Take everything I’ve ever earned.

But don’t ever fucking think that stealing has no consequences.

I straightened my tie as I watched, my body hidden from view of the guests. All eyes were on the altar, waiting for the bride, but my eyes were on Joseph Accardo, the father of the groom. He once took something precious to me, made me suffer a pain I’d never imagined existed, and I wanted him to suffer.

He needed to suffer.

He greeted his guests with a smile on his face, and I couldn’t wait to take that smile away. I wasn’t a monster, despite what rumors said. I felt things: hard, impossible things. But the weakness of feelings wasn’t allowed in this business, wasn’t allowed in our world.

I learned that the hard way, and so would he.

The unmistakable melody of the wedding march broke through the chatter, and the crowd grew silent. All eyes fell on the back of the church. All eyes but mine. Mine were fixed solely on my enemy, and next to him, his son. My fingers itched to strike, even knowing it wasn’t the time. But it was the first time in years that I had been in the same room as Accardo, and I hoped it would be the last.

The bride stopped at the altar, and for a second, my eyes roamed over her fitted dress, taking in every curve that white silk hugged. His son could have done worse for a bride, that was for sure. It was a shame he’d never get to appreciate the gift that lay underneath the layers of taunting fabric.

Ceremonial words were spoken, but I ignored them all. I didn’t need the haunting memory of what they meant to infiltrate my mind. I already knew deeply just how serious they could be, just how damning they were to the heart.

The lights flickered on cue. The crowd gasped and whispered their fears. It fed the anticipation, called me forth, forced my feet to move even when I wasn’t aware of the motion. Screams erupted as my men surfaced. With the chaos, I’d never felt more in my element in the years since my heart died, than I did in this moment.

“Joseph!” I roared, as I casually strolled toward the front of the church. “Accardo!”

My men had the upper hand, all our guns pointed toward the center, leaving no room for the guests to escape.

Accardo’s head turned every which way, searching for the enemy who called his name. When his eyes met mine, he smirked. “Adam Ferrari. I don’t remember sending you out an invite.”

“You must have forgotten.” I kept my steps steady, even though I wanted to rush forward, sink my knife in his chest, and watch his life leave him. “No worries, I’m here now.”

His sneer was all I needed to know about his thoughts on that matter. “I will have to ask you to leave. Take your friends with you.”

“Actually,” I paused, letting my eyes roam over his son, “I think I’ll stay. You took some things from me, and it’s time I took some things from you.”

He stepped forward, his hand already reaching for his weapon, but his fingers never made contact. Behind him, Ace surfaced. His leg kicked out, contacting Accardo’s knee, causing him to crumble. Accardo’s men rushed Ace, but they weren’t nearly fast enough, and in seconds, a few bullets, and their bodies were laid flat at our feet, their blood pooling onto the church floor.

Father Anthony would be ticked about the mess, but he knew what he signed up for. Still, I’d slip him a bonus in good faith, keep good standing in case we needed to do business again. My steps were slow as I crept forward, my men keeping the crowd away from us, ensuring there were no issues.

“I believe we have unfinished business,” I stated as I stopped before Accardo, still on his knees.

He attempted to stand, but Ace made that impossible. “We have no unfinished business.”

“No.”

“Did you or did you not cause the crash five years ago?” I stepped closer, using the blade of my knife to run along his jaw.

He had the audacity to chuckle. “Water under the bridge, my friend.”

“Water under the bridge.” I looked at his guests and shook my head. “Water under the bridge.”

I looked over at the man to Accardo's right, crumbling under Mercer’s grip. Without hesitation, I put the bullet through his forehead. His brains blew out the back of his skull, splattering the faces of the guests in the first row. The screams didn’t deter me as I stepped into the puddle of blood, taking Accardo’s throat into my palm. “Water under the bridge.”

“How dare you! I’ll have your head for this, I’ll…” I tightened my grip.

“You’ll what? Kill me? Hadn’t you already done so?” I laughed. The sound was like acid leaving me. “What more harm could you do?”

“You killed Fernando,” Accardo huffed, his cheeks puffed out and reddened as he strained against my grip.

“ You killed Fernando with your utter disregard for my people’s life. Did you not think I’d come for you?”

“It- it has been five years,” he stated.

“Biding my time for this moment, I can assure you.” And trying to learn how to breathe again without the ache that felt like death. I never fully mastered it.

“It was just a harmless mistake.” Accardo raised an arm in the air, waving it off. Except it wasn’t just a harmless mistake. It was my family, and for that, he would pay with his. “Can’t we forget about it? Make amends. It’s my son’s wedding day.”

I leaned in so that only he could hear and whispered through gritted teeth, “It’s your son’s wedding day. My son never got a first birthday. Never got his first breath. Never got to experience his first ice cream cone. And for this, you will always remember whose fault it is.”

I released him from my grip, but Ace held tight, forcing him to look at his son, who was cowering behind the priest. My steps echoed, combining with the sniffles of the crying guests and the hushes of husbands attempting to quiet their hysterical wives. When I reached his son, I stood over his crouched body, shadowing him.

“Are you not even going to protect your wife?” I asked.

“We- we aren’t official.” His words were shaky as he tried to scoot back.

I looked over my shoulder at the guests. “He will not protect her, because they aren’t official.” Looking back down at the future of the Accardo empire, I huffed. “You don’t deserve her.”

“I hardly know her.” He spat, “Do what you want with her.”

“You don’t do that. He didn’t mean it,” his father interjected.

But the words were said, and he couldn’t take them back now. Even if this marriage were to continue, no one would look at Jonny Accardo the same, not when he was so willing to sacrifice his future wife for his own life. That wasn’t a man. That was a coward. And I wasn’t sure what type of deal this marriage was bringing them, but it would never go forward.

I stepped over the coward to the other side, where the girl had attempted to hide behind a floral arrangement. “You’re going to have to pick a better hiding place than that, darling.”

I crouched in front of her, ignoring the shouts of protest, the sudden uprising that my presence next to her had caused. I had no intention of harming her. Hell, until a few days ago, I hadn’t even known this marriage was taking place, and I never cared to learn the bride’s name. Pushing back the veil, I was jolted for a moment, entangled in the sight of burning green orbs. I swallowed, ignoring the fire she was shooting at me. “You were willing to marry a man who wouldn’t protect you.”

“I-“ She swallowed and fuck . It had been a long time since I acknowledged something so simple, but I couldn’t deny it now. The girl was a beauty, classic and simple. “I don’t really know him.”

“But you were ready to take his name.” I laughed. Old families and their barbaric ways.

“It’s complicated.” She bit her lip.

“Uncomplicate it,” I stated, and her eyes fell to the crowd, growing more agitated by the second, before she shook her head.

“I can’t.”

“Who is stopping you?” My hand jutted forward, ready to push the veil away, and she flinched.

I hated that her immediate reaction was to flinch away from me. I’d never hurt a female. But then again, she did just see me put a bullet through a skull without hesitation.

“You will leave the girl out of this,” Accardo growled, and it only made me want to touch her more. “She’s innocent.”

“You will leave my daughter out of this,” a voice, so familiar, shouted as the man stomped up the stairs. My head whipped to the side, my eyes burning at Vinnie Crusiaux.

“She’s yours?” I stood, already having my gun pointed at the man.

“You will not touch her.”

Oh, that’s where he was wrong. My two greatest enemies in a single place, their daughter and son here at the church altar, like an offering to me. “Move closer and you’re dead. I didn’t come here to have trouble with you. Our past isn’t relevant here.”

It’s not relevant, but I’d be damned if I didn’t use this moment to get some payback.

“She’s my only child. Please.” He held out a hand, letting his weapon fall to the floor, showing me he’s no threat. Except I’ve lost men to him. People I cared about. A gun in his hand now or later won’t change what he is capable of.

I let my eyes fall to the burning emeralds of the girl’s eyes. “You’re a Crusiaux.”

She didn’t speak, didn’t need to. The truth of it was written on her face, and it was then I made a split decision. Break the heart of one of my enemies and forever hold the other in the palm.

“Father Anthony. We have a ceremony to complete.” I spoke to Father Anthony without turning my gaze away from the girl, giving an order as I stood.

Vinnie Crusiaux sighed his relief. His relief was short-lived. Mercer was behind the girl in an instant. His arm already hefted her up by the waist. “Boss?”

I knew what he was questioning. I hadn’t made this new turn of events clear. My only intent was to get in here, kill the son of my enemy, and let him feel the years of pain he had caused me. Everybody we dropped in the process was collateral damage. But plans changed. My motives did. Why hurt one enemy when two were presented to me with a bow?

“Father, proceed,” I ordered.

“No!” Vinnie lunged forward, but Drew stepped in his path, preventing the movement.

“Move another inch and we’ll start killing your guests,” Drew informed him.

It wouldn’t be hard. Fuck, look how easy it was to hide out and wait. The moment we showed up, their men hardly fought, probably still hungover from a night on the town. But we overtook them effortlessly. Now they begged on their knees, hoping for a life we’d not honor.

With Max and Ace guarding the father and son, and Drew blocking my future father-in-law, Father Anthony continued speaking the expedited words of matrimony. I didn’t know what I was doing. It didn’t matter. My heart died long ago, and the words were powerless to affect it.

Still, I can’t say that speaking the simple phrase didn’t somehow tug at the pit of my stomach. “I do.”

“And do you, Bellamy Crusiaux, take Adam Ferrari…” His words died out with her panic. I couldn’t hear Father Anthony speak. Her head shook from side to side, denying me what she had no choice but to give. A single utterance of my name, and the girl was nearly hysterical.

Not enough to hurt her, Mercer gripped her jaw, gripping her head in place so he could mutter in her ear. “Say yes or your father dies.”

I saw the contemplation, when she debated her father’s life for her own. Then rejoiced in the moment she caved and acceptance took hold. “I…do.”

Father Anthony didn’t bother telling me I could kiss the bride. My lips were on hers before she could blink. A hard, chaste kiss. Before I pulled away, I whipped my gun out and shot Jonny Accardo dead. The act signaled my men to do the same, removing every threat of their men, leaving bodies slumped where they once kneeled. Sparing only Joseph Accardo and Vinnie Crusiaux.

And as I followed Mercer out of the church, my wife slung over his shoulder, the only sound that followed were the wails of women in the pews, praying for the dead.