Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR
SERENITY
Our guests are strapped into their luxury leather seats.
Mom, Dad, Krew, and I are dressed in protective gear. We stand on the plastic sheet before our enemies, ready to spill blood.
I know my brother has killed before. In our world, torturing enemies is a way to relieve stress. My brother and I are fucked up in different ways. However, we both carry demons on our backs like carcass’. I know he’s waited for this day, too.
Dad’s olive complexion is blazing red. It’s evident in his gray eyes he wants to murder both of these men for what they stole from him.
“I see you have fancy chairs for your enemies.” Dad arches a brow.
“My husband bought these special toys for me,” I say.
Nico stands off to the side wearing a navy henley that’s molded to his muscled frame, dark slacks, and boots. His beautiful dark hair is covered by a bouffant cap.
“Nothing but the best for my wife.” He winks at me.
This man is a mess. Last night, he held me tight, his body curling around me like a fucking tortilla wrap. There’s no doubt in my mind he loves me. But he has to pay for what he’s done.
“The chairs have all sorts of gadgets.” I announce, stepping forward and flicking a switch on the side of the chair Ettore’s sitting in. A long thin needle punctures Ettore’s thigh muscle.
“Ah,” he roars.
I peek at my parents. “Cool, huh?”
Mom’s eyes are filled with excitement.
I wave them over, showing them how to work the chair.
“Don’t move,” Mom chuckles as she flips the switch on the back of the chair.
We watch a tiny needle penetrate the side of Ettore’s neck.
He squeals like a pig.
“That’s a new sound,” I roar with laughter.
The needle retracts, and Dad curls his big hand around Ettore’s neck. “I’ve wanted to end you for years. But I promised my daughter I’d wait until she was ready to kill you.”
I smile wide. “Yup, my dad waited for me. You piece of rotten dog shit, have no idea how hard that had to be for him to do.”
Mom circles a hand on Dad’s back.
“You sent soldiers to my house to kill my family. But you told me once I gave up my territory…” Dad wraps his other hand around Aleksandr’s neck. “…for an operation you partnered to steal from me.”
Dad squeezes harder, cutting off their air supply. Their faces turn beet-red.
“Ettore, you swore my family would be safe. Turned out your word wasn’t worth shit.” Dad peeks over his shoulder.
“Krew, give Mom a scalpel.”
Both men began to lose consciousness. Dad releases their necks. They cough uncontrollably. Not giving them time to catch their breath. Mom curls her fingers around the scalpel. And Krew slips a hammer into Dad’s hand.
“The men weren’t at my house to threaten my family. They were there to kill them.”
Dad brings the hammer down on Ettore’s thigh right above his shattered, bandaged knee.
He lets out a bloodcurdling scream.
Krew slams a switchblade into Aleksandr’s shoulder.
“Fuck,” he roars.
Mom slashes the scalpel across Ettore’s chest, taking pleasure in his pain and the blood dripping down his chest.
“Big Lux, are we ready?” Dad asks.
Big Lux stands off to the side beside Nico now, hands cupped in front of him. “Yes, sir.”
Dad nods at Nico.
Nico produces a TV remote control from his pocket and taps the power button. We glance at the screen hanging on the wall behind us.
Mom and Dad, step aside.
Ettore’s eyes widen. “No!” he yells.
“How does it feel, Ettore?” Mom asks. “To see your family helpless?”
Ettore’s two sons and their mother sit in wooden chairs, gagged with zip ties securing their wrists and ankles.
“They’re helpless,” I say in a low, wicked tone.
“Lucky for me your brother was a disgusting asshole. I believe the only reason I wasn’t tied up, he wanted to feel my fists bang against his chest while he raped me.”
I notice Nico curl his fist at his side. He wants to beat Ettore to death.
“How would you like it if I have your family gutted in real time?” Dad’s chuckle borders on maniacal.
“Please, no,” Ettore cries.
“I had no choice. To hold your family hostage. I was in bed with the devil. Aleksandr threatened to kill my family if I didn’t get product moving through the Newark underground pipeline at any cost.”
Ettore’s eyes harden. “My men were there to kill your family. Not rape or torture.”
Mom slices Ettore’s chest again. “Liar. You sent thirsty savages who didn’t care about women and children. That big motherfucker killed my baby,” she roars.
Tears stream down her cheeks. “You killed our baby.”
My stomach twists into knots. I hurt for my mother. Nico’s at my side, pulling me close. His lips press against my forehead.
“At the same time your men stole my innocence. I take pleasure in knowing I killed them. Because of what Lurch did to my mom, I didn’t want to bring a child into this world.
That day I snapped. I was no longer sweet and innocent mafia princess Serenity Cichello.
I was a psychopath. Had to be checked into a mental facility.
I couldn’t marry the man I loved because there was no way I could have his heirs. I’m still fucked up,” I shout.
I peek at my brother, who’s staring at Aleksandr.
“You didn’t care who died as long as you could push your product through our territory,” Krew says as he swings a sledgehammer into Aleksandr’s shin. The sound of crushing bone and screams fill the room.
“You aren’t married, so there was no one to kidnap. But we will cripple your business,” Krew adds. He glances at Nico.
“Can you go to cam two?”
“With pleasure.” Nico taps a button on the remote, and a row of burning warehouses appears on the screen.
“What the fuck? No,” Aleksandr roars.
“Thought we wouldn’t find your precious supply building,” Dad laughs.
Nico steps back, allowing my family and I to continue with our torture.
“Our connections with the New Jersey five families have allowed us to broaden our reach.” Dad widens his arms for theatrics.
“With the help of Sebastian Johansen, the software tycoon. He hacked into your bank accounts. All the money sitting in offshore accounts now belongs to the Cichellos and the five families. Your family has nothing.”
“Unlike you bastards, we don’t kill women and children.” I grin.
“Dad wanted you to feel what it felt like to be helpless. My father is the best man I know. Sure, he’s a gangster, but he still has honor.” I hold my head high.
Dad brings the hammer down on Ettore’s other thigh again and again. “You miserable piece of shit. You thought you were untouchable. You terrorized my daughter. Stole her innocence. Left my son helpless. And murdered our unborn child. I should have my men slit your family's throats in front of you.”
The pleading look on Ettore’s face brings me satisfaction.
“No,” he wails, blood pouring from his wounds.
Dad hands the hammer to Mom and steps toward Aleksandr. Together with Krew, they begin to torment him.
Mom raises the hammer and strikes Ettore’s shoulder. “There’s a twisted pleasure in watching you suffer, dying slowly. My family and I will chop you two bitches into pieces and toss your body parts into the fire,” she says through hysterical laughter.
“You will also be punished for spitting on me.” I flash a wicked grin.
Nico steps closer in full protective gear, gripping a scalpel. “I’m going to cut your fucking lips off. I’ll leave your tongue for Tizáno.” My husband chuckles.
I watch as my husband slices Ettore’s lips off like a plastic surgeon.
“Beautiful job, baby,” I purr.
Nico smiles. “Princess, finish him off.”
I select a rusty saw from the array of tools on the table and grab Ettore’s arm. “Mom, let’s have some fun.”
She chuckles. “Let’s.”
As Mom plunges her blades into Ettore’s flesh, tearing him apart, I sever one of his arms.
The torment lasted for hours. Mom skillfully cut just deep enough to keep Ettore breathing. Dad and Krew delivered the final blow. Nico tortured and killed Aleksandr for sending men to murder him—and for killing Lune.
They earned every ounce of our fury.
Now, it’s time for my family to heal and move forward with our lives.