Chapter 22 #2
Enzo’s breath is hot and heavy at the back of my neck, his arm curling around my front as his lips fall to my temple. “I’m going to make them suffer, baby. They’re going to bleed,” he says against my ear. “For you.”
Inhales storm into my lungs, my heart pounding so fast, I can’t tame it, wanting them to feel an ounce of what they did to me.
Enzo lets go, opening the door to the back seat and shoving one of the men. “Get the fuck inside.”
They both reluctantly enter, and Enzo locks the doors with a click, before grabbing zip ties from the glove compartment and tying their hands together over their knees. “I’m gonna show you what I do to those who hurt my girl.” He slams the door hard, then helps me into my seat and gets into his.
With a turn of his key, we’re driving off.
“What the hell do you want from us?” one of them asks. “Money? Info? What? How can we fix this?”
“You don’t get it, do you?” Enzo finds him through the rearview mirror. “There’s nothing you can do. Nothing you can say. You’re both gonna die tonight and no one will find your bodies.”
We arrive back at Enzo’s, a pale blue McLaren Speedtail already parked in the driveway, a man I recognize from the strip club casually leaning against it.
“That’s one of my brothers,” Enzo explains as we get out, strutting over to him. They clasp hands before his brother raises a chin in greeting.
“Nice to officially meet you. I’m Dante.”
“You too.” I reach out a hand for his with a smile matching his crooked one.
“So, what do we have here?” He eyes Enzo’s SUV, some of the guards already moving to stand around the car. Enzo must’ve texted Dante from the restaurant.
“The usual shit.” He shrugs. “No dicks have been cut off this time though. Not yet.”
Dante chuckles. “Your boy has some screws loose,” he says to me.
“Yeah,” Enzo scoffs, “says the guy who cut out that one dude’s eyes.”
“True.” Dante’s lips deepen with a smirk. “We’ve all got a little bit of crazy in us.”
I narrow a gaze. “I’m not sure if I should be afraid or—”
“Nah, you just gotta embrace the crazy.” Enzo drapes an arm around my shoulders, pulling me to his side with a kiss to the top of my head. “We’re more lovable that way.”
“I’m going to take your word for it,” I toss with amusement before my expression turns serious.
“Does he know?” I ask Enzo, looking between them. I know he understands what I’m talking about.
“Yeah, he knows.” He weaves back to look my way. “I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine.” My mouth tightens. “I guess I should be used to people knowing my past.”
“I’m sorry for what you went through, Joelle,” Dante remarks, the kindness in his eyes is as soulful as his brother’s. “We’re going to find your son, and we’re gonna get him out of this.”
“Thanks.” My chest warms from his sincerity, though I’m plagued by doubt. Every day that Robby’s out there, the chances of finding him diminish.
“Are we ready to do this?” Dante asks, running a hand over the top of his head, fingers snaked past the length of his thick, brown hair.
“Let’s go.” Enzo starts to move back to his car with me in tow, Dante walking ahead, opening the door.
“Hey, boys!” he tells them. “Welcome to the party.” He plasters a facetious grin as he yanks them out by the zip ties like he’s dragging cattle to the slaughter. The looks of defeat on their faces tells me they know the end is near.
The girl I used to be would be horrified at the relief I feel knowing they’ll die, but the woman I am today, she’ll enjoy every moment.
Two of Enzo’s guards grab the men by the collar of their shirts and drag them into the house.
We follow inside as they’re led into a basement, climbing down step after step before we arrive at a brightly lit room, more like the size of three.
Enzo is before me, a palm clasping the back of my neck, his forehead leaning over mine. “You don’t have to be here for this.”
“I need to be here.” I push away a fraction, wanting him to see me, to see how much truth is in my words. “It may not take back what they did, but at least they’ll know what it means to suffer.”
“I promise you. They’re gonna fucking wish they were dead by the time I’m done.”
Softly, I plant a kiss on his lips, and for a brief moment, his eyes fall closed, a lazy smile crawling over his mouth.
“Why don’t you go sit down on the sofa,” he tells me, affection carved into his gaze.
“Okay.”
“I love you,” he swears before backing away, moving toward the kitchen set against the wall to my left, a large black pot of water boiling on the stove, bubbles spilling over.
On the counter beside it lies an opened black case, a sizable collection of knives and sharp weapons holstered inside. A shudder drapes over me, even knowing I won’t be on the receiving end of them.
I take my seat as my tormentors are pushed into the two chairs neatly placed in the center of the room, facing Enzo, their exhales unsteady, their eyes wandering around the room and the six guards who now fill it. Two of them bind the ankles of the men to the chairs with another set of zip ties.
Dante stands behind them, his arms crossed at his chest, peering at Enzo’s back as he runs his hands over the weapons before him.
“This is nuts.” The ringleader breaks the silence. “We paid for it. That was her fucking job.”
Enzo’s shoulders slowly hike up and down, like he’s controlling the anger simmering beneath.
“Shut up, Jay,” his friend spits out.
“Yeah, shut up, Jay.” Dante smacks him on the back of the head.
“What?” Jay laughs mockingly, his charcoal eyes deepening to almost black, the color of hell. “They’re going to kill us anyway. Hey, you,” he continues, calling to Enzo. “Did she not tell you how good she gives it?”
My stomach churns. That fucking bastard.
“Don’t let her lie to you. She loved every second of my dick in her cunt.”
The rage balls in my chest, squeezing at me as I jump to my feet. “You motherf—” But I don’t finish the sentence, because in a mere blink, Enzo is on him, the blade in his hand slicing wide right across Jay’s cheek.
“Ahh!” he cries, blood gushing down his face and into his lap, right over his balled fists.
Enzo removes a gun from his ankle holster, pushing the barrel into Jay’s forehead. “You should’ve never opened your mouth. You’re about to lose your tongue for it. But first…”
He aims the weapon at the man’s crotch.
Pop.
The bullet fires as a scream pierces the room. His scream. Enzo reaches into Jay’s pocket, retrieving his wallet as the man continues to wail.
“How does it feel to be powerless?” I rise, making my way up to him, to both of them, needing to confront them. “How does it feel to know you’re going to die?”
Enzo moves a fraction, giving me space.
I lower my head, my face level to Jay’s. “I didn’t want what you did to me. It’s men like you, with your sick depravities that kept the club going. I’ve never wished death on anyone, but I wish it for you, for all three of you.”
When I straighten, I’m met with a face of the man whose love for me outshines every awful thing he may have done. He shares in my pain. Owns it. Feels it. I’m really not alone anymore.
Dante slips a hand into the other man’s pants pocket, dragging out his wallet. “Graham Mince. Age forty-two,” he reads.
Enzo opens the other wallet. “Jay Singer. Age forty-four. We’ll make sure even your mommy can’t find your remains.”
“I’m sorry!” Graham now begs with the tears of a coward. “It wasn’t right what we did. I know that now.”
“Fuck you!” My fist connects with his lip, adrenaline winding through my veins as he groans.
“That’s my girl.” Enzo steps around, grabbing my hand and rubbing my knuckles. It aches in that moment, the rage fleeing, the pain coming, but it felt good. I needed to do it.
With an arm curled around the small of my back, we face them together. “Beg. Scream. It doesn’t matter,” Enzo says. “I’m going to take bits of you until you die. And right now, I’m gonna start with your tongues.”