18. Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen
NO MERCY
Aaliyah
Sitting in Tony’s office, we listened intently to Guiseppe as he meticulously went over the information, he had collected from sources he wouldn’t name. Whether he named them or not, it made no difference. We knew who was behind everything, and now we were eagerly seeking confirmation.
“Is that everyone?” Antonio asked through gritted teeth, struggling to contain his anger.
Although he suspected his mother was involved, it was hard hearing it from someone else’s mouth. He tried to hide how it affected him, but I could see. His jaw ticked, the way his brow furrowed. He was angry but also heartbroken. Although Antonio knew his mother was a piece of shit, it was hard knowing she hated me so much when he loved me beyond measure.
“No, Don. But if I might make a suggestion?” Instead of speaking, Antonio silently urged Guiseppe to continue with a brief, affirmative nod. “I don’t believe Dante and your mother are in this alone. I don’t have proof, but the word on the street is there’s a major player coming after other organizations. Maybe they are the ones pulling the strings.”
Antonio gave me a knowing look, his eyes filled with understanding. His mother was working with whoever had put hits on the wives of all the leaders.
“Thank you for the information, Guiseppe.” His eyes shot up in surprise, but he schooled his reaction quickly. “The Don and I are grateful that you came forward. Please come by tomorrow so we can discuss how to pay you for this valuable information.”
“Oh... thank you, Donna,” he said, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and gratitude. “Thank you both for your generosity.”
Antonio and I stood, and Guiseppe followed. Antonio extended his hand, and Guiseppe eagerly clasped it, followed by me doing the same.
“See you tomorrow,” Antonio said.
Guiseppe nodded in agreement before making his exit from the office. As the door closed behind him, Antonio exhaled deeply, then sat in his chair.
“What do you want to do?” I asked.
“We find Dante, then we go to Italy. After we deal with them, then we call the heads and inform them and tackle who’s in control.”
Antonio dialed Franco, his voice stern as he ordered him and Luca to track down Dante and take him to the dungeon. By any means necessary. We needed to get to him before he informed Marianna and before he let whoever was behind this know we were closing in.
I’d only been to the dungeon once during one of Tony’s torture sessions, but I’d make sure to be there for this one. Nobody came for me and my family.
“What’s your plan?” Alessandro asked.
“He dies,” Antonio said. “He played a part in everything, including the hit on Aaliyah. Then we go after Marianna.”
Antonio turned to me. “Call Abasi. I promised to let him know if we found out anything.”
I retrieved my phone from my pocket and dialed his number. I knew he’d want to be involved. One thing about my adopted father was he didn’t let anyone fuck with me. He was livid even though he hid it very well.
“Aaliyah. Are you alright?” he asked when he picked up after the first ring.
I’d never heard a tinge of panic in his voice until that moment.
“Yes, I’m fine, Abasi. We found some of the people involved just not who’s pulling the strings.”
“I’m sure once you take care of the puppets you will find the puppet master.”
Abasi had always had a poetic way of framing things and had a never-ending trust in my abilities in whatever I was doing.
I sighed. “I hope so.”
“Am I sensing doubt?”
I knew he could hear the wavering in my voice, and I braced myself for the impending fatherly lecture.
“The woman I raised does not doubt the ability to end what others have started. You were raised for this moment, Aaliyah. They have wronged you and your family, now it’s time to show them who you are. Show them why you hold the position that you hold, dear daughter. No mercy.”
He was right. He was always right. He raised me to be as ruthless as him. He raised me to be the wolf in sheep’s clothing. The one everyone would underestimate because I was a woman. Because I was beautiful. Because I was Black. Only to realize their mistake when it was too late. That was why Abasi made me the face of his organization. That was why Marianna and whoever else was involved in the plot had underestimated me. And it will be why they would all fall.
“No mercy,” I repeated, my voice growing stronger with each word.
“That’s right. You are my child. Maybe not by blood, but you are mine, nonetheless. Make sure you remind them of who you are.”
When a smile crossed my face, Antonio and Alessandro immediately diverted their attention from their conversation towards me. Abasi had always treated me as a daughter but not too long after Antonio proposed, he started referring to me more as his daughter and not the child of a friend that he raised.
“Keep me informed,” he said.
“I will.”
Without another word he ended the call.
“What did he say?” Antonio asked, his breath brushing against the shell of my ear.
“Just to make sure I make them pay for going after my family.”
I felt his warm lips graze my forehead as he kissed me tenderly. “We will make them all pay.”
***
It didn’t take long for the Camorra boss to get back to us with the information we needed. Santino Grasso, Capo of the Nusco Clan of the Camorra was the boss sanctioned to die in Norway over thirty years ago. A name was all I needed to dig into the Grasso family. He was a ruthless leader, and not well loved by his clan. It also explained Agent Grasso’s reasons for coming after Tony. Santino Grasso was his father, and he was only a toddler when he died. According to news reports, relief rippled through Campania when news spread that his remains had been deposited on the steps of his palatial estate. However, while his family mourned, his clan celebrated and moved beyond the Grasso’s as leaders.
The air was thick with the nauseating stench of shit and ammonia, reminding me of the torture session happening in front of me. Tony’s white dress shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbow, revealing a striking black and white tattoo. As he showed no mercy to Dante Messina, blood splatter now covered his chest, hands, and arms, creating a gruesome sight.
“You know more!” Tony’s shout echoed through the air as he landed a powerful punch to Dante’s stomach.
He grunted on impact, his bloody body swinging from the rafters. Tony’s brutal assault left Dante helpless, his wrists bound by iron shackles and connected to heavy chains hanging from the ceiling.
Grunts, moans, and groans echoed through the room. Another stream of urine trickled down his bare skin, forming a puddle on the floor beneath him. It was amazing Dante hadn’t spilled any information up to this point. But I think I had a way to get him to talk.
As I walked across the stained concrete floor of the room Tony called the dungeon, my heels clicked loudly, echoing in the dimly lit space. I didn’t know how many souls had been taken between these four walls, but I was sure Dante Messina would not be the last.
As I approached him, Tony stopped his onslaught of punches, stepping aside for me to get closer. I wasn’t afraid. There wasn’t anything he could do to me.
As I circled his naked body, I couldn’t help but notice the purplish, black bruises that stood out against his bloody tanned skin. Internal injuries were definitely a possibility, and the reason he hadn’t spoken was because he knew his death was inevitable. But I was sure he’d talk to me.
“Mr. Messina, aren’t you ready for the pain to end?” I asked once I made it back in front of him.
He strained to raise his head, his muscles trembling with effort. Despite his swollen eyes, he mustered all his hatred and attempted to glare at me.
“All I have to say is your time’s coming, bitch,” he sneered.
“So, I’ve heard,” I said, unconcerned by the threat. “But before that time comes you will tell my husband everything he wants to know. Who is behind the threats besides Marianna? Who are you working for?”
“Fuck you!”
A glob of spit landed at my feet. Tony made a move towards Dante, but I placed my hand on his forearm, stopping him. Tony’s gaze shifted towards me, and the anger in his eyes instantly vanished. He stepped back behind me, crossing his arms against his chest, while I moved closer to Dante.
His head sagged; the brutal beating Tony had given him was taking up all of his energy. As I reached for his nuts, the sharp tips of my perfectly polished fingernails pressed into the soft flesh. As my nails dug into his skin, I could feel the warmth of his blood staining my fingers.
The sound of his screams filled the air as he tried to break free from my grip. But I wasn’t letting go. I would get answers to whoever was trying to harm me and my family.
“Who are you working for, Dante?” I squeezed a little harder, twisting just enough to make sure I was giving him pain, but not enough where he’d pass out before I got my answers. “If you tell me, I can end all your pain. Would you like to end your pain quickly?”
He nodded his head as best he could, and I loosened my grip on his nuts. Tony handed me a wet towel, and cold water seeped through the fabric as I wiped the sticky blood from my fingers.
“Who are you working for, Dante?” Tony asked.
“Grasso,” he mumbled. “Camorra.”
“Agent Grasso?” Tony asked.
He shook his head. “Camorra,” Dante repeated. “Marianna... Camorra.”
As his head sank down, his body started convulsing with violent spasms. Tony pushed me out of the way, to reach Dante.
“He’s having a seizure,” I said. “Just put him out of his misery, Tony. I’m ready to be done with this and your mother has the answers we need.”
I caught his gaze as he glanced back at me, his sigh echoing in the air was filled with frustration and disappointment. I knew he wanted to have the answers before we went to Marianna, but now that we had confirmed Guiseppe’s information with Dante’s confession, there was no doubt she was involved. We could get all we needed from her.
Antonio brandished his firearm, moved a few paces from Dante, and fired, the bullet penetrating his skull.
“Franco, get rid of the body,” Tony ordered.
Nodding, Franco hurried towards Dante’s lifeless body.
Antonio approached me, and I touched his cheek stained with blood. While he knew what needed to be done, Marianna was still his mother. I wouldn’t miss her, but I was sure a part of him would.
“I’m sorry, my love.”
A heavy sigh emanated from him. “The woman I loved died a long time ago, Bella . No need to be sorry. Let’s get this done.”
Without another word, he wrapped his arm around my waist, escorting me out of the dungeon. Next stop, Italy. It was time we ended this.