Page 20 of And Twice as Twisted (Agostino Crime Family #4)
“Hello.” I ignored Al and addressed the man between us. “We can make this very easy. I ask a question, you answer truthfully, and I end you quickly.”
“Fuck you, ya Agostino scum.” He spit the words, blood coating the air when he spoke, and tried shaking the chain loose, only to howl out in pain when his ankle bent at an awkward angle.
“Deluca, actually.” I turned with clippers in my hands, enjoying the way his pupils dilated with fear. “Apollo Deluca.”
“You-you… you’re the reaper.” His whisper earned the smallest tilt of my lips.
“Indeed.” I turned back to my table of toys.
“Why were you in Sienna’s apartment?” Al questioned, kicking him in the ribs when he didn’t answer. “You’ll tell us eventually, so save yourself the pain.”
He remained silent as his eyes landed on the table of devices.
“Do you know much about anatomy? Humans, which represent the most complex lifeform, all share certain requirements: respiration, digestion, and excretion. These processes are interrelated and utilize organs, mass cells, and other physical anomalies that are above your level of cognitive ability.”I twirled the rope around my hands, turning to look at our captive still bound on the floor.
“I think the most incomprehensible fact for individuals such as yourself is that the human body can go up to three minutes with no air and survive with little to no damage.”
“This should be good.” Al grinned. They called me sick, but I was merely a singular act in this demented circus of il famiglia .
“When we approach five to ten minutes, there is concern for brain damage. That being said, I believe we can attempt four minutes safely and see how many times I must resuscitate you until you fold.” I turned to Al. “For science, of course.”
“Of course.” He nodded at our patient, who proceeded to fill the room with a pungent odor as he relieved his bowels.
I swept my arms over his neck, wrapping the rope around his throat and pulling tight.
His limbs flailed and his fingers fought to relieve some of the tension.
The rope impeded the flow of oxygen, preventing blood flow to the brain.
He was unaware but the combination of pressure to the neck was also restricting his trachea, which was what made respiration impossible, eventually resulting in his slow asphyxiation.
I was counting in my head, ensuring he would suffer but not too hastily. If we crossed over four minutes, I might not get the information I needed. But his presence in Sienna’s apartment assured me he possessed pertinent intel when it came to the threat against her life.
He’d give me answers. They always did.
As minutes turned to hours, I grew restless, nearly allowing our captive to succumb to brain death before he finally squealed. I was unsure, at first, if he’d be able to articulate a response. But once the oxygen fully saturated his lungs and the blood flow resumed, he sang a very interesting tune.
And gave me a name.
“Find that motherfucker,” I commanded Al before ordering Rocco to meet me at the docks. “I want answers. Now.”
I’d quickly changed into a suit, and shortly after, Rocco arrived, practically frothing at the mouth for a little bloodshed. Al had already pinpointed the location and put feelers out for the man in question.
Al parked outside the small Italian restaurant; several armed men stood outside, awaiting our arrival. We paid them little attention as we stormed through the front doors. The place was empty except for the two fuckers seated at the table in the center.
“I heard you were looking for me. What can I do for you, Deluca?” Romano’s cocky tone was practically begging for a bullet.
“Is someone missing a check-in with you?” It was subtle, but his scar bounced just enough to tell me I’d hit the nail on the head. “Someone with a very important task?”
“Stop speaking in circles and ask the fucking question.” His impatience curled my lips into a grotesque smirk. He didn’t know his man was missing… until now.
“Why did you send someone to Sienna’s apartment to pick her up?”
His brow scrunched, and for some reason, it gave me pause.
“Pick her up?” He nodded towards Romeo, who stepped outside to make a call. “I didn’t send anyone to pick her up.”
He was telling the truth. I could tell, read it on his face, hear it in his voice.
“Didn’t send anyone to pick her up. But you had someone on her.” It wasn’t a question, and his knowing smirk proved my point.
“I did. You should speak with Mario about that.”
Al turned and showed him his phone, giving Romano a glimpse of the man I’d just killed.
“It’s true. I had someone watching the apartment, but that’s not him. Though I’m assuming he’s the reason one of my guys is missing.”
“You’re lucky I believe you.” It was my gut reaction.
Romano wiped his mouth and smiled, his scar dancing with the movement.
Romeo walked back in and whispered in his ear.
“I gotta go. I’m heading back to my city and would like to stop for a coffee along the way.
” I wanted to give him a matching scar to answer for his feral smile.
“Till next time, Deluca.” And then he and the rest of his entourage left.
“You really think he didn’t order it?” Al’s question was one I could answer with no hesitation.
“I know he didn’t.”
True to his word, it appeared the Agostino patriarch didn’t believe his son or his men could protect his daughter.
I understood Mario’s need to ensure Sienna’s safety, especially with Octavia still missing.
But to seek an outside source was not only a sign of weakness but an act of disrespect to those who looked up to him.
“Make that call to Lucky now. He needs to have a conversation with his father.”
We climbed into the SUV, our minds consumed by the newest unanswered question. Meanwhile, the beast inside my chest was rattling the cage and all he wanted was blood.