Page 9

Katie

The gentleman bags up my candle along with a few other bits I like. Leo insists on paying. We make our way along the street; Leo steers me up a little alley and into a magnificent jewellers’. The whole shop twinkles with diamonds and precious stones in glass cabinets.

“Apparently, my wife-to-be needs a ring.”

I follow Leo around the shop as the assistant explains the different areas.

“Over here, you find our solitaire rings, and here are our three stones. Do you have anything specific in mind?”

“Oh, I don’t know—maybe something black to match his heart.”

The assistant does a half giggle, not knowing whether or not to laugh.

“I’ll leave you both to it,” she says, sensing the awkwardness.

I have dreamt of this moment since I was a little girl. But not like this.

Taking a look around, I imagine if this was a real engagement. Which ring would I choose? It has to be a solitaire. Either a square or a round diamond. Platinum, definitely. Wow, there are some stunning rings.

The assistant pulls me from my bubble. “Do you see anything you like?”

I see Leo’s dark eyes looking at me with impatience.

“Yes, ummm, this one.” I point to a gold ring with three large diamonds. It’s pretty, but it’s not me.

“Lovely choice.” The assistant hands me the ring to try on.

It’s huge; it doesn’t fit at all.

“No!”

Both the assistant and I jump at Leo’s outburst.

“We can have it resized; it won’t take long,” she says apologetically.

“Not that one; this one here." Leo bangs on the glass cabinet with his finger. "We will take this one.”

The assistant places the ring Leo has chosen on my finger, and it fits perfectly. It’s also a platinum band with a large round solitaire. I love it.

It’s exactly the one I would choose. I don’t want it.

“I don’t like it.”

“Yes, you do.” Leo hands his card to the assistant before I can refuse further.

“I told you that you like it,” Leo says with a smirk when he catches me admiring it on the journey back.

“Yes, I do like it. I love it, in fact. It’s exactly the one I would have chosen. That’s why I don’t want it.”

“I don’t understand. Why do you not want it?”

“Because we aren’t really engaged. Not properly.

I wanted this ring to be given to me by someone who loves me, whom I love.

For them to get down on one knee and tell me how much they love me, for them to ask me to be their wife.

Not force me into it, give me a list of rules, and threaten me with goodness knows what if I don’t comply. That’s why I don’t want it.”

For a change, it’s not anger on Leo’s face. It’s confusion mixed with something else.

Le o

Ungrateful. That’s what she is. From now on, I will treat this arrangement as I do all my deals. I am in charge. She gets nothing else.

“I will be out for the rest of the day and night. You will stay here. Behave. I have left Van in charge of you. He isn’t as friendly as Marco.”

I close the bedroom door on her unamused face.

The SUV slowly rolls around the back of the dock. It’s dark and quiet. Not for long.

“Everyone is in position, boss. The light in the distance is the cargo arriving.”

The moonlight shining on the sea bounces sporadically as the boat approaches.

“On my order.” I instruct.

The boat docks. I watch the unsuspecting men unload my delivery, albeit 15 percent less than expected. I let my fury build my adrenaline. Marco watches me through the rearview mirror, waiting for the signal.

“Now!”

The crew shouts, firing their guns into the darkness in panic. They stop once they realise who they are surrounded by.

“Kenny,” I say to the member of the crew in charge of the transportation of my delivery .

“Boss, you gave us a bit of a fright there. What’s going on?” he replies, trying not to sound worried.

“That is a good question, Kenny. You tell me what has been going on tonight.” I command.

The other three crew members look from one another and back to Kenny, terror growing in their eyes.

“Everything to plan, boss.”

Boom. The gunfire echoes through the night. The lifeless body hits the deck, increasing the panic in the remaining crew members' eyes.

“Wrong answer, Kenny!”

Boom.

Another body hitting the deck causes Kenny's last remaining crew member to piss himself.

Boom.

“I hate the smell of guilt.” I sniff up and spit at Kenny's feet.

Three bodies lie lifeless, blood turning the wooden deck a deep shade of red. I don’t need to ask for this mess to be cleaned. By the morning, the deck will be cleaner than it was when we arrived.

“Wrap up Kenny’s leg; I don’t want him bleeding all over the car or dying before we have a chance to speak.”

“But boss, Kenny is not bleeding,” Marco replies questioningly.

Boom.

“He is now.”

Marco puts a screaming Kenny in the boot of car and drives us to my house. He pulls into the underground garage.

I let the shutter door close before I exit the car. Marco drags Kenny out effortlessly and ties him to a chair.

Marco puts on his bloodstained butcher's apron.

“Just kill me, Guerra.” Kenny's voice is weak. He’s clearly affected by the loss of blood.

“Now, what would be the fun of that? Marco likes to amuse himself I can’t deprive him of that.”

Marco examines the tools presented neatly on a table in front of Kenny. Settling into my chair, I light a cigar. Kenny coughs as I blow smoke in his direction.

“Now, Kenny, we all know why we are here. We can do this the painful way or the even more painful way. Which is it going to be?”

Macro approaches Kenny with his tool of choice. His favourite one to begin with—pruning shears. He grabs Kenny’s hand, placing his finger between the blades.

“So, what have you got to tell me? Who did you meet? Give me a name!”

“I don’t know their name, I swear!”

Crunch . The first finger drops to the floor.

Screams of terror ripple through the soundproof underground garage. A strange uneasiness twinges in my chest. Something is not right. I look around the room at my men, who all have confused looks on their faces.

And then I see her. Katherine exits a cupboard and runs as if her life depends on it up the stairs. She slips halfway, banging her kneecap on the concrete step. I immediately go to help her.

“Don’t you touch me!” The disgust is clear in her tone.

“Finish this, Marco." I demand over my shoulder.

I follow Katherine up the stairs. She runs away from me, escaping to our bedroom and locking the door behind her. I could break it down, but I don’t, deciding to let her cool off first. I need a drink.