Page 38 of My best friends little sister

Its been almost 3 weeks since I broke up with angelica. After a week of searching I found her a place. It was perfect for her. A cosy style apartment. On the outside it looked like any old modern apartment, but on the inside, it was perfect.

I viewed it beforehand and had some work done to it just to make sure it was exactly how angel would want it.

I know she has a passion for interior design so I got Mateo to snap some pictures of her work so I could create her dream place.

I didn't want to strip the fun away from her though, I wanted her to be able to decorate exactly how she wants.

Shes been living there for about a week now.

Mateo has been checking in every day, making sure shes okay but he doesnt get much of a response.

She barely eats, will go days without sleeping until her body finally gives up, she even refuses to drink anything.

It hurts knowing shes in so much pain, but I know it will pass. She just needs time.

Things have eased up slightly. We haven't had any encounters with Giovanni lately which is good, that means angelica is safe. I know he is planning something and I'm prepared for it thats why angelica had to leave. Nobody knows her location but me, Mateo, Ivan and sully.

I sit at my desk thinking about thanksgiving. Its right around the corner and I have no plans. I wanted to make it special for angelica, since its her first, but now? Now I have nothing. No family, no angel, nothing.

I'm snapped from my thoughts by a knock at the door. ''Come in!'' I shout loud enough so they can hear me.

Carter enters the room holding his laptop and a file. Carter is our go to guy. If we need something found, he finds it. If we need something destroyed, he destroys it. Ive had him working on finding the rat for the past month. ''Boss, I have a lead'' he says

Ivan follows in after, looking back over his shoulder to carter. ''He got new info?''

Nobody double crosses Dante Santino and lives to tell the tale. Nobody

We pull up to the location carter gave us. Its an old playground thats been chained up and clearly not been in use for years.

Ivan taps his shoulder and he jumps slightly. ''Hey man, you good?'' Mateo's face is pale, like hes just seen a ghost. His gaze goes back out the window and me and Ivan follow. Hes looking at an old house, one that looks like it could collapse at any moment.

Before I even realise what I'm doing, I find myself walking towards it with my gun in hand. Ivan shouts at me from behind but I dont turn around. I dont stop walking. Suddenly theyre both running after me. ''Youre fucking insane Dante! What are you doing?''

I dont respond. I kick the door open, instantly recoiling at the sight. Its disgusting.

Theres an old brown couch in the living room thats filthy and falling apart.

Blood covers every possible surface, clearly old and never been cleaned.

Shards of glass are scattered all over the floor along with broken beer bottles and empty beer cans.

The smell hits you the second you open the door. It reeks of death and alcohol.

As I walk further in I see a woman laying on the couch.

Shes an old thin woman. Her body is skeletal but her skin is wrinkly and saggy.

Clearly a drug addict. I make my way towards her and I see used needles scattered around her.

Mateo comes up close behind and he stills at the sight.

His shaky hands trail across her arm to her wrist, checking for a pulse.

Ivan speaks up for the first time since we walked in ''Is that your mom?

'' Mateo nods. I recall Mateo telling me about his mom.

How she knew angelica was being hurt by her father.

How she would beat both angelica and Mateo.

How she would deprive her of basic things like food and water.

She was just as bad as angelicas father.

I clench my fits tightly at my thoughts. Disgusted that shes still alive after what she did. As if reading my thoughts Mateo speaks up. ''Kill her. She deserves it'' I look at Ivan in shock and he returns my expression. ''If you dont, I will'' Mateo says sternly.

I hesitate, looking at him for some kind of confirmation. This is his mother and I dont want him to regret this. When he makes no move to stop me, I raise my gun, pointing it straight between her eyes as she lay there almost lifeless.

BANG

I walk away, leaving the body there. I'll call to have that cleaned later.

''Why are we here Dante?'' Mateo asks.

I can see hes uncomfortable and I dont blame him.

''I want to find anything about where your father is.

Just because hes not a threat to angelica right now doesnt mean I dont want him to suffer at my hands. You can go stay in the car''

At the bottom we are greeted by a large empty room. Its dark and cold. Not a single window or beam of light. I scan the room and the sight makes me feel physically sick.

A crusty old mattress lays on the floor with no bedding on it whatsoever. Beside it lay a bundle of chains and rope covered in what I assume to be blood. On the wall I see 2 belts hung crookedly. One thin and one thick. ''Jesus fucking Christ...'' Ivan says, breaking the silence.

Mateo says nothing. He stands there frozen, taking it all in as if now that hes older he can really see how bad it was. I turn slightly to look behind me and notice a door. ''Whats that room?'' I say pointing towards it.

Without thinking I pull my gun out and shoot at the lock. ''Fuck Dante!'' Ivan shouts. I push the door open and I'm instantly stopped in my tracks, regretting what ive just witnessed.

Inside is a security system complete with 4 monitors. Theres 3 boxes full of what looks to be video tapes and pictures. Ivan walks towards the keyboard and taps away as I walk to the boxes.

Hundreds of tapes lay in front of me with god knows what on them and it makes my stomach churn. I grab the bundle of pictures and turn them over to look at them. The second I see the top one it feels like the air has been knocked out my lungs. ''No...'' I whisper.

Mateo comes up behind me and takes the bundle from my hands, flicking through each picture angrily. ''This is fucking disgusting''

I rip it from his hands and look at it. These pictures are of angelica. All of them, and theyre disgustingly graphic. In most of them shes tiny, not even a teenager. Ivan grabs a tape from one of the boxes and puts it into the player. ''Ivan what are you doing? Dont touch that''

Before he can respond the video starts, making us all stiffen at the sight. Angelica lays chained to the wall as she sits on the filthy mattress. Shes clearly no older than 10 in this video. Her clothes are torn to pieces and barely hanging onto her frail body.

Shes crying, trying to pull herself free from the chains but it doesnt work. Suddenly he walks into frame, removing his belt. I shoot my head towards Mateo, prying my eyes away from the screen. Hes frozen in place, pure shock on his face as he watches in horror.

As soon as angel starts screaming I snap my head around to Ivan. ''Turn it off!''

Hes frantic, touching every button, pulling out every possible cord, but it doesnt stop. I can hear everything. Angelicas sobs, her screams, the sound of skin, his disgusting words. I feel like I'm going to be sick.

BANG

BANG BANG

BANG

BANG BANG BANG BANG

The sound of gunshots makes me jump out of my skin. I quickly look around to see who fired when I see Mateo standing there, gun firmly in hand. The video has stopped. Multiple bullet holes cover the screens and the video tape player. A painful silence consumes us.

Mateo storms out the room without a word, leaving me and Ivan behind to collect ourselves. ''That was...'' Ivan trails off, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. ''Burn them''

Hes right. I know angelica isn't okay. Shes broken. Yet somehow shes still her. Even when everything is complete darkness she finds the light. She is the light.