“I’m going to cut out your tongue.” My Uncle grinned as if amused at the thought. “And then I’m going to send it to your adopted family with a note—along with your girlfriend’s fingers.”
“Wife,” I corrected.
His eyes narrowed. “I stopped the ceremony. She isn’t your wife.”
“Wow, hate to break it to you, but she is. Check the files, have one of your minions put their computer skills to the test. We. Are. Married. You kill her, you bring down the Abandonatos on your family. Your funeral, just saying.”
He examined me for a bit then turned and addressed Mo. “Where’s your ring?”
I gave her a reassuring wink.
“The bastard forgot to get me one on account that we got married in such a rush… I’m pregnant.” She glared. “Surprise bitch.”
Oh, God I loved that woman.
I knew we were in a dire situation, but damn I wanted to rip her clothes off and kiss her senseless.
“So you?” Uncle turned and angled his head at me. “Would do anything for her?”
“No shit.”
“Interesting.” He reared back and slapped her across the face so hard she fell to the ground, blood spewed from her mouth.
“Stop!” I yelled. “Hit me, I’ll take her punishment. Damn, do you even have a soul? She’s pregnant!”
“Proof?” My uncle pulled out a knife. “I could easily slice her from gut to chin and kill the spawn of your seed within her.”
Shit, shit, shit, shit.
“You could.” I almost vomited. “But again, you’re forgetting something very, very important.”
“And that’s, what?” He laughed.
“She’s the boss’s sister. And the boss… well let’s just say he’s best friends with the Nicolasi and Alfero Families. Ain’t no way you’re getting out of the country alive, shit, they’d all die in order to kill you. You’d be bringing down the four families, including the De Langes, I highly doubt you want to do that.”
“Sometimes…” He fingered the knife. “A man is desperate enough to take such chances.”
Without any warning he lunged for me and stabbed my thigh with his knife. I didn’t yell. I simply stared at him even though my vision was starting to get spotty.
“I will torture you.” He gave me an evil smile. “Pray you survive it.”
“Oh, I will,” I said hoarsely. “After all, I have an uncle to kill.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Losing someone you love isn’t the hardest thing in the world. It’s watching it happen before your very eyes—that’s hard.
Mo
I’D NEVER BEEN in a situation like this before. I’d heard about it, I’d witnessed it, but I’d never lived through it, wasn’t so sure I was going to live through it now. Tex was still bleeding from getting shot in the leg, though by the way he had staggered towards me I imagined it wasn’t as bad as I first assumed. Not that it mattered since he had a freaking knife sticking out of his shot-up leg at the moment.
“So this is fun.” Tex spat out blood onto the cold cement floor, more blood dripped down his chin.
“I agree!” Another slap from his Uncle, followed by laughter. “I’m having the time of my life.”
Tex’s head fell back against the chair for a moment before he blinked in my direction. Blood caked his entire face, but his gaze was unwavering. I held onto the look he gave me, I cherished it, pulled it close and prayed that God would deliver us from the hell hole we were in. One thing I was hopeful for? That they wouldn’t kill us, that they weren’t that stupid, but that didn’t mean I’d escape with all of my limbs attached to my body.
“Twenty years!” his uncle shouted. “Twenty years I’ve waited to take my rightful spot, and your father was this close!” He held out his fingers in front of Tex’s face. “So very close to naming me his second. He was tired, he was ready to step down, and you go and kill him!”
“Aw, shit man.” Tex shook his head. “So you weren’t smart enough to get it in writing or something? Pity.”
His Uncle screamed and punched him in the gut. Tex gagged as his body convulsed. “I am Alfonso Campisi, and I will be the next in line.”
Then he burst out laughing, his head hanging a bit like he didn’t have strength to lift it. “Holy shit, you could have totally starred in Gladiator, ‘I am Alfonso Campisi!’” His voice mimicked Alfonso’s to perfection.
“This—” Alfonso pulled the knife from Tex’s thigh. “—is no game.”
“Good, I freaking hate Monopoly.”
Alfonso lifted the knife into the air. Tex had finally pushed him too far.
“Stop!” I yelled. “Please, just stop!”
The hand holding the knife paused in the middle of the downward stroke as Alfonso looked in my direction. Tex groaned and shook his head at me. The knife impaled itself again into his leg, Tex let out a string of expletives as Alfonso started making his way towards me. I instantly regretted my decision.
“So.” He unchained me, then grabbed me by the hair and dragged me towards Tex. “You must love him… with all your heart?”
“Yes,” I whispered. “Desperately.”
“Then you’ll do anything to secure his safety.”
Yeah, I already had and looked how that worked out. “Naturally.” I lifted my chin and spat in Alfonso’s face. “He’s ten times the man you’ll ever be.”