ATONEMENT (43 page)

Foolishly, Marco did not heed the threat. Why should he? He was the man in control and the formidable Nico
Serano
…helpless!

The pain was good
, Nico thought
.
He suffered worse torture, once. Only one other man caused him pain, it was part of the training
and he
was a child, then. The icy water freezing his flesh
was far more painful to an eight year-old boy. He saw his father, the man he loved, assuring him one day he would understand the need for his cruelty. Nico sank beneath the frozen lake, reaching out for help until his body numbed and he felt nothing, not even the beat of his heart. He hated his father for hurting him, –but later appreciated the lessons. They saved him many times from breaking
as
less disciplined and fragile minds
do under acts of torture
. Mental strength far exceeds the physical.

His eyes remained trained on Marco’s face, memorizing every line
and indentation. The scar, a half-moon shape came from the jagged edge of Gina’s wine glass. He was there the day she cut him, yet he always returned, an addict to her abuse. Nico smiled,
Marco
was pitiful, he also
had no idea what to do with those tools
but when
Nico
got free..
.
and he would…he’d
show him
!

Nico hadn’t expected what came next. Perhaps he should have. He’d forgotten Selange’s spitfire in hours of adversity. He
smiled
when he saw her hands come free and in a
lightning flash
she got
one of the knives then plunged it into punk-ass’ neck. She yanked it out and blood spurt from the wound across her clothes. Her feet were quick and she was at Marco’s back
, almost…there…then…Marco turned.

Marco
grabbed her and flung her down. She landed behind Nico’s chair still clutching the knife. Nico felt the blade cut at his hands then she
scrambled
under the chair
cutting him free.
Nico
Jumped to his feet,
caught Marco in a chokehold
, pulled the rod from his leg and impaled it in Marco’s spine. He thought of his little warrior and took a mental note to thank her properly but right now he’d teach
Marco how to properly use the tools!

                                  
CHAPTER TWENTY

Sophie watched the men leave, wringing her hands. She had no idea where Nico had taken Selange and could not help Alfonzo on this. Her loyalty to her nephew
prevented her from telling Alfonzo she’d called Nico, worried about Selange’s lack of appetite and her obvious signs of pregnancy. How anyone missed the symptoms were far beyond her understanding. Nico confirmed her suspicion. He told her everything and it pained to see his suffering. Nico was never like his brother Vincent. They were twins in appearance only; their hearts were individual organs, their
souls
belonged to separate men. Vincent wanted to join the family business, Nico preferred studies and languages. When he was small she saw how he shied away from the guns or wrinkled his nose when forced to skin the live chickens. His father, her brother did an injustice to the boy, giving him no choice in the direction of his life, no wonder he disappeared over the years, returning only when summoned. She
wondered where he went during those
absences, contracts
, of course –but only recently she learned he had a family and twin boys. Alberti told her, he also admitted he felt guilty he may have contributed to their estrangement. Poor Nico.
She wanted him to have a
little happiness in this world and this is partially why she helped her nephew.

She could see the love for Selange in his body language. The eyes would not always show it but there were other forms of communication equally readable. He stood protectively close to the woman, his torso leaning in her direction as if being drawn to a force so
great;
it took all his strength to propel. She saw it when he hugged her the first night, breathing in the joy of their connection and she saw it in the non-verbal slant of
his sensual mouth that was usually firm and unsmiling.

Her heart wept for Nico. He deserved love. He deserved happiness.

“Mama
,
are you crying
,
did they find Selange?”

She turned to face her beautiful daughter.
The young
woman
would
soon become a bride and one day a mother. Seeing the happiness she shared with
Matteo
was an inspiration. Ah, she missed her husband. Carlo was a wonderful husband, a man with dark confidences, nonetheless, she loved him. He often talked about
Amelda’s
wedding day, wondered if his wayward daughter would ever find a man to match her spiritedness. He did not live to see she had. Carlo would not be here to walk her down the aisle on this most important
of days. In his place, Alberti would have the honor. She touched her chest, “They have not found her
but Alfonzo is using her phone to track her whereabouts.”

Amelda
frowned, “I wish my father were here.
This would not have happened days before my wedding.
”

The sentiment brought a tear, “Oh,
cosí
faccio
…so do I!

                                        
***

Kim-Sung and Constantine were look-outs. The men insisted on it and to ensure they did not leave, the car keys were removed. It was late morning and certainly her absence was noted
by now
. She could not go
back,
this was her husband’s fault. The drinking and carousing brought them to this.

Constantine said nothing, he was beyond conversation. Unless, a miracle occurred, he would have to leave the country and hide in some obscure section of the world –but even then, his days were numbered. Giuseppe, Alfonzo and others were certain to find him no matter where he hid. The men inside were not professional killers, nor were they members of La Costra Nostra. They were extortionists, men with greed but nothing more. They were dangerous for this reason, certainly they had to know, kidnapping the wife of Don Alfonzo would speed their deaths. This list they sought was it so important
they
would risk their lives?

He noticed dirt kicking up in the distance and got out the car. His wife followed and he pointed to the thicket of brush, “Go, hide. I’m sorry to have brought you into this.”

Her slanted eyes
were devoid of
sorrow.
A
ll men were sorry
when faced with the end
. The moment he told her of his troubles she planned for her escape and now with the certain
ty
of fate, she
’d
be free again. This time, she would not sell her body to men. With her husband’s collection of cash
,
she planned to have men servicing her needs, regularly. Of course, she
obeyed his order, gladly leaving h
im there with his gun and
silly
pride. She wasn’t stupid. Even if she stayed at his side, the duo would not
ward off
the hell storm coming. Instead of hiding as told, Kim-Sung scurried through the thickets and disappeared.

                                    
***

He told Selange to go in the kitchen and cover her ears. When it was over he would come. Her hands were pressed tightly to her head, but she could still hear the piercing screams coming from Marco. The method of torture Nico employed was far more excruciating then she imagined. When he did come and hold her, she trembled. He was hurt, his face a bloody mess, his leg wound
covered but it too bled through. The entire ordeal left her emotionally spent.

“Turn around!”

They both stiffened at the command. Kyle and Marco were dead. The third man must
be their look-out and the screams brought his curious inspection. Nico turned, slightly limping, holding Selange tightly to his side. He came face-to-face with the voice and
could not hide his d
isappoint
ment
. “Constantine, what business do you have
in this
?”

Constantine aimed
the gun
at Nico’s head, “
Sort of got myself in a jam
and
I couldn’t kill my way out of
it
.
They were blackmailing me.
”

Nico frowned. Constantine’s alcohol abuse over the years had begun to affect his judgment. He could be found in the company of
prostitutes
or
in
bars picking fights
with patrons
and alienating friends. A man with liquor as a mistress
was an unpredictable man. Whatever trouble Constantine found himself in was undoubtedly the result of his secret whore. Nico didn’t care to know the details, as far as he was concerned, Constantine was the lowest of turncoats.

“By the way
I admire
d
your handiwork
on the way in.
True art
.
You were always so…let me think…creative and thorough.
”

“It’s my repayment for their botched attempt at interrogation.
If you’re going to torture a man,
do
it right.
”

Constantine waved the gun, “
Enough small talk old buddy, s
end the girl
to me
.”

“Sorry, can’t. She’s having a bad day
and so am I
.”

“Nico, I
’m not going to
harm her. I
need
a little collateral, that’s all.”

“No.”

Selange suddenly stepped forward before Constantine fired, “
Okay
..
okay
!
”

Nico
moved toward her
and Constantine shot the floor near
his foot
and grabbed Selange around the neck
,
“
Move
again Nico
and
I
’ll
have no
other
choice but to
shoot you
.”