Page 96 of A Taste Of Darkness

“I don’t want you to just stop it,” I said. I could feel my nerves waver, but I had to be strong for Sterlie. “I know you need someone to take over, and I’m ready to do it in exchange for her safety.”

He was old, his hands were trembling, and I refused to believe it was because he was nervous. He looked almost sick. His eyes were red and not from crying because that man didn’t know what tears were.

He was weak.

Papà laughed louder, sounding like a maniac. “Oh, Luca.” He reached for his drawer, and I knew if he opened it, he’d pull out a gun and shoot me.

So, before he could, I pulled my gun from my pocket and aimed it at him. “It wasn’t a question,” I spoke, venom in my voice this time.

Anger radiated off him and he swallowed thickly at the sight of my gun. “Luca,” he warned. “Don’t be ridiculous, boy. I’m sure we can find a solution. Put that gun down.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Even if he agreed to my deal now, he’d just kill me eventually. There was only one option left. “You know I can’t.”

“Boy, don’t fucking play with me now,” he spat. “All for a stupid girl. Are you insane?”

“Call her a stupid girl one more time, I dare you.”

I heard stomping from the bedroom right over the office, telling me that one of my brothers woke up. I had to finish this up a bit quicker.

“You wouldn’t kill me. You don’t have the fucking balls for it.” He laughed again, probably thinking that the last time I’d killed someone was when I was still part of the mafia. “I mean, come on, you can’t even suck up getti?—”

I pulled the trigger and the bullet hit him right between his eyebrows. His eyes emptied of every ounce of life almost instantly.

He wasn’t the first person I’d ever taken from this world, and while he wasn’t an innocent one either, the shock of what I’d just done hit me like a tidal wave.

Killing those who deserved to die was one thing, but it was another to kill my own father. And all for Sterlie’s safety.

Perhaps I should’ve felt guilty, or at least remorseful, but I was relieved.

It was over. Sterlie’s suffering was over; she could live her life without worrying whether someone might be after her.

I stood over his lifeless body, adrenaline keeping me awake and upright when the door behind me swung open.

“Why was a gun—” my brother stopped talking, clearly surprised to see our father’s corpse on the floor.

A gun clicked and a second later a barrel pressed against the back of my head.

“You’ve made a huge mistake,” Dante said.

“No, I didn’t,” I replied, smiling to myself.

“Turn around.” The gun moved away from the back of my head, though I was sure not for long.

Not putting up a fight for once, and because I knew I no longer had anything to worry about, I turned around, facing my brother.

Dante’s eyes widened as he looked at my face, anger mixing with confusion. These past twelve years, he’d probably been preparing to take over the mafia once our father retired, so he was quick to fix his face before I could read any more into him.

“Luca?”

He knew I was alive. After all, we talked on the phone before. Why he was so surprised to see me was a mystery to me. Perhaps he thought it was a joke, didn’t think it was truly me he talked to weeks ago.

“Put the gun down, Dante,” I said, keeping my voice as harsh as ever. I was already stepping back into my role in this family, so it was time Luca returned.

Milo was someone who belonged to Sterlie Adams. He was devoted to keeping her safe, to kill only for the greater good.

Luca was vicious, someone who belonged here.

Dante didn’t put the gun down, frozen in a stance that would’ve made anyone laugh at his weakness.

---