Page 68 of The Eraser

It doesn't take me long to have everything ready. I haven't changed the blades yet. That's on my agenda to do once I've finished with these fuckers. I drag Thomas' burnt body to the machine. The whirring sound is a balm to the anger and fear I've been feeling all fucking day, since Jess was taken. It's been over twenty-four hours since this shit started, over a day since I last slept, over a fucking day since I held my wife in my arms and felt peace.

I heave Thomas' body into the wood chipper, loving the sound of it mangling his body to pieces. I stand back, joining the crowd that’s gathered around to watch, some in awe, others in concealed fascination. When someone watches me do this that hasn't before, they always leave with awe in their eyes. The way I get rid of bodies is one that leaves very little evidence behind, and any that I may leave is always taken by the wildlife. It's a fucking great way to kill someone and dispose of their bodies.

It takes over an hour for Thomas' body to churn through the wood chipper. It's spat out blood and bone, things that will easily be disposed of once I'm finished. "Now for the best part," I say as I reach for Fintan. "This cunt wanted my wife, and he was the one who pulled the trigger that killed Patty," I inform them. "He's going to die and it's going to be fucking painful."

"What are you going to do to him?" Alessio questions, his brows drawn together.

I don't hesitate. I do the exact same as I did to Thomas' dead body to Fintan's very much alive one. The second his arm hits the blades, they suck it in, the motor churning and the blades twisting, severing the limb from his body. The screams that rent the air are ones filled with pain, anguish, and fear. Fintan's terrified, utterly fucking scared.

"Where's Micah?" I ask him over the sound of the machine.

"Go to fucking hell," he grits out through his cries. "I'll never give up my son."

I laugh. "That's okay, we'll find him too and he'll end up just as you are."

"You'll never find him. He's safe. He'll continue on the O'Leary name," Fintan taunts. "He'll make sure that everyone knows our name. He won’t stop until your whore belongs to us."

I ignore the cunt. There's no fucking way Micah will ever get to Jess. That's never going to happen. We'll put the word out, make it known that the O'Learys are dead and anyone with information on Micah will be rewarded. Not to mention putting our cops onto it. With the report Mallory made the night Micah entered her house, the cops are on the lookout for him as it is. We give them a bigger incentive than what they have right now, and apply pressure, and we'll have him in no time.

It's hard to get people on board when there's more than one family member left. The fear of repercussions from the remaining member eats at them and stops them from coming forward. Now that all the O'Learys, other than Micah, are dead, we'll have more help than needed, especially when they'll be paid. We're not going to make any more mistakes when it comes to this fucking family. We've underestimated them as it is. We won't make that mistake again.

The screams from Fintan continue to fill the air. It's four in the morning. We have a little while longer before dawn breaks.

"Christ," I hear Alessio grunt. "I get why you're called the Eraser. You do this a lot?"

I laugh. "More than you know." I turn to him. "Don't tell me you have a weak stomach?"

"Not at all, but I didn't expect this—" he says, throwing his arm out in the direction of the wood chipper. "You're crazy, you know that? Fucking crazy."

I raise a brow. "Coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment."

All the Bianchis are fucking crazy in their own way. We all get triggered to kill for the first time. For me, it was that I had enough of being treated like shit. I had enough of being beaten. I know that it takes fucking guts to do what we do. It's not for the weak-hearted and it takes a toll on those who aren't equipped for it. It can tear you down if you're unable to deal with taking someone's life. It can ruin you with guilt until you're unable to deal with it any longer.

But for me, it's who I am. It's what I am. I'm a killer and I enjoy every second of doing it.

Soon, Fintan's cries die down until he's whimpering, the sound muffled as he continues to churn, pulling him deeper into the machine until there's nothing left of him.

"They're dead," Maverick states simply, and I see the relief in his eyes. "Those fuckers won't hurt her again."

I nod, the heaviness on my chest lifting completely, making me take an easy breath, something I haven't been able to do since the night I found Jess beaten.

"We're done here," I tell the crowd. "I appreciate your help. If you ever need anything, all you have to do is ask. I'll be there," I promise them. They were here for me at my darkest time, a time I couldn't function properly. My world had been tilted and my wife was missing. I'll do whatever it takes to repay the favor. They have no idea how deeply in their debt I am. I know that if I didn't have them here helping, I would have gone off the deep end and that wouldn't have helped anyone.

"No thanks needed," Pyro tells me. "You've helped us out. We're family, it's what we do."

Pyro is Chloe's man. He was the one who found her when she went missing in America. He fell so fucking hard for her that he moved to Ireland to be with her. He and his brothers know they can call on me any time they need help. Chloe's my niece—honorary—and I'll do whatever I can to help her and the Vipers.

"Once Jessica's out of hospital and feeling better," Dario says, "we'll bring the family to meet her. My wife will want to meet her."

I nod, grateful he's extended that branch. "Knowing Jess, she'll fucking love that. We'll make it happen."

He nods. "I'll be in Dublin until tomorrow evening. If you find this Micah guy or need help, call," he says, shaking my hand. "I'm only a call away."

"Appreciate it, Dario. The same goes for you."

Everyone disperses until it's only Maverick, Freddie, Jer, Denis, and I that remain.

"You did good, Stephen," Jer praises. "I know your focus has been on Jessica and that you're wanting to be with her, especially when she wakes up, but you needed to do this and I'm proud of you."

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