Page 232 of Forced Vows

Zoey wanted to be here, but she's not made yet and every soldier on this mission is. We have all killed for the mafia and tonight we do it again.

Gabriel and Hope Lion do not share a bedroom. One of my men check to confirm the old woman is asleep while Allessio and I make our way to the primary bedroom and the man I plan to kill.

Eventually.

The door and frame are reinforced steel, but the walls on either side are plaster and wood. Allessio sets a charge on the wall to the right of the door. I set one on the left.

They blow simultaneously and with nothing left to hold it in place, it takes a single coordinated kick to send the door crashing to the floor.

Gabriel sits up with a shout, but all he's going to see are the dark shadows of our outlines. We're wearing night vision goggles. He's not. And we cut the power to the house before coming inside.

When I have a tactical advantage, I make sure I keep it.

"Who are you? What do you think you are doing?" He leans over and scrabbles for something beside the bed.

"Ah, ah, ah," I admonish and shoot the reaching hand.

He screams. "What do you want? Money? Weapons? Drugs? I'll give it to you."

Finally he asks a question I'm willing to answer. "What do I want?"

"Yes. Whatever it is. Do you want a woman?" He pauses. "A virgin?"

"You sick fuck." Allessio shoots Gabriel's kneecap.

Which elicits louder screaming, now accompanied by sobs.

"Sorry, boss," Allessio apologizes. "I know the kill is yours, but I've got sisters."

"Should have shot him in the fucking groin," my other guy says.

"Good idea." I aim and shoot right between Gabriel's legs.

"Good shot, boss," Allessio approves.

"Well, he's not a moving target." Unless you count writhing in pain.

A woman shrieks from the hallway, "Take your filthy hands off me. Let me go to my husband!"

My soldier drags her over the rubble of the walls and into the room, but doesn't let her go.

I grab her throat and squeeze. "Silence!"

She stops squawking, but glares up at me in the darkened room.

"Did you know?" I ask her.

She presses her lips tightly together.

I squeeze her throat tighter, cutting off her air. I count to ten in my head. Slowly.

And then I loosen my hold so she can speak. "Did you know that your husband had your son-in-law killed?"

"Gabriel wouldn't do that. Murder is a sin and he's a God-fearing man."

She's either deluded, or as big of a liar as her husband. I'm going with the latter.

"Help me, Mary-Hope," Gabriel sobs. "I'm dying."

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