Page 161 of Monster in Disguise

"You'll give me your position?" He jeers at me, still laughing. "See, this is why you were never fit to be capo. You always putherbefore everything." He remarks in derision. "Don't worry,your positionwillbe mine by default after you die." He shrugs his shoulders and casually walks towards the end of the room to pick up a rusty knife.

"Why don't we try this..." He twists the knife around, testing its strength. "I may let her go, if you submit to me."

"What?" I blurt out, a maniacal smile appearing on his face.

"Submit to me. It's the only way she'll go free."

"Fine. I'll do it. Just let her go."

"Not yet," he shakes his head and motions towards another pole. "Go and handcuff yourself."

I pause for a second, and my eyes meet Lina's. Her eyebrows are drawn together in confusion. Just seeing her there... I walk, and sitting down, I secure my hand to a metal pole. One half of the cuff is wrapped around the metal for support while the other is now circling my wrist.

"Why? Why are you doing this?" Lina's voice is but a whisper as she asks.

Nicolo smiles slowly, and I suddenly see Father in him.

"Blame it all on your husband. He is, after all, the reason for all your misfortunes," he happily tells her, delighted when her face falls. She turns to me slightly, and her expression is one of fear mixed with disappointment.

I've failed her. Repeatedly.

Nicolo strides confidently towards me, the glint of a knife in his hand catching the light. He jabs it playfully towards my face before squatting down in front of me, the blade dangerously close to my skin.

"It's time to settle the score, boy." With one swift motion, he slices through the fabric holding my shirt together, and it falls away, exposing my bare chest. The cold metal of the knife trails teasingly down my skin as Nicolo tests my reflexes. Then he cuts.

I clench my jaw against the pain, a familiar sensation that I've learned to endure. Beside me, Catalina gasps at the sight of blood starting to trickle down my torso.

But I can't let myself focus on the pain. My eyes are fixed on Lina, my reason for fighting and staying strong through this torture.

Nicolo continues to make small, deliberate cuts all over my body, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flinch. Only determination and love for Lina keep me going.

Eventually, he gives up, realizing that I won't break under his torture. Standing up with a frown, he surveys my bleeding form with a look of confusion and uncertainty in his eyes.

"It seems this isn't working," he muses, narrowing his eyes at me.

"What did you expect? That I'd be wailing in pain?" I quip ironically.

"I should have known torture wouldn't do much for you. Not with Giovanni as your father." He chuckles, as if he's just realized something important.

Maybe Father had a hand in my increased tolerance for pain, but only when it comes to myself. He'd tried so hard to kill my emotions that the only thing he'd done had been to kill my need for self-preservation. I don't care what happens to me – not anymore. But Lina? She's the only one that matters, and not even the worst torment could make me give her up.

"Don't you worry," he taunts, "I have many tricks up my sleeve."

Nicolo steps away from me, and with a hand motion, he signals someone else to come in. His smile only increases as he watches Franco saunter in, eye-patch on.

"What?" I breathe out, confused at the connection.

"Franco here has a little quibble with you, don't you Franco?"

"And that bitch," Franco adds, his eyes roving over Lina's form with a leer.

"If pain won't break you," Nicolo starts, deep in thought. "Then maybe the sight of your beloved in pain will."

My eyes widen at his implication, swinging from Nicolo to Franco.

They both laugh, and Nicolo gives Franco the green light to proceed.

"Marcello, Marcello, let's see how it feels to be so helpless... to watch your wife get fucked by another while you can't do anything to help her."

---