Page 2 of Ruthless Beasts

It never would be enough.

His death would never sate the craving I had to see him suffer the same fate as I had. He’d always have the advantage, always have the win. He took everything from me. Even though my blood still ran through my body and my heart still beat, my heart stopped on the side of that road with hers. My blood spilled over the pavement until my veins felt dry from my stolen life. Our life we’d never get to have together.

“Tomorrow morning? Should I gather our men?” Ace’s words were a casual question, one asked many times before. Only this time, the meaning behind them was heavier than previous uses.

“I want them set before the first of Accardo’s men even step foot in the church.”

“This will cause a war. You understand that, right?” Ace wasn’t judging me, wasn’t acting like my thoughts of revenge were crazy, only reminding me of what was to come.

“The war was set into motion long before now. My lack of action only lulled them into a false sense of security. If he thought I wouldn’t retaliate, then he deserves the death I’m issuing.”

“I don’t just mean with Accardo’s men. Killing his son, that’s deserved. But the girl? Her family did nothing. She’s done nothing.”

“Collateral damage.” I spoke the words while a reel played behind my eyelids. Images of fire and smoke, and the sinister smile on Accardo’s face as he sentenced me to death. He used that exact phrase, the words so carelessly tossed about as I roared my pleas to save them.

“They might come,” Ace pointed out.

“We’ll be ready,” I reminded him. I hadn’t laid low for so long, growing stronger, building my crew tighter, to not be ready for any counter attacks. I know how this works. I’ve been in this world for too fucking long not to know. Killing the son of an organized crime leader would put my name at the top of the death list, but I was too far gone in my need for vengeance to care.

He had taken everything from me, and before I left this earth, I’d repay the favor.

Take my life.

Take my pain.

Take everything I’ve ever earned.

But don’t ever fucking think that stealing has no consequences.

I straightened my tie as I watched, my body hidden from view of the guests. All eyes were on the altar, waiting for the bride, but my eyes were on Joseph Accardo, the father of the groom. He once took something precious to me, made me suffer a pain I’d never imagined existed, and I wanted him to suffer.

He needed to suffer.

He greeted his guests with a smile on his face, and I couldn’t wait to take that smile away. I wasn’t a monster, despite what rumors said. I felt things: hard, impossible things. But the weakness of feelings wasn’t allowed in this business, wasn’t allowed in our world.

I learned that the hard way, and so would he.

The unmistakable melody of the wedding march broke through the chatter, and the crowd grew silent. All eyes fell on the back of the church. All eyes but mine. Mine were fixed solely on my enemy, and next to him, his son. My fingers itched to strike, even knowing it wasn’t the time. But it was the first time in years that I had been in the same room as Accardo, and I hoped it would be the last.

The bride stopped at the altar, and for a second, my eyes roamed over her fitted dress, taking in every curve that white silk hugged. His son could have done worse for a bride, that was for sure. It was a shame he’d never get to appreciate the gift that lay underneath the layers of taunting fabric.

Ceremonial words were spoken, but I ignored them all. I didn’t need the haunting memory of what they meant to infiltrate my mind. I already knew deeply just how serious they could be, just how damning they were to the heart.

The lights flickered on cue. The crowd gasped and whispered their fears. It fed the anticipation, called me forth, forced my feet to move even when I wasn’t aware of the motion. Screams erupted as my men surfaced. With the chaos, I’d never felt more in my element in the years since my heart died, than I did in this moment.

“Joseph!” I roared, as I casually strolled toward the front of the church. “Accardo!”

My men had the upper hand, all our guns pointed toward the center, leaving no room for the guests to escape.

Accardo’s head turned every which way, searching for the enemy who called his name. When his eyes met mine, he smirked. “Adam Ferrari. I don’t remember sending you out an invite.”

“You must have forgotten.” I kept my steps steady, even though I wanted to rush forward, sink my knife in his chest, and watch his life leave him. “No worries, I’m here now.”

His sneer was all I needed to know about his thoughts on that matter. “I will have to ask you to leave. Take your friends with you.”

“Actually,” I paused, letting my eyes roam over his son, “I think I’ll stay. You took some things from me, and it’s time I took some things from you.”

He stepped forward, his hand already reaching for his weapon, but his fingers never made contact. Behind him, Ace surfaced. His leg kicked out, contacting Accardo’s knee, causing him to crumble. Accardo’s men rushed Ace, but they weren’t nearly fast enough, and in seconds, a few bullets, and their bodies were laid flat at our feet, their blood pooling onto the church floor.

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