Page 45 of The Devil's Demise

Dante laughs behind him. “I hope it hurts.” His voice is full of virile disdain because when you fuck with one of us, you fuck with us all.

Dom marches over to the black duffel on the floor, removing one of his torches. “You play with fire. You’re gonna get burned.” He hands it to me.

I flick it on and off right in front of Sammy’s face. He could barely look at me, his head hung, the sobs drowning out my laughter.

“I will sleep well knowing you’re dead.” The torch roars to life one last time, then it’s on his face, searing the flesh where his ear had once been. My brutality has no bounds. I burn every inch of his face. I even take his fucking eyeballs and his dick. I should skin him alive for this, but I’ve done enough.

His screams eventually drown out until his life does too. I hope it brings her some comfort.

* * *

Lauralyn rustles above me, her eyes opening as she smiles. “What are you doing up already, princess?” I whisper, her blue eyes so bright, it’s like they’ve been molded from the sky. “You’re so pretty.” Her gummy smile grows even bigger. “Daddy is gonna keep you safe.” My hand rounds her little butt. “I’ll kick all those boys’ asses. You just say the word. Okay?” Warmth washes over my body.

Her eyelids flutter as they start to close, like she’s heard me, like she knows she’s protected in my arms.

My family. It’s crazy to even imagine I’m here. A wife I’m in love with, two kids I’d kill for.

How the hell do I deserve all of this? What have I done to earn it? But it’s mine anyway and good luck to anyone who tries to pry it out of my hands.

CHAPTER5

JADE

It’s beenthree amazing months since Lauralyn was born, and being her mother has filled a void inside me—that emptiness that the Bianchis dug when they took my son away. And though I’ll never get back the years they stole with Robby, a part of me has healed when I had her, when no one was there to tear her away from my arms.

I’d do anything to get those same experiences with Robby that I get to have with her. All those firsts I’d missed out on. The first time he smiled. The first time he said mama. The first time he took his steps. The hugs. The kisses. God ... I can’t even think about it all without my heart breaking.

And though I’m grateful Aida was there for all of them, her kindness and love for my boy giving me some relief, still, it hurts to know I wasn’t there for any of it.

He missed out on so much of the bonding between us, but I have done everything to make up for it—Mommy and son dates, time alone at home, showering him with as much of my attention as I can.

The thing with Robby is, he’s adjusted fine. I’m the one who had the weight of her failures on her shoulders—feeling not good enough, like I failed as a mother. I know none of it was my fault. I know I couldn’t change a thing, but I still felt that way.

It took a while for me to let the guilt go. My therapist has been kind of like my fairy godmother. If it wasn’t for her, I’m not sure I’d be where I am today.

She has helped Aida too. We both learned a lot about ourselves through her wisdom. We learned how to let go, to embrace the present and tuck away the past. She now works for Helping Hand part-time, helping the women like she’s helped us.

I turn the car off, parking it in the space closest to where my mother’s grave is. I haven’t been here since before I gave birth, and I usually go every month. But it’s been one sleepless night after another, and before we know it, it’s been three months.

I’d normally go with Robby or sometimes Enzo would come along too. Other times, it’d just be Elliot and me.

Having him back has been like having a piece of myself returned to me. We’ve gotten really close, and he's over at the house like once a week, hanging with Enzo, Robby, and the rest of the Cavaleris—shooting hoops, barbequing. It’s nice that he doesn’t live but ten minutes away.

He still works for Dante and the guys, but now it’s as security for their growing businesses. They shuffle the men they employ between the nightclubs and hotels they run. That’s actually how he met this woman I kinda hope he marries. Dante assigned him to her family while they’re here for business for a few weeks.

He’s crazy about her, even though he acts like she’s just a job. But a sister knows. Becoming an aunt wouldn’t be so bad either.

I turn my attention to my children, twisting around to the back of the SUV. “We ready to see Grandma?”

Robby grins, holding a bouquet of pink carnations, her favorite.

I want my mother to meet Lauralyn, someone named after her, someone she would’ve loved had she still been around. The hurt from losing my mother is hard, especially in the beginning. When I was still in the clutches of the Bianchis, I had pictured seeing her face again, hearing her voice telling me how much she missed me. But I never got that and it hurts like hell. I miss her every day.

She’d be so proud of me and the family we’ve created. She and Enzo would’ve gotten along splendidly. She had a sense of humor and he’d make her laugh for hours.

I sometimes imagine it, like it’s happening. All of us around the kitchen table—Elliot, Mom, Enzo, the kids. Happy. Fulfilled. Then my eyes open and it all disappears.

Robby unbuckles himself while I get out to get Lauralyn’s car seat, and together we stroll down the freshly cut grass, arriving a short distance to my mom’s plot. It’s a simple headstone and looks like it’s been taken care of, pink and yellow flowers already there, probably from Elliot. I know he comes here alone too.

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