Page 180 of A Beautiful Crime

“We found the safe house.”

CHAPTER 42

Carina

Niall was right.

One wouldn’t believe Savio and Luca would lower themselves to live in such“primitive”conditions.

Gone is the luxurious but tacky mansion that was dripped in tasteless wealth and behold the small two bedroom cabin with barely the necessities.

I’m surprised their egos have allowed them to live here for this long.

They must be stewing inside there. Counting the days until their faces can be shown again.

All the lights are off except the one in the living room. I can see slivers of life through the drabby blinds.

The anticipation of killing in general shouldn’t taste this sweet, nor should it feel this good, but it’s hard to not feel this way.

There’s an undercurrent of electricity running through my veins sparking me with excitement. A sinister smile hasn’t left my lips.

The day of ruination has come.

“I’ll step in when needed, but this is your moment, Carina. Own it,” Constantine encouragingly reminds me.

I rise up on the ball of my feet and place a soft kiss on his lips. “Thank you.”

The gun in my hand should feel foreign. At the very least it should trigger unwarranted memories. And yet it feels like an extension of my own hand.

Violence agrees with me.

Constantine nods his head to Gino and he begins to breach the door with a few hard shoves. The wooden door gives way, splintering and breaking into fragments before us.

The sound is enough to alert them. But I never wanted the element of surprise. No, I want them to know I’m coming. I want them to choke on their own fear.

Gino enters the cabin first. With a nod of his head it’s safe for myself to enter.

Constantine enters before me, checking the space himself. Outstretching his hand towards me I take it. Finally, I cross the threshold.

And there they are. I’ve never seen the two of them look as unkempt and disheveled. Even for mamma’s and Elio’s funeral they were dressed to the nines. Hair perfectly gelled. Not a wrinkle in sight. Eyes bright and fresh.

Yet here they are as everything they loathe.

My heels click across the original hardwood floor of the cabin. The wood creaks beneath me. It creates an eerie sound as it softly echoes through the room.

“Look at you two,” I snicker as I come to a stop. “Starting to look as filthy as your souls.”

Luca’s temper, which has always been hot and uncontrolled, flares as he goes to make a move around the cruddy sofa.

I raise the gun, poising it perfectly at his head. I then tsk at him. “I wouldn’t take another step,fratello.If you recall, I'm quite good with a gun.” I then cock my head to the side as I eye Savio. He stands next to Luca. One hand propped on hisshoulder for support, his other hand resting protectively over his side. And it fills me with a great amount of joy to know Savio didn’t make it out of the church unscathed. “Askpapa. My first kill was a headshot, wasn’t it?”

Savio’s lips curl with distaste as Luca eyes burn with malice.

I wave my gun around in a circular motion as I say, “Cozy little place you have here. Very homey. I must say I love the down to earth vibe you have going on. But it’s missing one thing.” Before either one of them can open their mouths I fire a round. The bullet lands in Luca’s arm. He howls in pain and immediately begins to storm in my direction. I stop him by firing another shot to his leg. He falls to the ground in a helpless heap. Savio rushes to his precious son. “Red,” I say and they both look at me like I’m the one who has gone mad. “Your place needed some color.”

“You’ve lost your damn mind!” Savio roars. So uncharacteristically like him. It seems as if he’s become unraveled.

“The only thing I’ve lost is your strings.” My voice sharpens.

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