Page 100 of Born a Queen

“Yes,” she admitted. “Since you decimated the Garza cartel, I didn’t have the manpower I needed to come after you. I heard rumours of another family further east who despise the South American cartels. I teamed up with them and they went after your guy. It was a mistake. I don’t kill children. I dropped them, which is why I had to hit the mansion with only a couple guys for backup. The plan was to bring an army to your doorstep.”

Some of the rage left Mateo as she explained. He was surprised she was giving him the information so freely, but if she truly felt guilt over the incident, perhaps she was trying to cleanse her soul before death by confessing her part.

"If you think these words will move me to take it easy on you, then you’re mistaken."

Her eyes flared in anger and she reared back, struggling in his grip, her moment of self-reflection over.

“I don’t care what you think!” she screamed at him. “Get it the fuck over with. I want the peace only my grave will provide.”

Mateo gripped her chin. “Your death will be a long and agonizing one. Don’t dream of that grave just yet, bitch. We’re going to have some fun first.”

“Do you think you can make me scream?” she challenged, her eyes dark empty voids staring back at him. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so difficult to kill this woman.

“Count on it.”

She gave him a bloody grin. “Good, then the underworld will know I’m coming.”

Mateo didn't bother replying but turned and left the room reaching for the sanitary wipe his man handed him. He wiped the saliva off his collar and flicked the wipe into the garbage. He gave his man a penetrating look. "Prepare her for me."

Mateo had a method when he tortured his victims. He preferred them seated on a chair with their hands cuffed to the sides. There would be a strap around the neck keeping the head up so he could see the eyes as the life was slowly beaten from them.

Before they could move onto the next room, Giovanni cleared his throat, his thoughtful gaze on Desi’s cell. "I have a rather large favour to ask. Before you deny my request, hear me out and take your time with the decision."

Mateo frowned at Giovanni. "You’ve been a friend to us. I’m willing to grant a request."

Sotza crossed his arms, his eyes narrowed in thought, as though he suspected he knew what Giovanni would say. “What are you asking?”

Giovanni smiled grimly. "I guarantee this is a request you will not want to grant, and I can give you my word now that I will abide by your judgement on this." Mateo waved his guards back so their conversation would be private. "I want you to give me that woman. Desi."

Mateo's frown turned thunderous and he opened his mouth to immediately deny the request. Giovanni interrupted him. "I can promise that whatever you do to her, while extremely painful, will be short-lived. Unless you intend to allow her to live longer than a few days, her suffering will eventually end. Give her to me and I can promise that her suffering will continue through a lifetime."

The two men stared at each other while Sotza remained silent. Mateo was tempted to take Giovanni up on his offer, but he was hesitant. Yes, he wanted Desi to suffer for more than a few days. But it disturbed him, the idea that this man who befriended Raina was eager to get his hands on the Latina assassin. There were some things that Mateo could not condone. Yet, for men like them, morality was murky, an ever-changing thing that couldn’t be pinned down.

"Why do you want her?"

Giovanni's answer to the question would seal her fate.

"My wife… she died many years ago. Succumbing to a lifestyle that I forced her into. She was soft and sweet, not meant for mob living. I loved her too deeply to let her go. I am convinced, that it is my selfishness that eventually killed her." Giovanni gazed at the closed door to Desi's room. "That woman is fierce; she’s strong and she won’t die easily. Nor will her children. I want more than the one fuck-up offspring I managed to produce. I intend to leave a legacy behind in this world, children who are capable of taking over my holdings. She will make a fine mother." His light brown eyes landed back on Mateo, a hint of humour in their depths. "And I can promise you, she will suffer as I train her to become the perfect wife."

Mateo gave it a few minutes thought, but his mind had been made up almost immediately after Giovanni finished speaking. Though it was a difficult decision to leave Desi alive, Giovanni's proposal was the perfect solution. Mateo would not have to torture and kill her. Giovanni would do to her things that she hated, things that Mateo didn't have time for or the desire. Turning a woman like Desi into a Stepford wife was the perfect revenge. She would hate every moment.

First, he had to make sure his mentor was on board with the idea. Desi had personally attacked him in Venezuela while helping Garza. “What do you think?”

Sotza stood, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes on the ground as he thought. He raised his head and pinned Giovanni with a serious look. “I will require your word that she doesn’t leave your Italian property except in a body bag. You take responsibility for the woman. If she escapes, or you allow her off the property, we will come after you both.”

“That is a fair demand,” Giovanni agreed. He turned his attention to Mateo. “And you?”

"She's all yours but we’ll have to discuss details. I don't like the idea of that woman breathing in the same world as Raina. I need to know how you intend to keep her properly secured."

“I’ll get you a plan before I leave here with her. You have my word that this woman will remain in my keeping. She’ll never be given the opportunity to become a threat again.”

“Good enough.”

The two men shook and Mateo re-entered Desi’s room. She was now secured to a chair, her hands cuffed and her neck strapped. She glared daggers at the men, her malevolent gaze moving to each of them.

“What now?” she demanded.

Mateo knelt on the floor next to Desi, pulling his knife from the pocket of his jeans. He flicked the blade open, locking it in place.

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