Page 144 of Vito

Fucking mafia politics.

Only a vote of the 'Ndrangheta could stay Massimo's hand.

Mancini, somehow, is important and valuable alive which made the 'Ndrangheta step in to intervene.

"Oh, I have plans for you, snake." Massimo smiles, and it even sends a chill down my spine. "Until the day I can end you." He jerks Mancini to his feet.

Gabe joins Massimo, and they drag Mancini away and out the door.

There's a slow clap and the sound of shoes clicking the concrete. "Well done, gentlemen," Ohith says in his unique accented voice.

Some of the men on their knees waiting to be sent to the afterlife collectively gasp as they see Ohith and Axin walk across the factory floor. Not only are Ohith and Axin supposed to be dead, but they're as ruthless killers as they are pros at making bodies disappear.

Lixin, Amazu, and Novak can't see them yet, but I think they recognize the accent. From the updates I got from Daniele about what was actually said in the room with Eden and these men, Iknow Eden had warned them who her adoptive father was, but they chose not to believe her.

Ohith is a shorter, slight man. Refinely dressed. He nods at me before his crystal green eyes skate over Eden. She's standing tall and steady by my side—just like my queen should—and our hands are interlinked. He smiles in approval, but his eyes darken, and his mouth thins as he studies her injuries.

"Youdarehurt my daughter," he rasps, stepping into their line of sight.

They all shrink back. Amazu's throat works, Lixin's eyes are wide with fear, and Novak's mouth opens and closes like a dying fish. One of them whimpers when Axin steps beside Ohith. He looks like a ghost from hell, the Grim Reaper come to claim their souls.

They all balk.

They all stare as Ohith raises hand, and stiffen, thinking that their death is about to happen—not realizing their deaths will bedrawnout. Ohith flicks his hand. Gunshots echo as all of Novak and Mancini's men are shot in the back of the head.

Eden jumps beside me and gasps.

Once all the firing has stopped, quiet settles and Ohith smiles. "You three will not be given such a merciful death. You three…" he shifts his eyes to me, "shall pay for your sins at my and Vito Santoro's hands. We will ensure your deaths are as bloody and painful as possible. I understand he is exceptionally good at what he does."

A sob chokes Novak as he hangs his head.

"Vito's been fucking her!" Lixin screams at Dom and Ash. "He broke—"

Dom's boot whips up and connects with Lixin's chin. He smirks at me. "I'm looking forward to the show. Make it hurt, brother."

"No! Stop!" Lixin feebly fights as he's pulled back to his knees.

Amazu stares in terror between us all. He turns on Eden, likely thinking she'll pity him and help. "I didn't order Aiken's murder. I didn't even want to do any of this! Please!"

"Don't fucking look at her!" I roar.

He sobs, closing his eyes.

I turn to Eden to see how she's doing. She won't be staying for the main event, but she needs this closure.

Her face is pale but steady as she stares up at me. Her face is bloody and starting to bruise.

My gaze locks on her bloody cheek. "What made that gash, baby?"

"Amazu's ring." Her eyes are wide and luminous, but she doesn't look away.

Raf knows my intent, and he grabs Amazu to hold him while I yank his hand out and pin it to the floor. Snot bubbles from Amazu's nose as he screams, fighting to prevent what he knows is coming.

"Let me." Ash's boot comes down on Amazu's hand to splay his fingers out on the concrete.

I push the tip of my knife into the base of Amazu's finger with the ring. His screams fill the cavernous space as I grind and push and slice—doing a fucking hack job—until his finger and ring are detached.

I've never felt anything close to what I felt when Eden was taken, and Amazu's screams of agony are a balm to my ravaged soul. Each scream from these enemies will be an atonement.

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