Page 66 of Bones

I nod and he puts William’s right bicep in the vise like he did the other, and motions for me to come over to him. Walking over to Luca, he guides me. “It’s easy. You turn the knob over and over until you hear crushing. Once the plates hit his arm, it gets harder to turn. That takes strength, but I’ll help you.”

William’s face is bright red and drenched with sweat. His head hangs down on the table, his expression one of complete defeat as he pants heavily. He knows it’s over. The moment I agreed to helpLuca, he knew there was no way his life would be spared. Maybe I should feel bad but I don’t. In fact, I bet he knew what was going on before I even told him. And yet he did nothing. Luca was right; as the plates begin to touch his arm, it gets hard to turn, so he takes over and places my hand over his, and seems to turn it without any trouble at all.

Our pathetic victim sobs against the table, but he doesn’t bother begging for mercy anymore. He knows it’s useless.

“Finish him,” I say to Luca.

He pulls a knife from his back pocket. “You sure?”

I nod slightly. “Yes.”

With a grin, he gazes at me. “Grab his hair and pull his head back for me.”

I do as he says, and grab onto his hair as tight as I can and pull his head back, while Luca quickly slashes his throat and instructs me, “Let go.”

His head smashes into the table with a loud thump, as the blood pools onto the table and pours onto the floor.

Luca stares at me with a heated expression, as he grabs his phone and makes a call, never taking his eyes from mine. “There’s a body in the basement for you to take care of.”

I flash him a questioning look, and he takes my hand in his and pulls me to the basement stairs. “I would do it myself, but I’m going to be very busy fucking my wife.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

BONES

Three weeks later…

There is one section of the house I have kept from my wife intentionally. At first, it was an oversight, but the second I came up with this plan, I made sure to keep her away from it. I had to get her out of the house for a while today so I, along with Eduardo, could set it up without her asking questions. Now that everything is ready to go and I’ve told Penelope to bring her back, I’m riddled with nerves. Will she like this? Or will she think it’s stupid? I have never second guessed myself more times than I have in the last six hours.

Athena and Penelope walk in the door, and the relief I feel is instant. I have no fucking idea how she does this to me. Charging straight for her, I scoop her into my arms and slam my lips to hers.

My sister laughs. “Jesus, Bones. She went shopping for six hours. It’s not like she was away at war.”

I ignore her, and kiss the hell out of my wife. When I pull away, her cheeks are flushed, as she looks at me with a dazed expression. “Wow. I should leave more often.”

Penelope says, “I’m going to leave before I see things I will never unsee. Athena, I’ll call you. Bones, behave.”

I chuckle as she turns and heads out the door. Grabbing Athena’s hand, I pull her across the house to the stairs.

She giggles softly. “What is up with you?”

“I want to show you something.”

I take her to the farthest wing of the house and open the doors, and hear her gasp, “Oh my god, Luca.”

ATHENA

We step out onto a balcony that extends from the outside of the house. It’s massive, with a built-in railing that is made of the same stone as the pillars at the front of the house. There’s a fire pit in the middle, burning firewood, probably because it’s gotten colder over the last few weeks. There’s a glass bar off to the right, with several bottles of alcohol on it. The floor is covered with a large blanket, and two glasses of wine on the floor beside it. Luca pulls me to the blanket, sits down and pulls me on top of him, before handing me a drink. I say thank you and put it down beside me.

He stares at me with confusion. “It’s your favorite, Butterfly.”

I move my legs around him so I’m straddling his lap, and stroking my fingers down his face. “Thank you. It was very thoughtful.”

He continues staring at me, like he doesn’t understand me at all, so I just blurt it out.

“Luca, I’m pregnant.”

His breathing picks up as he nearly whispers, “Say that again.”

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