Page 64 of Rotten Men

My logic and heart battle for dominance at his gentle endearment. My eyes connect with his, and I find my feelings for Ciro conflicted for the first time tonight. He is the very incarnation of evil but through no fault of his own. It could as easily have been me to lose my mind and want to wreak havoc on the world. His upbringing was just as devastating as mine, but I had three men who helped anchor my soul so I could overcome every horrid ordeal. Ciro wasn’t as fortunate, and here is the outcome of growing up discarded, beaten, abused, tortured, and bullied without one ounce of love.

“I think once I rid you of certain distractions, your heart will thaw and may feel differently over the years,” he adds stroking my cheek, his eyes half-mast, full of hope for the future.

“Distractions? You think killing Vincent will help you rid me of distractions?” I gape, astounded by the fact that he can’t let go of his resentment toward the love of my life, even when overtaken by his infatuation for me.

“I know it will. Giovanni and Dominic as well, if I see they hold too much weight in your heart,” he hushes, straightening up my spine at his sudden change of heart in sparing the men who hold mine.

“But you just said you’d saved them,” I cry out sickened, but Ciro ignores my outrage and continues to caress my face.

“And I will. It all depends on you, Selene. My whole life depends on you,” he vows, tilting my chin to connect his affectionate gaze with my horrified glower. “But even if I vow to excuse them, Vincent must go,” he states firmly. With a glint of evil in the corner of his eyes, I am horrified by his next words, when he spews, “As must his son.”

“What?” I croak out in shock, but Ciro just shakes his head, bringing me closer to him as he grabs my face fiercely in his hands.

“The boy will learn of what happened here tonight. He’ll grow up and seek revenge on the man who murdered his fathers. I can’t have that!” I slap his face with all the venom I hold inside and lean back as far as I can muster on my father’s desk.

“So could Gio and Dom, but you’re willing to spare them!” I yell.

“I’m sure they could. But they won’t, because of the love they hold for you will be enough to keep them both contained. Neither will lift a finger against me if they think you might get caught in the crosshairs. Yourbastardo,however, won’t have the same fear. You and I both know what it is like to grow up breathing hate and nurturing vengeance in our soul,rosa. Vincent’s son would grow up to be just like me, and I fear the world only has room for one of us.”

“He’smyson too, Ciro!” I spit at him.

“And I’ll give you plenty more to make you forget him. I promise,” he tries to appease, and it’s disturbing how he actually believes he could kill my son and somehow still make me love him.

I lean further back, no longer able to be in his vile presence any longer, when I feel my fingertips touch a familiar edge. My heart beats erratically as my scowling, livid veil keeps my excitement hidden. Once I have what I need in my full grasp, I snarl, disgusted at the man who looks hurt by my disdain.

“You say you know me, but you don’t. You don’t love me either, Ciro, because you are incapable of it. If you did truly care for me, you would never threaten my son.” I seethe.

“That’s not true,bellarosa,” he wails, perturbed by my new-found revulsion.

I let him continue with his lies, but my ears are deafened by the thundering drum of my heart and the looming death he has threatened on Jude. Not only does he want to cut the men I love out of my life, but also destroy the only pure light I’ve ever been blessed with. Any empathy I might have had forThe Thornvanished the moment he sentenced my son to the same fate as his father.

“Bellarosa? Did you hear a word I said?” he pleads with his soothing tone.

“I see you have everything all planned out,” I reply, not answering his question.

“I told you as much,” he coos. My features are stone-cold, and for Ciro, my apathy grows to be too much for him to endure.

He pulls me by my legs, diminishing the space between us, grabbing my waist to him like a lifeline. I find it ironic he seeks such safety in my arms. His head nestles once more on my breasts as he holds me tightly in his grip, silently promising the world if only I gave him a chance. He kisses the base of my throat and looks up to me with worshipping eyes.

“You just forgot one thing,” I tell him, caressing his cheek with one hand to keep him in place.

“What’s that?” he questions, the glare in his eyes mixed with hope and promises of hell he will inflict on everyone I love.

On bated breath, I lower my temple to his, and hush, “I’m not a rose, Ciro.” I watch a small smile tinge his lips, his denial ever so clear.

“Then what are you?” he whispers back.

I lean closer to his ear and watch how my breath trickles goosebumps on his neck. I lower my voice, so he alone will hear my departing words.

“I am who I’ve always been—The Butcher’s Daughter.”

I wield in my hand the same jagged knife that took my father’s life, and sink it deep into the side of his neck, straight into the jugular. Blood splatters all over my face, while I watch the monster struggle for his next breath, his surprised gasps curling my insides. His Adam’s apple bobs frantically, as do his arms trying to push me away, but I hold him steady against me with all the force I can muster. I grind my teeth with my last effort to kill the predatory demon whose blood flows like a river over every inch of my exposed skin. I twist the knife, thrusting it further until his gasps become whispers, followed by dim, broken breaths. I twist and shove the razor edge into Ciro’s flesh repeatedly, only stopping when his beautiful blue eyes become nothing but a lifeless sea.

Twenty-Three

Dominic

After the men at the Bianchi mansion’s gate have been properly subdued, I instruct our most loyalcommilitonito be cautious as they take out the remaining soldiers on the lavish estate. We can’t make any mistakes by alerting the armed men inside the mansion that they are about to have some undesirable and unexpected guests. Each kill needs to be swift and silent so that we can ambush whoever is behind those closed doors, and rescue Selene, Vincent, and Jude.

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