Page 119 of Devious Kingpin
Pain wrapped around my throat and refused to let go.
I’d had some shitty moments in my life. Even my childhood didn’t come close to this pain.
The skin on my back itched at the memories.Whack.
The way the belt would swish through the air before it slashed across my back. The cold air against the raw skin.
“You’re just like your papà,” Mamma hissed, her eyes hateful and full of anger. At me. At Christian. “Confess your sins. Both of you are children of the devil.”
Then she made us go to Sunday mass again, but afterward, she made us repent. For what, I didn’t know.
She grabbed my shoulders and shook me so hard, it gave me whiplash. The world blurred and my teeth rattled.
All the while I clutched the little toy car my grandpa gave me. He was Mamma’s papà, but he was good. Kind. Nothing like Mamma. But I shouldn’t have brought it along. I knew better. Even my little brother knew. He warned me to leave it at home.
Except I loved it so much, I wanted to keep it with me.
Mamma snatched the toy out of my hands and threw it across the sanctuary. It hit the wall and pieces flew into the air, skidding across the floor.
Then Mamma shoved me back onto my knees. Pain shot through my thighs and I whimpered. Whether in pain or for the toy, I didn’t know.
Whack.
Another slash across my back and my eyes blurred. I refused to cry, but a tear made its way down my cheek. I felt Christian’s sad blue eyes on me. He bit his lip so hard, blood trickled down his chin.
He knew his turn was coming, but I wanted to spare him. I wanted to keep Mamma away from him. She always hit him harder and his back was still raw from the last whipping.
It was my job to protect him. He was younger than me.
She turned her attention his way and I reacted without thinking.
“I’m going to tell Grandpa you broke the car he gave me,” I blurted out, my voice shaking. “He’ll put you in time-out.”
My body twisted, and I saw it coming. I didn’t cower nor did I try to block it. She backhanded me so hard that I saw stars. The next hit I didn’t expect. My head slammed against the corner of the altar and everything went back.
Yeah, our mother—correction, my mother—loved her church time. But she loved her belt even more.
I shook my head, chasing the memories away. She didn’t deserve my memories. She’d taken enough from Priest and me.
But still, I couldn’t help but compare the ache in my chest to the beatings Mamma used to put us through. That was a fucking fairy tale compared to this agony.
She hates me.The knowledge punched me in the chest and connected with my ribs. It was so violent that I swore a crack sounded in the room.I love her and she fucking hates me. I’d beg for forgiveness on my knees, but she’d probably laugh in my fucking face.
My phone rang and I answered it without looking. “DiLustro.”
“What in the fuck happened?” It was my brother. Fuck, I should have looked at caller ID.
“Yes, what happened?” Basilio chimed in. “We thought she fucking shot you.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. I was certain that Juliette had wanted to shoot me. I wondered what held her back from slicing my throat.
“No such luck.” I laughed bitterly. Truth of the matter was that she might as well have killed me. I couldn’t live without her.
“Where is she?” Basilio asked.
“Unless she gave my Rover to someone else, she’s driving around Chicago.” It was quite possible she’d ask someone to get in my car and drive around while she ran. I never knew what to expect from my wife. “I told her if she leaves the city, I’d start a war.”
“Jesus Christ,” Priest grumbled. “I told you it was a bad idea.”
