Page 35 of And Twice as Twisted
“He was caught breaking into Sienna’s apartment.” Al dumped the man at my feet.
His words reawakened my nervous system. Waves of adrenaline contracted the vessels in the body, directing blood to all the major muscle groups, and mine were currently pumping more oxygen into my heart and limbs. I was invigorated, focusing my rage on the man with the death wish.
“Where the fuck’s your suit?” Al stared at my bare feet and chest. It was a wonder I’d remembered pants. “Christ, you really are fucked up. Apollo, don’t do this to her.”
“Assumptions are made and most assumptions are wrong.”
He cracked his knuckles and glared back at me.
“You’re bursting bubbles of synovial fluid and reducing lubrication to your joints.”
Al continued to stare at me, his expression a mixture of anger and confusion. Good, that gave me time to prepare for the punch line.
“Chronic cracking of the knuckles can lead to a reduced grip strength. And since you cango fuck yourself, you may want to stop that before you can’t grip your flaccid member.”
“You son-of-a—” He halted in his steps when the figure at my feet moaned.
“Hello.” I ignored Al and addressed the man between us. “We can make this very easy. I ask a question, you answer truthfully, and I end you quickly.”
“Fuck you, ya Agostino scum.” He spit the words, blood coating the air when he spoke, and tried shaking the chain loose, only to howl out in pain when his ankle bent at an awkward angle.
“Deluca, actually.” I turned with clippers in my hands, enjoying the way his pupils dilated with fear. “Apollo Deluca.”
“You-you… you’re the reaper.” His whisper earned the smallest tilt of my lips.
“Indeed.” I turned back to my table of toys.
“Why were you in Sienna’s apartment?” Al questioned, kicking him in the ribs when he didn’t answer. “You’ll tell us eventually, so save yourself the pain.”
He remained silent as his eyes landed on the table of devices.
“Do you know much about anatomy? Humans, which represent the most complex lifeform, all share certain requirements: respiration, digestion, and excretion. These processes are interrelated and utilize organs, mass cells, and other physical anomalies that are above your level of cognitive ability.”I twirled the rope around my hands, turning to look at our captive still bound on the floor. “I think the most incomprehensible fact for individuals such as yourself is that the human body can go up to three minutes with no air and survive with little to no damage.”
“This should be good.” Al grinned. They called me sick, but I was merely a singular act in this demented circus ofil famiglia.
“When we approach five to ten minutes, there is concern for brain damage. That being said, I believe we can attempt four minutes safely and see how many times I must resuscitate you until you fold.” I turned to Al. “For science, of course.”
“Of course.” He nodded at our patient, who proceeded to fill the room with a pungent odor as he relieved his bowels.
I swept my arms over his neck, wrapping the rope around his throat and pulling tight. His limbs flailed and his fingers fought to relieve some of the tension. The rope impeded the flow of oxygen, preventing blood flow to the brain. He was unaware but the combination of pressure to the neck was also restricting his trachea, which was what made respiration impossible, eventually resulting in his slow asphyxiation.
I was counting in my head, ensuring he would suffer but not too hastily. If we crossed over four minutes, I might not get the information I needed. But his presence in Sienna’s apartmentassured me he possessed pertinent intel when it came to the threat against her life.
He’d give me answers. They always did.
As minutes turned to hours, I grew restless, nearly allowing our captive to succumb to brain death before he finally squealed. I was unsure, at first, if he’d be able to articulate a response. But once the oxygen fully saturated his lungs and the blood flow resumed, he sang a very interesting tune.
And gave me a name.
“Find that motherfucker,” I commanded Al before ordering Rocco to meet me at the docks. “I want answers. Now.”
I’d quickly changed into a suit, and shortly after, Rocco arrived, practically frothing at the mouth for a little bloodshed. Al had already pinpointed the location and put feelers out for the man in question.
Al parked outside the small Italian restaurant; several armed men stood outside, awaiting our arrival. We paid them littleattention as we stormed through the front doors. The place was empty except for the two fuckers seated at the table in the center.
“I heard you were looking for me. What can I do for you, Deluca?” Romano’s cocky tone was practically begging for a bullet.
“Is someone missing a check-in with you?” It was subtle, but his scar bounced just enough to tell me I’d hit the nail on the head. “Someone with a very important task?”
