Page 1 of Vincenzo
1
AMALIA
“What are you going to do, Amalia, kill me?”
The blood seeping from Felipe’s mouth, nose, and the gash along his left eyebrow have muddied up his face, making him nearly unrecognizable. Yet the grimy smile taking over his face, showcasing his decayed teeth from years of drug use, tells me exactly who he is: low-life scum who likes to steal from the people he owes his livelihood to.
I lean against the wall, staring at Felipe, who’s lying on the carpet of his living room, smiling up at me like the deranged man he is, with drugs and money scattered around him.
When I came in here, I gave him the option to take the easy way out or the hard road. It’s what I give all my marks right before killing them. I’m known asLaSicaria, the best hitwoman in the Velasco Cartel—so well known that anytime I pay someone a visit, they know wherever I go, death follows.
“Here’s the thing,ladrón. You’ve been an awfully bad boy,” I say, pointing my knife at him. “And you’ve been around long enough to know what happens to bad boys, correct?”
Felipe spits blood, and it splays across his beige carpet. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Pushing myself off the wall, I close the distance between us and kneel so I’m practically eye level with him. I run my gaze down his battered body and say, “Now we both know that’s not true.” Bringing my attention back up to his face, I tilt my head and narrow my eyes on him. His eye is nearly swollen shut. “Come on. Why don’t you just be honest with me. I’m going to kill you regardless, so…”
Felipe’s once sardonic smile flattens as he peers up at me, but he doesn’t make a sound.
“Okay,” I say, giving him a loose shrug, “have it your way.”
Gripping the collar of his shirt, I bring my knife up to his neck, nicking the sensitive skin as I put pressure on the blade.
“Okay, okay, okay!” he yells out, wrapping his calloused hands around my wrists. “I’m sorry. I know I owe the boss some money, but I swear I’ll get it to you guys soon.”
“You owe him moneyanddrugs, Felipe.A lotof money and drugs. How in the hell do you think you’re going to come up with all of that?”
“I-I don’t know, but I will!”
I apply more pressure to his neck, and this time, my knife slices into him, causing a small amount of blood to trickle down the blade.
“Wait, wait, wait! You don’t want to do this!” Felipe’s voice is frantic and desperate, which grates on my nerves. When will they ever just make this easy on me? I could do without the dramatics for once and go for the easy, quiet kill.
I roll my eyes. “And why wouldn’t I?”
He shifts his gaze back and forth between mine. His pupils are so dilated from the drugs he’s been stealing from my uncle I’m surprised he’s still coherent. He swallows deeply, and the movement catches on my blade. “I-I have information for you.”
I raise a brow at him. “Information forme? What kind of information would you have that I would give a fuck about?”
“Y … your parents.”
My heart skips a beat, and I put even more pressure on my knife. Felipe’s grip tightens, but even with his hands wrapped around my wrists, it would take less than a second for me to slit his throat from the position I’m in.
“My parents are dead, Felipe.” My tone is low and steady, nearly threatening because he dared to speak about them.
His eyes widen. “I-I know they are, but haven’t you wondered who did it?”
“I already know who did it, and he was taken care of. Ten years ago.”
He goes to shake his head but is halted when my knife begins to carve its way into his skin. He hisses out in pain. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that if I were you.”
“You wouldn’t be too sure about that?” I scoff out. As if I’d believe anything that comes out of this guy’s mouth.
“Lower the knife, and I’ll tell you what I know,” he says, a desperate move to try and get me to spare his life. Unfortunately for him, I see right through the bullshit and put a bit more behind the blade.
His eyes nearly bulge out of his sockets, and he yells, “Please! I’m trying to help you!”
Before he’s able to say another word, I slide the blade across his neck, and his grip around my wrists loosens. A few seconds later, he drops his hold on me altogether, and I release him, letting him fall to the floor with a thump as he gurgles and chokes on his own blood.
