Page 48 of Memento Mori
I felt his warm lips graze my forehead as he kissed me tenderly. “We will make them all pay.”
***
It didn’t take long for the Camorra boss to get back to us with the information we needed. Santino Grasso, Capo of the Nusco Clan of the Camorra was the boss sanctioned to die in Norway over thirty years ago. A name was all I needed to dig into the Grasso family. He was a ruthless leader, and not well loved by his clan. It also explained Agent Grasso’s reasons for coming after Tony. Santino Grasso was his father, and he was only a toddler when he died. According to news reports, relief rippled through Campania when news spread that his remains had been deposited on the steps of his palatial estate. However, while his family mourned, his clan celebrated and moved beyond the Grasso’s as leaders.
The air was thick with the nauseating stench of shit and ammonia, reminding me of the torture session happening in front of me. Tony’s white dress shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbow, revealing a striking black and white tattoo. As he showed no mercy to Dante Messina, blood splatter now covered his chest, hands, and arms, creating a gruesome sight.
“You know more!” Tony’s shout echoed through the air as he landed a powerful punch to Dante’s stomach.
He grunted on impact, his bloody body swinging from the rafters. Tony’s brutal assault left Dante helpless, his wrists bound by iron shackles and connected to heavy chains hanging from the ceiling.
Grunts, moans, and groans echoed through the room. Another stream of urine trickled down his bare skin, forming a puddle onthe floor beneath him. It was amazing Dante hadn’t spilled any information up to this point. But I think I had a way to get him to talk.
As I walked across the stained concrete floor of the room Tony called the dungeon, my heels clicked loudly, echoing in the dimly lit space. I didn’t know how many souls had been taken between these four walls, but I was sure Dante Messina would not be the last.
As I approached him, Tony stopped his onslaught of punches, stepping aside for me to get closer. I wasn’t afraid. There wasn’t anything he could do to me.
As I circled his naked body, I couldn’t help but notice the purplish, black bruises that stood out against his bloody tanned skin. Internal injuries were definitely a possibility, and the reason he hadn’t spoken was because he knew his death was inevitable. But I was sure he’d talk to me.
“Mr. Messina, aren’t you ready for the pain to end?” I asked once I made it back in front of him.
He strained to raise his head, his muscles trembling with effort. Despite his swollen eyes, he mustered all his hatred and attempted to glare at me.
“All I have to say is your time’s coming, bitch,” he sneered.
“So, I’ve heard,” I said, unconcerned by the threat. “But before that time comes you will tell my husband everything he wantsto know. Who is behind the threats besides Marianna? Who are you working for?”
“Fuck you!”
A glob of spit landed at my feet. Tony made a move towards Dante, but I placed my hand on his forearm, stopping him. Tony’s gaze shifted towards me, and the anger in his eyes instantly vanished. He stepped back behind me, crossing his arms against his chest, while I moved closer to Dante.
His head sagged; the brutal beating Tony had given him was taking up all of his energy. As I reached for his nuts, the sharp tips of my perfectly polished fingernails pressed into the soft flesh. As my nails dug into his skin, I could feel the warmth of his blood staining my fingers.
The sound of his screams filled the air as he tried to break free from my grip. But I wasn’t letting go. I would get answers to whoever was trying to harm me and my family.
“Who are you working for, Dante?” I squeezed a little harder, twisting just enough to make sure I was giving him pain, but not enough where he’d pass out before I got my answers. “If you tell me, I can end all your pain. Would you like to end your pain quickly?”
He nodded his head as best he could, and I loosened my grip on his nuts. Tony handed me a wet towel, and cold water seeped through the fabric as I wiped the sticky blood from my fingers.
“Who are you working for, Dante?” Tony asked.
“Grasso,” he mumbled. “Camorra.”
“Agent Grasso?” Tony asked.
He shook his head. “Camorra,” Dante repeated. “Marianna... Camorra.”
As his head sank down, his body started convulsing with violent spasms. Tony pushed me out of the way, to reach Dante.
“He’s having a seizure,” I said. “Just put him out of his misery, Tony. I’m ready to be done with this and your mother has the answers we need.”
I caught his gaze as he glanced back at me, his sigh echoing in the air was filled with frustration and disappointment. I knew he wanted to have the answers before we went to Marianna, but now that we had confirmed Guiseppe’s information with Dante’s confession, there was no doubt she was involved. We could get all we needed from her.
Antonio brandished his firearm, moved a few paces from Dante, and fired, the bullet penetrating his skull.
“Franco, get rid of the body,” Tony ordered.
Nodding, Franco hurried towards Dante’s lifeless body.
