Page 142 of Toxic

My brothers and the Ivanovs took a backseat, only assisting or handing more tools to Bridget's brothers or Liam when needed. Declan and I have stayed back. Images of his necklace asphyxiating my dolcezza burn in my mind. I'm wise enough to know, once I touch him, there's no holding back. His last breath will come from my hand.

But Declan has his own war raging in him. This piece of shit raped his sister-in-law but was also a part of his brother Sean's murder. The number of times we've assessed each other is too many to count.

From time to time, Maksim or Obrecht advise the O'Connors to change the angle of their knife or to use a different device. I knew the Ivanovs were skilled in torture, but even I've picked up some pointers.

Hours pass. Sweat covers our skin. The smoke from too many cigars and little ventilation stains the air. I hand Declan a tumbler of Jameson, and I take one of McCallan, nodding to him. We down the alcohol then step forward.

"Playtime's over," I declare.

Daniele screams as Aidan digs his eyeball out. When he has it in his hand, he spins and tosses it to Brody. "Keep that. I'm putting it in a jar."

"Well, that's not fair. Give me the other."

"Get it yourself," Aidan taunts.

Declan pats Brody on the back. "Sorry, lad. Time's up. Get it when he's dead."

"No fun," Brody claims and tosses the rest of his drink back.

I watch Declan study Daniele's bloody cock. He sniffs hard, and we exchange a glance. He states, "You know what I'm doing."

I pull out the gold chain Tristano found in Daniele's car. I wrap it around my hand and step in front of him. I dangle the crucifix in front of his remaining eye. My insides shake, but my voice is calm. "Remember how you used this on her?"

He winces.

"Ah. You do," I assert, my stomach diving from the thought. I lean forward, murmuring, "I'll see you with the devil. Until then, burn." I nod at Gianni, stepping back.

He takes a can of gas and pours it over Daniele's head.

Daniele shrieks louder than before as the liquid runs into all his cuts.

I wrap the necklace around his neck, looking at Declan.

He steps forward. Locking eyes, we both do our part. I remove all slack from the chain until Daniele is choking. Declan grabs his cock and, right before he blacks out, slices his dick in half.

In the few remaining moments, we all stay silent until there's no more struggle from Daniele. When only his corpse remains, I hang his necklace around him and order Massimo, "Take a picture."

He obeys and sends it to me.

Slowly, we all file out of the dungeon and shower.

On the way back to Tully's, Declan states, "Somehow doesn't feel like we gave him enough."

I meet his blue eyes. "Nothing would have ever been enough."

And it's not. I know in the depths of my soul, no matter what, nothing could ever make right what happened that night—not for Sean, and not for my dolcezza.

30

Bridget

Three Weeks Later

Killian embraces me,squeezing me tight, then kissing me on the cheek. He locks his green eyes with mine. "How are you doing?"

While I'm relieved I no longer need to live in fear of Sean's murderers, who raped me, a part of me wishes I could go back to when no one knew what happened. My therapist is helping me, and I'm glad Dante made me get counseling. I'm working through the shame of my attack and guilt of dropping Sean off that night, but I still have a long way to go. I force a smile. "Better."

Killian hugs me again. "Good. Now, tell me how much you missed me."

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