Page 104 of Forgotten Deeds

“I’m never too busy to be all up in principessa’s business,” Sammy says, now beside us.

“How nice for me,” Valentina says dryly. She ushers us inside the photo booth, closing the curtain in Sammy’s face. Piling in between us, she makes silly and mock sexy faces for the camera, and Nicky and I laugh.

The machine spits out a strip of pictures, and Valentina grabs them. We walk out, and she hangs the photo strip on a large magnetic board next to the booth. “I expect couples’ pics,” she declares. “At least try to get Romeo to smile.” she points at Nicky.

Nicky raises an eyebrow. “I’ve told you before—I’m not a miracle worker.”

“Sammy, I guess since you’re missing a plus one, take a picture with your right hand,” Valentina tells him sweetly, and Nicky snorts a laugh.

He smirks, unfazed. “I’m ambidextrous.”

“Gross.” Valentina makes a face before scanning the crowd, her eyes landing on a diminutive man with a clipboard and walkie talkie strapped to his belt. “I need to check on the cake. Please help yourself to food and drink while I’m gone,” she says, excusing herself.

“Stop harassing Valentina,” Nicky warns Sammy.

“Boss told me to keep an eye on her. Last time I checked, you’re not the boss.” He smirks before walking off.

“I would say he’s a nice guy once you get to know him, but I’m not a bald-face liar,” Nicky tells me once Sammy’s gone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, can I have everyone’s attention?” A man with a microphone appears, and a hush falls over the crowd. “Let’s give it up for our graduate, Valentina!” Music plays over the loudspeakers, and Valentina appears from a side door, waving and smiling.

Everyone applauds, and she works her way through the crowd, stopping to speak to each and every guest. “Girl knows how to work a room,” Nicky comments.

“Absolutely,” I agree.

The overhead lights dim, and a man rolls out a three-tier cake topped with flickering sparklers. Valentina walks over and smiles as everyone oohs and aahs.

Suddenly, there’s a loud pop. The cake explodes, covering Valentina from head to toe in icing before Sam tackles her to the ground.

That’s all I can see, as I’m now in Darius’ arms on the floor, with his solid body on top of me. Nicky’s beside us, with Romeo shielding her.

“Kill that motherfucker!” Valentina shrieks, wiping cake from her eyes as she shoves Sam off her.

“Language,” Nonna shouts from the back of the room.

Chapter Forty-Two

Darius

Having received a good ass chewing from Romeo last night, I decide a more direct approach is needed. The carrot didn’t work, and now it’s time for the stick.

Slipping on my brass knuckles, I punch Big Benny over and over in his disgusting stomach while he’s bound to his office chair. “You fucking with me?” I menace.

“No!” he wheezes, a mixture of blood and drool spraying from his mouth.

I pummel his jiggly midsection like a feedbag. “You working with John Davis?”

“No!”

I deliver a nice jab to the liver area, and he pukes. Looking down at my white trainers now spattered with brown vomit, I growl.

“The man hasn’t been back, I swear on my life!” Big Benny wheezes.

“I find out you’re lying, and it will be your life. Except I won’t kill you quickly. No, Big Benny, a slow and torturous death awaits you, my friend. Did you know I like to eat the organs of my victims while they watch?” I lie, using the disgusting rumor about Diávolos to my advantage.

He pisses his pants, and now I have vomit and urine on my favorite shoes; he shits on me, I don’t give a fuck how potentially valuable he is, I’m gutting him right here.

“But instead of me partaking on your flesh, I’m going to force-feed you,” I continue. “First your kidney; you’ve got two, so your body will putter sadly along. Next your left lung, followed by your spleen. Did you know, Big Benny, you can survive with quite a few organs missing. You want to hear the record number of organs removed before the poor fuck finally keeled over on me?”

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