Page 104 of The Sound in Silence

But for now, I hug my stomach and cry in the silence of the room. I sob until sleep swallows me whole.

Erico

All night, I held her with only one goal: being there for her. Holding her through the agony, but every minute of that night that passed, every sob, every hiccup, festered my own rage until remaining still became nearly impossible. I still did,for her, but the longer I tapered the killing streak, the more I comprehended my true feelings toward her.

And the more pain I wanted to inflict.

Alongside the sickening realization that there is nothing and no one in this world I can cut deep enough, punch hard enough, that’ll change Ariella’s medical results. But it would give me a place to release the pent-up emotions that embedded into my heart throughout the night.

By the time morning arrives, she finally passes out, so I detangle myself from her with a quick kiss to the forehead, my hand lingering on her skin, revelling how smooth her skin is. I hate how early I have to leave her, having to drive into the city, but ideally, she’ll sleep all day.

After calling Nico and demanding he get Della to phone her sister, Caladin meets me at the warehouse without questioning why the sudden urgency to be here. He dismisses the soldier he posted on guard duty with a nod of his head. While they share a few words, I pass right by them both and stalk inside the dim warehouse, the scent of dried blood and fresh piss greeting me.

Caladin jogs to catch up. “Whoa, good morning. Hello. Anything? Do I not deserve a greeting after retrieving the fucker?”

No one’s screams will alter Ariella’s outcome, but the fucker Caladin’s speaking about deserves death for taking something from her. So for now, he’ll do.

The man in question is in chains, bolted to the floor. He’s glaring at me from behind the dirty, red bandana shoved into his mouth. He remains still, not fighting the chains, unlike so many of the other unfortunate souls who find themselves in here.

File on him states he’s a mercenary, wanted in numerous countries for various crimes. He knows what’s happening, what to expect, which is why there’s still not even a single flash of dread when I rip the bandana from his mouth.

“What’d I do to you? Who’d I kill?”

His cockiness will make his death even more thrilling.

“Two years ago, you were driving a white panel van. Your orders were to slam another car into oncoming traffic.”

His gaze lowers, eyes moving back and forth like he’s searching through memories. Then a slow grin spreads over his mouth. “Oh, yeah. That was a decent payday.”

“Yeah.” I tilt my head, feigning consideration. “I hope that payday was worth making an enemy of theFamiglia.”

His eyes dart over my form, to Caladin hovering behind me, and then the warehouse, and finally, his distress reveals itself. “Wait.Famiglia.What the fuck am I doing in the U.S.?”

“The accident you caused killed a woman. Changed the lives of two other women when they lost their mother. One of those women is my wife.”

With every word, realization hits him, and he finally starts fighting. For his life, a greater understanding of why he’s here. The chains rattle and he backs up as far as he’s able to. I don’t approach though, simply remain rigid where I am.

“Wait, you know how it is, man. It was two years ago! I waspaid. Take out the fucker who hired me for the job. I’ll tell you his name, if you let me go.”

I smile, but not one that indicates pleasure with any of his words, and even release a light chuckle, informing him precisely how unamused I am by his begging because there’s nothing this asshole can offer me, I’m not already aware of. “Gage Roche hired you under the command of Stefano De Falco.” His mouth drops open. “The Corsettis killed both of them. But you…you’remine.”

“It was two years ago!” He returns to his earlier argument, his pointless fighting continues as he wrenches his entire body into the chains. “Look, she’s still alive, isn’t she?”

“You must enjoy pain,” Caladin mutters from behind me.

If he does, then he’s about to have a damn buffet. I walk by him, heading toward the farthest wall where a metal table is. Numerous torture options, tools and knives, wait to be chosen.

But as I stand there, inspecting every single death-delivering, pain-inflicting weapon, I see Ariella in my head again. Not her smiling, or swimming in her sexy bikinis, or even playing her piano. No, instead it’s the tears that consumed her all night. Her sobs, which shattered my own control, awakening a part of me that requires a blood debt. The slightest bit of feeling to be worthy of helping her through her own pain.

Ineedthis man to feel an ounce of what she does. Losing her mother, her voice, her life all in one hit. The pain she’s surviving through now though…that’s something else. It’s her strength that reassures me she’ll make it through.

So I turn away from the table and instead, shed my coat. The fucker doesn’t deserve knives or bats, or any tool. It’ll be my fists that take him out. The absolute pleasure of using him like a punching bag, to release the monster within.

“Unchain him.”

The man’s expression brightens, but it’s pointless. This isn’t an escape. It’s an execution.

Caladin steps forward, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. And maybe I have. “Erico—”

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