Page 78 of Beautifully Forgiven

“Brantley.”

He almost collapses, but Brantley catches him before he goes down. He tries to calm Ethan as he whispers something in his ear.

Brantley looks over his shoulder, his and Bishop’s eyes connect, and they both know what needs to be done.

Brantley stands, cupping Ethan’s shoulder, silently letting him know he’ll fix it. Then he holds a gun to Lorenzo's head whose eyes widen just seconds before he pulls the trigger.

Blood sprays all over the wall behind him, and we watch as his body slowly slides off the chair in a dead weight and lands with a thump. Brantley wipes the small speck of blood that landed off his cheek, relief washing over him.

Lifting a gun to Pasquale’s head, I’m anxious to pull the trigger. My hand shakes, making me tense. The fight I’m having with myself, knowing what Pasquale did to my family has unshed tears filling my eyes.

“Do as you wish, I no longer care,” Bishop says, giving me permission.

Patting me on the shoulder, and that’s all the permission I need.

Bishop watches as I smack the gun across Pasquale’s cheek, and he grunts, blood spilling from his mouth.

He leads Ethan and Brantley out, stopping at the top of the stairs. With one last glance between us, Bishop closes the door.

Pasquale watches me as I slowly move toward the table.

“Such a waste of life,” he murmurs.

“Taunting me won’t work, Pasquale.” I grunt. “I’ve waited a long time to do this.” I grin.

“Fuck you, Kipling. Enjoy my whore of a daughter.”

Picking up the machete I slice it through Pasquale’s skin, I keep going slicing, cutting him. I don’t stop, the monster in me is craving this. I don’t stop until there’s nothing left, his blood coats my skin, and clothes, his own skin is in pieces, hanging from his body.

Dropping the weapon, it lands with a thud at my feet.

He’s finally gone. Pasquale is dead. My revenge is complete.

“Rest now,Amore Mio-My love.”

I feel nothing staring at Pasquale’s mangled body as a calmness washes over me and I know that finally my girls can rest.

Savannah.

I need my girl, fuck I need her right fucking now.

Covered in Pasquale’s blood, I exit the basement and walk toward the voices I can hear. I’m prepared for Bishop to put a bullet in my head, it’s what I expect after I took his sister.

I stop when I hear.

“Does he love you?” Bishop asks her.

“I-I think so,” Savannah replies, I can hear the nerves trembling in her voice.

“With every breath I take,” I say. They all turn. Looking at me, Savannah moves away from her brother and runs toward me. Leaping into my arms, I catch her and crush my lips to hers, I devour her like I need her to breathe, she’s the air in my lungs. My goddamn heartbeat.

“Are you okay?” Savannah slides down my body, and her fists wrap around the blood-stained shirt, her father’s blood.

“Is he gone?” Her voice cracks, and she tilts her chin up, gazing at me.

I nod softly, and then she’s in my arms.

“You told her.” I smile down at Savannah.

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