“Wow, you’re the best, Noah. Aaron will fucking love this,” Ivan says, zooming in with the phone.
Lev goes to challenge Noah, but Dima holds him back.
“Leave it, Lev. It's done now and this wasn’t our war,” Dima says.
Lev points at Noah and the obvious feeling of alphas clashing is quite amusing. Noah doesn’t give a shit or even notice Lev and I think that pisses Lev off more. He wants a reaction.
“One day, Noah, we'll meet,” he warns. Noah ignores him and walks away. His bat with my brother's brain matter on it slung over his shoulder. But he leaves with monotone passing words.
“I really hope not. You talk too much and are too emotional for me to be around.”
Ivan and I laugh, and it's the first genuine laugh I have felt in a long time.
“Fuck you all,” Lev says before storming out, not before he grabs his phone back from Ivan.
I walk over to Lucas who is still standing at the bar.
“Where are they?”
“Out in the gardens, ready, as you requested.”
Excellent.
“Can I come watch?” Ivan asks, and I chuckle.
“Of course. You can actually help. Want to test your new weapon out?”
“Don’t flirt with me, Carlos. Tyler gets very possessive.”
“You’re safe from me. Come on.”
We walk outside and a few of Marin’s guards look at me before turning their attention elsewhere. I then notice that my torso is covered in blood and whatever else landed on me after Noah had his turn. But that's the downside of this kind of job. It gets messy.
Lucas walks us into a large open area of the garden. The vision in front of me is like a piece of art. I’ve gone old school in my methods. I want to feel their death and pain with my bare hands.
Two posts have been erected in the garden by Mark, and tied up to them both are the interfering old man Bruno, and Gabriel. It’s reminiscent of those history pictures of people who were burned at the stake. Gabriel is not worthy to be called my father, so from now on I will only refer to him by name. I’m ashamed that we share the same blood, because he is not a true Silva. A man of intelligence and conviction. Enrico was more like him than I thought, just a little more realistic that he knew you had to work to get something out of it.
“You have me tied up like a pig in my own garden! Have you lost your mind? Gone crazy like your mother!” he shouts and I stand motionless. My mother. I feel very little for most people in the world, but I know she is the only one that showed me the slightest piece of love and kindness.
“I think you have the word crazy mixed up with the meaning of the words loving and kind. You can spit all the shit you want, Gabriel, but the end is coming for you and I’m going to enjoy every last bit of it.” I grab the four knuckle duster out of my trouser pocket, it's an old brass one given to me by my grandfather, each knuckle built up into a small spike. This was Simon’s favorite, I remember him staring at it in my display cabinet. I stride over to him and flex my fist, I rear my arm back before using full force of motion as I punch him across the face. Raw metal slams against my bones, the transfer of force runs back up through my arm. But it was worth it to see the huge mark on his face, the small drips of blood, and to hear him wailing in pain.
“Is that a knuckle duster?” Ivan asks, grabbing my wrist to have a look.
“Yes, I collect them.”
“It’s given me an idea to make an upgraded version. You know, Ivan style.”
Going into this I thought it would feel heavy in mood. But I appreciate having Ivan here as he brings a lightness and humor I didn’t know I’d enjoy so much.
“You’re a disgrace to the family name. Your grandfather would be turning in his grave!” Bruno shouts.
“No, he would be ashamed of this idiot he called a son. Why do you care so much? Did you hope that if you stayed close enough to him you would have some control? A stake in the family wealth? Why are you still creeping around here, Bruno? Unless, you are in love with him?”
“You’re disgusting,” he says, revulsion clear in his face.
“What do you think about that, Ivan? He thinks we’re disgusting. Do you want to show him your new toy?”
“My pleasure. Now you’re the first person I get to use this on, Bruno the homophobe. Are you excited?” Ivan says, waggling his eyebrows.
