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“Just watch me!” he yells and tries to free himself. I put a bit more pressure into my hold.
“And do you want your sister to watch you being dragged to jail? Or even worse, attend your funeral? Because, believe me, there is nothing more excruciating than seeing the casket with your family member lowered into the ground.”
The kid stops thrashing and tilts his head up to look at me.
“Now, you’re going to calm the fuck down, go back inside, and hug your sister. You’ll tell her you love her, and that you won’t be making any more problems in the future.”
The kid stares at me, then nods. “And what about Rocco? If he’s going to . . .”
“Rocco Pisano had his death sentence signed years ago,” I say. “He won’t touch your sister again.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you can’t hit anyone if you don’t have any hands. And because I’m going to kill him before he ever has the chance to go near her again.” I release the kid. “Go inside. Tell Ravenna I’ll wait for her out here.”
He turns around and narrows his eyes at me. “You’re really going to kill him.”
“Yes.”
“I hope he’ll suffer.”
An easy smile breaks across my face. “Very much.”
No longer the hot-headed teenager of just a few minutes ago, Vitto gives me a look that of a man who understands the gravity of this situation and goes back inside. I lean my back on the wall across from the apartment door, listening to the hushed words coming from within, but I don’t move any closer to hear them more clearly. I’m barely hanging on by a thread, and if I hear any more about how that son of a bitch hurt her, I’m going to storm that hospital and separate the asshole’s head from his body.
Ravenna walks out a few minutes later, her gaze cemented on the decrepit floor.
“I’m sorry you had to witness that,” she mumbles.
I reach out and lift her chin. Her eyes meet mine. Sad. Haunted.
“Why did you marry Rocco?” I ask. “Were you in love with him?”
An anguished laugh escapes her lips. “My brother thought it would be fun to challenge Rocco to a game of poker. Vitto lost. And I was a part of debt settlement.”
I stare at her. Stories have been circling that Rocco won his wife in a card game, but I thought it was nothing but some bullshit gossip.
“Who knows?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“That Rocco’s been beating me? Other than my mom, no one. Maybe one of the guards who saw the bruises.”
“His name?”
Ravenna’s eyes widen. “Why?”
Why? Because I need to find the cocksucker who saw her hurt and did nothing. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to erase that idea from my mind.Sheis my target. The fact she was being abused should have no impact on me. I will not jeopardize my plan any further because of her. She means nothing to me.
I move my hand to her cheek, cupping it into my palm. The skin under my fingers feels so soft, like down feathers.
“His name, Ravenna.”
“Federico.”
The bald guy on the second shift who works the gate. I nod. “Anyone else?”
“No. Rocco was very clear about what would happen to my mom and brother if I told anyone.” She slumps her shoulders. “My mom has been selling the clothes and jewelry I give her. In a few more months, I should have enough money for the three of us to escape. But until that happens, I have to endure.”
I tilt her chin back up. “Endure?”
