Chapter 40

Giovanni POV: 

*torture*

He had come after my family. Again… 

It was as if I was back on the docks watching as my brother opened up the crate and saw him engulfed before I could even blink. The fire consuming his last moments, his last words, his last breath. Becca flew into the street gliding across the it was ice. 

I couldn't look at her asleep in the bed, her breath so steady but her eyes unopening. I was a shameful man to have her pay the price for my battles. What made matters worse, though I had seen her launched from the blast, my first thought was the woman beside me in the car. I watched my flesh and blood push across the pavement, and all I thought of was her dark hair and honey eyes. 

If I couldn't focus I would lose everything. I couldn't let this stand. 

I wouldn't make him pay with fire, we were gaining far too much attention with our explosive games. 

The detective had peeled up to the scene demanding to know what had happened. Asking me what I had done, what I had done. He seemed to realize his stupidity once I pointed out it was my men and my offices up in smoke. I would have punched him for letting his mouth speak before his pea brain had a chance to catch up, but Arlo reminded me to see to our people. 

I had them sent to the hospital but upon reaching the building myself I found an attacker slumped against the wall of my cousin's room. I had her placed in my home and sent all of our people to a hospital in a different city. All of those well enough to travel. Only a few were alive enough to have to be sent to the hospital in our city and they were under constant supervision. 

"Tell me anything, whatever comes to mind," I told him sitting there holding the knife to his skin. 

He winced as the tip pierced his skin the dot of red growing as I waited for him to give me something useful. The drugs were still in his system so I'm sure this only hurt so much, but when I was done with him he'd still wish for the mercy of death. 

"I don't know-" he heaved a heavy breath "anythin-AHHHH!" He screamed as the knife danced across his skin I painted his arm red. 

"You have to know something, such devotion you showed, they said you smiled," I spat at him. 

He probably thought his loyalty would be rewarded, that Domenico would surely know his faith had never wavered. That if he somehow made it back, Domenico would never kill him. 

Did he not realize this was a suicide mission? 

I pushed on breaking, cutting, stabbing, until he went unconscious. He could fight it all he wanted but sooner or later he would give in, they always did. I sat in my dungeon as he floated in and out of his pain, he must not have been in that much pain because an hour later we were back at it. I knew the kind of man it made me, hacking him to pieces, tearing his soul apart as much as his flesh. I would be the damned for the sake of my family, all those who depended on me. 

Somewhere around his broken ribs, he decided to give something up. I didn't have to know what it was but he gave me an address. 

"Thank you," I put down the knife I had picked up and grabbed my gun. One bullet was all it took to end his pain, I wish it would have eased my fury, but alas there was only one thing that would. 

Heading back upstairs I realized how much time was spent down there as daylight blinded me, I put a hand up blocking my eyes. I hissed and blinked as she came into focus bathed in the light standing there waiting patiently for me. I'm sure I looked like hell, blood all over me, dark circles beneath my eyes, bruises on my fingers. 

"You should take a shower," She told me her arms crossed her face blank, except for her eyes swimming with concern. "She's awake but she'll hate to see you like this," 

I nodded and walked off to the shower. Becca was aware of the life I lead, but no she hadn't seen me like this. I could only see her in her school uniform, ponytail in her hair as she ran up to me, the disappointment in her eyes at who I had become. 

My father's voice echoed in my head. "You are the eldest, you will protect them from those who would seek to corrupt them," 

We weren't like Americans, cousins and siblings were one and the same where I came from, and I was the eldest. I saw to them all, I watched over them, guided them, taught them. Luca was an only child but you'd never know it, as soon as he could manage he was by my side all day every day, where I sent my brother off there was Luca in his place doing the same stupid shit I was doing. 

Becca would scold us when she'd find us sneaking back in the house, smallest thing but fire like an old Nona. 

I got myself cleaned up and went into her room, Luca sitting beside her and chuckling at something she'd said. 

"There you are, you know when someone is injured it's rude to leave their bedside Nonnie would smack you for abandoning me," She giggled. 

"Apologies your Highness," I rolled my eyes sitting at her other side. "How are you feeling?" 

She winced touching the side of her face, the monitor bulky on her petite fingers. "It hurts," She confessed. "My head is killing me, but I will live," 

We sat there talking with her explaining everything, joking about old times, agreeing it was good our grandmother across the ocean for all our sakes. She asked if her mother knew. We both blew out an exasperated breath and nodded. We left her to explain she would survive to her mother over the phone we could hear our aunt screaming over the line as we closed the door. 

"Did you get any information?" Luca didn't hesitate, putting on his coat, ready to follow me. 

Neither of us had slept, but we wouldn't until they had suffered worse than her. "I've got an address," I explained. "We'll need as many men as we can get walking," 

"You'll be doing no such thing," Her voice was cold behind us, holding a tray with food for Becca she glared at us. "I'll knock you both out myself if you don't get some rest first," 

"Arianna-" Luca began to argue but I held up a hand. 

"Yes, of course," 

I wouldn't put her through any more stress today. She had held it together for all our sakes, but I knew she was broken over this, caring for Becca as much as I did. She felt responsible for the lives lost. 

I went to my room to rest closing my eyes ignoring the horrible things I had done and finding rest came for me quickly. When I woke I did as I promised and took as many men as I could find to the address I was given, and I raised it to the ground. Not one soul escaped our guns tore through the building. The smoke cleared and we looked around realizing we were standing in his manufacturing plant. I grabbed a phone off of one of the many fallen and placed a call to the feds. 

Get yourself out of this.