“I wanted a child of my own. Neal and I tried over and over again, and here you, the woman dripping in blood and sin, were going to have a child. So I cursed God. I told Him that He was an egotistical, bigoted asshole. Where was the justice? All the shit I had gone through and I just wanted a child. You kill, you steal, you lie, and yet, He gave one to you. But here I am regretting it so badly, Melody,” she whispered the last part.
“I never ever meant to hurt you, and I swear from this day forward I will always love you like I should have from the very beginning.” If she knew me at all, she should have known I didn’t want or ask for her love and that I knew it was bullshit. She wanted to make herself feel better not me.
I was tired of listening to her. So I just slept.
LIAM
“What’s your name dear?” my father asked the young crackhead before us as I drank my brandy.
“Whatever you want it to be.” She winked, and I almost puked.
My father on the other hand just leered. “I think Julia Roberts is the only one who can do that line.”
“Redheads your thing?” She pouted, which was also sickening, as she twirled her brown hair.
“My wife’s my thing,” he replied, taking a seat before her. “And your life should be your thing. You see, the only thing that is keeping you alive right now is the thought that you may know something. If you don’t, well . . .”
He just stopped, and the whore began to shake. “I need something to get the edge off.”
Rolling my eyes, I forced myself not to snap her neck.
“What’s your poison?” Sedric said, walking over to the tray of drugs Fedel laid out for him.
That got the girl to perk up like a bitch in heat. “Heroin and Cocaine.”
“Somebody’s a rock star,” my father said. “But let’s not get greedy. Pick one.”
She pouted once again, and once again, I was torn between puking and ripping her lips off.
“Heroin,” she said, and my father grabbed the injection before handing it to her.
“Do you need help?” he asked.
But the girl just shook her head untying her halter-top and using it as a tourniquet with no shame that her breasts were exposed to the world. Moaning out as though she was at the peak of a climax, she rode the wave of poison in her veins.
“Druggies man,” Monte whispered in disgust. This was a constant reminder why none of them were allowed to do any shit.
“Where’s your boss, dear?” Sedric asked her softly.
“I don’t know.” She smiled, and I felt myself losing control. “They said they were going to Finland. No one ever checks Finland.”
“Did they tell you this?” Sedric questioned looking back at me.
She shook her head like a child “Nope. Vance had just finished fucking me. He’s an ass. He left me high and dry. I was almost begging. But nope, he was done and wanted me out. So I went in the shower and heard him talking to some redheaded bitch. Ha-ha, you both like redheads.”
“Do you know anything else?” Sedric asked her. “This could save your life.”
“I’m horny. Can I get a last fuck instead of a last meal?” She grinned reaching for my father’s crotch.
I was tired of her. Nodding over to him, he held a gun to her skull. “This isn’t jail. You don’t even get a last prayer.”
Her body slumped over the table with the fucking needle still in her arm. Sedric just looked at her in disgust—the mask of kind smiles was gone—the man who stood in front of me was the same man who made me who I was today. Shaking his head, he put another two in her before handing the gun over to Fedel.
“Such a fucking idiot.” He frowned, pulling out his electric cigarette. It was the only compromise my mother would allow him.
“So Finland then?” Declan asked me.
“No, not until we know for sure. I don’t believe we have any men there but double-check and pull them out. I don’t want them catching on. Besides I still need to talk it over with my wife,” I replied as I opened the door.
“Is she speaking yet?” my father asked, but he knew the answer.
“No, no she isn’t, but she will.” I had to believe she would snap out of it.
“Don’t give up hope, son.”
Easier said than done.
MELODY
Day 14
“I had a crush on you,” Declan whispered from his spot at the foot of the bed. “Crush is such a stupid word. It was more like lust. I shouldn’t be telling you about it, but I’m hoping you will get pissed and kick my ass. You know, like Bloody Melody would. I know Liam would skin me alive. No seriously, he actually had us skin one of the Valero. It’s like he is going through a historical Roman torture manual and just picking shit. I wouldn’t be shocked if we crucified someone next.”
I need to put a “do not disturb” sign on the door.
“Yeah, so please don’t tell him. Maybe one day when we are old and gray . . . no not even then. He would be senile and probably worse. He acts just like our grandfather sometimes, and our grandfather is an insane, perverted arse of the highest degree. He lives in Ireland and prefers to stay there, which is good. He would understand why I lusted after you. It’s hard not to. I think every man with a working dick does. But I’m the only one foolish or stupid enough to stay it out loud.” He laughed because he was stupid.
Very stupid. No wonder Coraline is pissed at him.
“It’s gone now. Not that you’re not attractive because you are, but I think . . . I know . . . I’m lusting after my wife a whole lot more. You had something to do with that. I don’t know how you did it. Maybe it’s just for the fact that you exist. But you did it. You took my lamb and made her a tiger. She isn’t a lioness like you, but she is deadly in her own right. Plus the new hair style gets sexier with each passing day,” he said.
Closing my eyes, I went back to sleep, trying my best to drown him out.
LIAM
Day 18
“I thought I said no one was to enter Finland?” I asked them as I drank straight from the bottle.
Antonio nodded. “You did, sir, but she spotted one of our men in the airport before they had a chance to leave. They had no choice but to bring her along.”
Sighing, I stared at the blonde woman known as Vance’s favorite mistress, Hera Pompilio. There was nothing I could do about it now. She wasn’t the big fish I wanted but I could use her as bait.
“May I?” Declan asked, stepping up to the mirror.
“Knock yourself out.” Maybe he could use his gentlemanly shit on her.
When he walked in, her dead eyes stared right through him.
“Are you the man who killed my son?” she questioned softly.
Declan simply raised an eyebrow. “I’ve killed many sons, ma’am. You’re going to have to be more specific.”
“Amory Pompilio Valero. Age twenty-seven. Six feet, two inches tall. Blond hair, blue eyes, he—”
“No, I did not kill him,” Declan said. “That honor was left to my brother and two cars. I was under the impression Amory’s mother died when he was young.”
“That’s what you get for being under everything.” She smirked. “I was always made to be Vance’s wife. No other woman could carry his child, not even his stupid wife. I told him he should kill her and marry me, but he told me he couldn’t. That he made some deal, but I knew it was lie. He took Amory from me and gave him to her. She was so beyond herself with happiness. Every day taking care of my son, I hated her. The day Amory called her Mother, I rammed an ice pick through her heart. Vance was pissed so he broke four of my ribs and my jaw. But he loved me too much to kill me.” She laughed so effortlessly, I wondered if Natasha could use a roommate in the asylum.