Giovanni POV:
***Interrogation
I just wanted a peaceful evening, it had made my day when she came to the office. I knew she'd get bored staying in the house all day, there was only so much to do there. Work was stressful enough trying to get everyone who came to me the protection they needed, all without giving up any ground for Domenico to take back parts of the city. I was playing chess with a mastermind who didn't like a rulebook, I only felt at peace around her. Even today just knowing she was in the same building as me I felt better and more assured.
It didn't matter though, we had a chasm of complication between us that neither was willing to jump across. She didn't want to give her father any more reason to target me and I didn't want to drag her further into this mess.
I hadn't expected her father to do so, but he appeared desperate. I felt horrible, there was a slimy part of myself that was proud of this I had gotten him cornered enough that he had dragged his other daughter into this to try and get under my skin. What he didn't expect though was for his daughter to be a genuinely good person, one that didn't back down from the fight. I thought back to her straightening under the scrutinizing gaze of the others at the restaurants where. She had been embarrassed but she didn't let them get to her, she hadn't done anything wrong and she wouldn't be made to feel so.
I wish we could have ended the night better and I could have slipped out the back door like always, but no instead we fought and now I was on my way in a terrible mood to do a terrible thing. I'll let her believe that I am not that awful for only a little while longer, she's too smart to keep things from. If she'll find out eventually I'd rather show her my face on my own terms.
Luca was with her and I'm sure he will cheer her up. She suspected he was my cousin, of course, she was right, but she had caught on already to why we didn't admit anything. She may not act on the instincts but she had them that much I knew. I won't let another family member of mine die for this cause, no more of my blood shall be spilled.
But theirs… It will be biblical what pain befalls Domenico Captuo for the pain he caused my family.
I drove down to the docks waiting to see if they took the bait, sitting up at one of our warehouses. I couldn't see much from here but I should be able to hear the gunshots. Not long after there they were ringing out, and a few moments later the sirens. The cops were mainly in Domenico's pocket. I tried to bribe them over to my side but it's hard to wager money when the other side will kill your children if you disobey.
I walked into the warehouse Benny waiting for me inside. A new friend dangled in chains from the rafter and growled when he saw me.
"How's he doing?" I asked the small Irishman, an old friend from across the pond who had a penchant for violence.
"Not talking, he's taken one hell of a beating too," He tutted poking the man who was clearly out of it.
We heard the door open and Marco walked in with a few other men. "How did it go?" I asked him.
"Laslo, Dario, Renzo, and Donte all fell, we only got one of theirs," My fake cousin told me.
I smiled, happy it had worked out. "Perfect. " It looked like it was still going according to plan.
We turned back to the hostage dangling before us, and all of us rolled up our sleeves ready to get to work. This man was higher up in Domenico's circus, he had been one of them to go and fetch Arianna. I was surprised he had held out so long, Luca had dragged him back already injured his leg looked pretty infected by this point if he was smarter he'd give up at least something just to make it stop. He was too stupid for that though, he thought if we sent him back to Domenico he'd be rewarded for his loyalty. Not realizing that if he got away somehow the big bad wolf would think he gave something up, after not getting Arianna home.
Luca told me this one had been particularly happy with the idea of having her in his car. It made the next part easier. I grabbed the knife as they dragged him down he wrestled in a pathetic attempt to delay the inevitable.
I shook my head sitting down as he struggled against his chains. I don't know where he thought he was going to get to with a leg like that, the broken ribs, multiple concussions, and the cuts on his back. For someone so slow he was holding on with impressive determination.
"You shouldn't fight so hard, I'm sure it hurts," I advised him.
He responded by spitting at the ground. He was quite spirited I'll give him that. Today was different though he would break, I was sure. I pointed the knife at him, "Tell me where Domenico keeps his heroin," I told him.
He merely glared back, as best he could with one of his eyes all puffy and swollen. It seems he had mouthed off to Benny today.
"You're in enough pain, you have endured quite a lot it is commendable. We both know though you can't take much more, your leg is a goner, your head must be punding. I'm sure your chest aches with each breath," I saw him heave a heavy breath, knowing I was right either he died from the injuries he had sustained or he died from the interrogation.
"Domenico will skin you alive you little pest," He laughed his coughing chuckle ringing out in the warehouse.
I shrugged looking around. "I've been fighting him for three years now, I seem to be quite unharmed," Looking over my body.
He grumbled and rolled his shoulders wincing slightly. "Get it over with then,"
I went to stab him in the gut his attention drawing there and that's when Benny twisted his arm the pop ringing in my ears. That's when we got the first scream out of him.
"Ahhh," He hwoled. "What the fuck!" He huffed grunting through the pain. "Oh you sick bastard, of fuck you,"
"No no," I shook my finger stabbing him in the open area where his shoulder was once in its socket. "Now I am,"
"Awwww," He cried. "Ahhhhh," his arms still pinned behind his back increasing the distress as he wriggled.
Marco handed me a syringe, I waited until he was done with his wailing and then nodded to Benny who pulled the knife out, and another round of crying and cussing came forth.
I sighed waiting for him to finish, if he didn't want this to happen he shouldn't work for such a horrible person. The haggard way Arianna looked in his office that day after weeks of her father pushing her further and further flashed in my head. Any and all remorse left me as he finished and was grunting again my men pulling him back against the chair.
"Look what I have, a local anesthetic," I shook the syringe. "It could take it all away we will get you better and we will get you out of the city,"
He stopped. "He'd kill me for sure," he shook his head.
"No he won't, he hasn't found anybody else," I looked over at Marco who shook his head back.
I saw him realize that freedom was at his fingertips, he looked between all of us, eyeing the needle like the drug it was.
"It's off in a dairy farm on the outskirts of town the farmer had some outstanding debts and an old bunker under his house," He gave up the info I handed over the syringe and soon all his troubles were gone.
"Take him to the doctor," I ordered.
He hobbled up onto his feet as best he could sighing in relief as the pain melted from his body his shirt red with blood. I turned away from the mess they dragged him past and hobbled up to me.
"You should know blondie is leaking info has been for months," He whispered before he got into the car, off to see our private physician.
"Noted," I lit up a cigar relieving my stress.
Marco walked over to me awaiting instructions. "Let him get healed just about patched up, send him out to the countryside, and then in about a week or so give Domenico his address," I told Marco.
"Understood,"
Domenico never found any of them, but he did catch them once I gave them up. I got in my car to go back to my house the blood splattered on my shirt. I pictured her asleep in bed, peaceful. She could be upset with me all she needed, but I would keep her safe.
And when this was over? Her voice whispered in my ear.
And then I'd let her go.