Page 42 of Retribution

Blaze eased himself off the wall and came over, stooping over Satiago. “I think the motherfucker had a heart attack.”

I sighed. “Dang, that was too easy.”

* * *

All of Santiago’s men were rounded up and dropped off in front of the police station along with Santiago’s body.

Carlos and Marco were still at the factory, and I finally knew how to end this nightmare so that I could bury my brother.

The men fired up the cauldron and filled it with water. No, I wasn’t going to boil them. That would be monstrous, I had something else in mind. I was watching the fire underneath the old contraption when the men brought out the boys. Luca was spread out on a chair nearby dosing. Blaze and Sandy had disappeared somewhere.

“Hey boys, how have the brothers been?” I asked. “You good?”

Marco nodded while Carlos glared at me. I instructed the men to untie the boys. Marco looked relieved while Carlos wore a confused frown.

“We’re free?” Marco exclaimed. “Can we go home now?”

“You are free, but I can’t send you home,” I replied. “I need to see how strong you boys are.”

They looked at each other in confusion. The men nudged them towards the cauldron.

“See those?” I asked, pointing at the hanging chains. “Start climbing.”

Since the chains hung over the cauldron, the men brought a chair for them to climb up to reach them. The boys hesitated and the men shoved a gun into their backs.

“Get up on the chair,” one of the guards ordered. “Now.”

Carlos first went up, grabbing the chain and hanging on for life, as he slid upward, he looked down into the cauldron. A terrified look crossed his face. Marco was prodded to also get on the chain.

“Hang in there, guys,” I said. “I don’t want you to fall.”

“Please let me down,” one of the boys screamed. “I don’t want to die.”

“You should have thought of that before you killed someone!” I yelled.

Their screams and cries reverberated thought the factory. I watched for about thirty minutes as their arms trembled from the exhaustion. Sweat ran down their faces as steam from the pot rose up to them.

I was tired and needed sleep. I woke up Luca and told him to take me to bed. We left the boys hanging there and instructed the guards to let me know who died first.

Chapter 24

Ciara

The day was beautiful with no threat of rain. There was no cloud in the skies and the sun shone down with all its glory. Birds chirped in the nearby trees while a dog barked in the distance.

The small gathering in the cemetery with close friends and family gave me comfort. Luca held my hand on the right and Neve held the left. I hadn’t cried since Cory died but today, I felt emotional.

A tremor passed through me when the minister read his last rites and asked me to say my farewell. Luca and Neve let go of my hand and I plucked a rose from one of the wreaths. I knelt, gently laying the rose on the casket.

“Cory, we did it. You can now rest in peace. I know, it will take a while for me to be at peace, but it will get better. I love you.”

I stood, brushed my knee and stepped back. They started lowering the coffin, my heart drumming violently, my chest bursting.

I cried, “No, not yet.”

“Ciara, it’s time,” Luca whispered.

“No, I can’t do this.”