Page 66 of A Seed Of Peril

Nico choked as he coughed and fought for air, bruises slowly beginning to pop up on his face first.

“You should’ve taken the easy way,” Dominic taunted, taking out and lighting a new cigarette, but instead of enjoying it, he burned it into Nico’s flesh just under his left eye.

I brought my hand to my nose, not a fan of the scent.

Through Mr. Nasuti’s anguished groans, Dominic continued to burn him in various places. Cheek. Throat. Inside of his elbows. Two of his fingernails, his nipples, and on his penis. That last spot forced a howl out of Nico.

Dino’s sly chuckle was perfect timing. We had the bastard in front of us; we just prayed he would talk. Throw us a bone. We all knew Nico wouldn’t leave the chamber alive. It was even clearer that whoever called the shots didn’t give a fuck about Nico’s fate; otherwise, they would’ve already landed on our doorstep or gone after Dominic and his men before anyone left New York.

I thought about Anthony and Angelo, out there making sure any loose ends in New York were indeed tied. I thought about the others that were still there alongside our brothers, watching Nico’s wife and sister, waiting on any sort of command. Everyone would be home by dinner, but still… I hoped they stayed safe. Who knew the eyes watching them.

Lifting his chin at Dino, Dominic’s solidarity nod spoke of a silent mutual consensus between them. Then, Dino casually walked over to Nico and landed a brutal undercut beneath his rib cage, literally knocking the air from his lungs. Dino threw four more undercuts in that spot, springing backward on his heels with his fists up, shuffling his feet like he was a boxer in the ring.

“You ‘gon feel the pain, motherfucker,” Dino declared before punching Nico’s right eye.

As Dino beat up Nico, I wandered over to where Dominic was at the nearest tool table. He had a long, black, slender object in his hand. It reminded me of a baton, just without the attached piece at the top.

“What is that?”

He mulled it over. “A taser.” I just eyed it when he held it out to me, and when I looked back up at him, he was already staring. “Just push the button.”

“Me?” I asked, not expecting the opportunity. Dominic inched the taser closer to me. I looked back up and over at him, behind me at a slumped Nico, and back at the taser.

I could do this. Giving Dominic my empty bag of blood, I took the baton-like weapon from him and started walking towards Nico. I was surprised by how light it felt.

“Oh, shit,” Dino quipped. “Start talkin’, man, cause that fucker right there,” Dino pointed at the taser, “fuckin’ hurts.”

Nico sat slumped forward, exhausted. Weakened. No doubt feeling emasculated.

I wanted to hurt him.

Bad.

I wanted to brutalize him—make him feel the same panic and fear I did when I was being shot at. When I thought we were going to die. My son stirred in my belly, making me remember how scared I was that something would happen to him.

My mood changed. My aura. I wasn’t apprehensive. Not anymore. As my smirk snuck across my lips, I adjusted my hold on the taser and rested my thumb on the button. With my shoulders back, head held high, I moved toward Nico, holding out the taser.

“Hey,” I said.

Nico grunted, barely lifting his head. I pushed the button. The taser gave off a buzzing sound, which got Nico’s attention.

I jabbed the head of the taser into the deeply bruised spot under his ribs and pressed its button.

Immediately, he stiffened and sat up straighter, his whole body rigid as he absorbed every ounce of the voltage coursing through him. He couldn’t speak, only grit his teeth in agony. Drool spilled from between his teeth, dribbling off his lips and past his chin.

“Lilith.”

Ignoring Dominic for a handful more seconds, I reluctantly lifted my finger off the button and stepped back. Nico slumped forward, hanging his head, his breathing slowing and evening out.

“Who’s callin’ the shots?” Dino asked. “You ain’t doing anyone any favors. You’re not going out a martyr, and I’d bet your sister and your wife would smack you into fucking submission if they knew just how much you hold their lives in your fuckin’ hands.”

Lifting his head, Nico snapped at Dino, baring his teeth as he shouted, “I don’t care! Do it; kill them. Whether it’s you assholes or him that kills them, they don’t got much longer!”

“Him?” Dominic pondered out loud, cutting through the moment of silence. “Now we’re finally getting somewhere.” He placed his hand on the small of my back. I turned around, staring into his eyes that told me he’d had enough and was running out of patience. “Sit down and relax. You did good.”

I smiled softly, nodding. I handed him the taser and let Dino help me over to the recliner, making sure I was comfortable after helping me take a seat.

“A name, Nasuti,” Dominic pressed, fed-up, holding the taser like he was ready to put Nico through another round.