Page 67 of A Seed Of Peril

Head tipped back, exhaling a drawn-out, defeated breath, Nico said, “What’s the point?”

As the voltage ripped through him again, he arched off the chair, curling his toes.

I couldn’t begin to imagine how painful it was to be electrocuted.

Good.

“How many volts?” I asked Dino just as Dominic laid off round two.

“Nine mil,” he answered.

I widened my eyes. Nine million!? Holy fuck.

“I refer to ‘em as the industrial version of tasers. Way more fun and way more damage,” Dino explained, almost as if he were gloating.

Dino was correct… Thatwasfun.

“I can do this all day, Nasuti,” Dominic said. When he pushed the button on the taser, Nico flinched at the hum of electricity.

“Fuck—”

Nico made a noise of fear as Dominic thrust the taser forward like he was about to tango with it for round three.

“Alright! Alright,” Nico said, caving. “Jesus fucking Christ… I’ll fucking give you a goddamn name. Alright!?”

I flinched when he was unexpectedly tazed again. It lasted a few seconds. I gave Dominic a what-the-hell look, but he didn’t notice. Taser still in his hand, he stood with both hands behind him in wait.

“What was that for?” I asked him.

Without taking his eyes off his target, Dominic said, “Just had to be sure.”

“Don’t fucking shock me again, and I’ll fucking tell you.”

The damage was taking its toll on Nico. I wanted him to endure more. After the names, after the details… I wanted him to suffer until his final breath.

“His name, Nasuti,” Dominic bellowed, at the end of his own rope.

“Dante… Dante Vitis.”

The name didn’t ring any bells with me.

“Why is that name so fucking familiar?” Dino pondered.

“Because he worked with us.”

I swallowed, my throat tighter.How many of them made it out of that slaughter alive? Surely not that many, right?

“How many of his men are still alive?” I thought out loud.

“A few of us,” Nico divulged.

“How many?” Dino asked.

“Just us and Frankie Belfi… And Brendon Marks.”

“Who pulls the strings?” Dominic dug.

Nico slowly lifted his head, glaring at his captor as best as he could. “What?”