Chapter 9

Vincenzo's POV 

I tuck her into the bed and place the pillow properly under her neck, she closes her eyes, “I'm coming,” I say to her going to get medicine for her.

After getting the medicines from the locker, I get water from the fridge and hold it out for her to take she takes it and I give her the water in my hand, she takes a sip and swallows the medicines, “You can rest now, I have everything under control, I'll avenge Papa's death,” I assure her, and she nods, closing her eyes in obedience to my order to get some sleep.

She calls my father Papa, that's what she calls her own Dad too, her name is Melinda, she is a Mafia heiress, from the Gusto familia, she has a brother, Lorenzo, he is working with her father, that's why her presence isn't really needed in the family.

I cover her properly and step out of bed when my phone rings. I quickly reduce the volume before it interrupts her sleep, I enter the toilet and accept the call.

“Boss, Rodriguez is here, he is threatening to shoot our men as they refused to let him in, he demands to see you,” Riccardo narrates hastily, his voice tinged with urgency, a complacent feeling washes over me, “Let him in,” I say, and immediately disconnect the call.

I step out of the toilet, I remember I haven't killed a soul with my bare hands today, killing one wouldn't be so bad after all, I say to myself, Melinda was fast asleep so I quickly left the room.

In my waiting room I take a seat, I ask my men to serve me tobacco and in one minute they hand me one, I place it in between my fingers and light it.

Inhaling the flavor, I feel my nerves calm, and I cross my one leg on the other, my slacks and shoes are neat and finely polished, as I haven't directly tortured anyone.

The door opens, and the next thing I see is my men holding Rodriguez side by side, the grip on his arm is firm, and I am sure it was somewhat ... painful, do I care? No.

I gestured for my men to release their grip on him, and immediately they released him. He massaged his arm, the spot where they held him, “Hello, my friend, what brings you here?” I ask, smiling, my tone sarcastic as I puff smoke from my mouth.

“Who the fuck is your friend? You traitor!” he gritted, he was so pissed, and the look on his face gave me inner satisfaction and I smiled more to worsen the situation.

“Hey, you don't yell at me, you're in my territory,” I warned him casually, I didn't need to put off so much seriousness, I know just the best way to piss people like him off.

“Vincenzo, I know you were the one behind the shootings at my Mall, what the fuck was that!?” He flared but this time I didn't warn him, because I was gradually enjoying the show, seeing him in pain.

I blew out another smoke, “People die every day, Rodriguez, why are you acting like you never hurt a soul?” I asked, unfazed by his question, as his eyes sparkled with unbelief.

“Do you know what that is going to cost me? Do you know how many people your men killed?” I spoke with anger, his tone venomous, but I wasn't fazed by his reaction, I expected it, I wanted him to show off the man he is, seeing my expression he couldn't hold back his anger.

“You bastard! Those people were innocent!” He said pulling out a pistol from his belly band holster, but before he could take it all out my men were facing him with guns, nevertheless, he brought it out and pointed at me, wishing he could end my life that minute, too bad his wish wouldn't come to pass.

“What are you going to do? shoot me?” I sneered, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

“In the past seven years, I have been shot 26 times, and 43 bullets were removed from my body. What makes you think that your little gun can kill me, how many bullets are even in there? Mmm? 6…4…12, how many?” I said indifferently, unfazed by his outburst.

He began sauntering close to me not minding that my men were pointing their guns at him, “It will kill you because I'm putting it straight in your head, Vincenzo,” Now the part I don't like is someone challenging me, I'm a reserved man but don't provoke me.

“STOP RIGHT THERE,” I commanded him, with a stern expression, and all the seriousness in me, I didn't talk nonchalantly now, my voice was serious and mean, as I glowered angrily at the fucker before me, I hate someone challenging me.

He stopped, but his expression didn't resolve, he still had his scowl on, seeing he had provoked me he smiled, I'm guessing he wanted this reaction too, I don't care anymore, no more games.

“And what will you do if I move?” He dared, his eyes never leaving mine.

“You'll beg for your corpses to be like those that were moved from your Mall, because your family will have to gather your body parts to bury you,” I stated, my voice dripping with venom, with the expression on my face, he knew better than trying me because I will do it, I saw his expression flicker but almost immediately he frowned.

“I was expecting you anyway,” I uncrossed my legs and balanced in my position, “if you hadn't come, then it would have been a sign to me that your intels and network are weak and useless, this only shows you're on track, My father is dead, and I know you must have heard, and you're my first suspect, because you tried killing me before and my father can't be an exception because he isn't me, and before I forget, I arranged the bones of the men you sent to kill me because I know you will come one day, that's for that, I'm giving you a choice to confess that you were the one behind his death, and I can think of a fair punishment for you,” I say.

“What the hell are you saying? I have nothing to do with your father's death, is that why you killed my customers?”