Chapter 81 Another Surprise
LILA POV
Oh yes,” Nico started before turning back to Doc, holding his phone out toward him. “There is this issue of you being photographed collecting your payment from one of Damon men.”
I narrowed my eyes and stepped slightly closer to try and see the picture Nico was referring to. Doc stared at the phone for ten seconds then started to fight against his restraints. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Nico. It won’t happen again. I needed the money to pay off some debts but it was a one-time deal, I fucking swear.”
Oh God, Nico put his phone back in his jacket pocket, seemingly unaffected by Doc confession and begging. “Nico, please. I swear to God it won’t happen again”
Nico swung his fist straight into Doc face, and I heard the distinct sound of bone breaking. I flinched, closing my eyes for two seconds. When I opened them, his face was covered in blood from a cut just above his left eye and by the way Nico jaw clenched, I knew the monster was about to come out. “Did you not lay down the oath? Did you not swear your loyalty to this family? Did you not vow to follow me the day my little brother decided to stand against me?”
“I did. Yes, I did. I’m sorry, Nico. Please believe me when I say I will never ever betray you again.”
Nico leaned forward, and Doc stared at him as if he were the devil himself. I stared at him as if he was the devil. “The punishment of such betrayal is death.”
“Please, no!” Doc started to weep, his beaten face contorted with fear. Nico straightened and looked my way. “Unless she decides to spare your life.”
My heart dropped, my gut instantly feeling like it had been filled with concrete. “What?”
Nico kept my gaze. “What do you say, Lila? Should I be merciful and spare his life?”
“Oh God, please,” Doc started to beg again, only this time his pleading words were aimed at me. “Please don’t let him kill me. Please, God no.”
There were too many thoughts inside my mind shouting, screaming while the sound of my own heartbeat resounded in my head like a fucking jackhammer.
“What are you doing, Nico?”
“I’m asking you whether or not you want me to spare his life.”
I lightly shook my head. It felt like the world around me was starting to spin out of control.
I glanced from Nico to the panicking Doc. Why was he even doing this? Why would he leave such a decision up to me?
I looked back at him again. “You know I don’t want to see anyone die.”
“So you want me to spare his life? After he betrayed me?”
My lungs started to constrict inside my chest as my breathing became shallower by the second. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
He started toward me, still wearing the mask he had pulled on the second we walked into this room. “Do you think this man deserves a second chance?”
“Don’t we all?”
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “And what if I told you that betraying me, helping my brother plot against me, isn’t his only crime?”
I kept his gaze, refusing to cower away from him. “I don’t care about what he’s done but death can atone for nothing.”
He cocked his head to the side. “And why do you think death can’t atone for anything?”
“Because when the guilty is dead, they feel nothing and only the living left behind carries the weight of an injustice done unto them.”
The way his mouth pulled up at the corners made me think he already knew. He expected me to say no to killing this man. He stopped two feet away from me. “Do you remember when Damon killed your father? Murdered him in cold blood?”
Anger raged. “Of course I do.”
“Do you remember what it sounded like, the sound of the gun as Damon pulled the trigger?”
I clenched my teeth. “What are you doing, Nico?”
“Do you remember the scent of your father’s blood as it dripped on the floor?”
“Stop.”
He stepped closer. “Do you remember what it felt like watching the life drain out of your father’s body, knowing there was nothing you could do to save him?”
Tears blurred my vision while pain seared the inside of my chest. I closed my eyes, desperate to get rid of the images Nico was causing to pour back into my mind.
“Do you remember what your father looked like as he took his last breath?”
“Please stop!”
He grabbed my arms and jerked me closer. “Do you remember the smug grin on my cunt of a brother’s face after he pulled that trigger? After he killed your father?”
God! “Yes! Yes, I remember!” Tears streamed down my face, the image of my father’s lifeless body next to a gloating Damon finally tearing my soul in two.
“Good!” he jerked me once more. “Look at me.”
I continued to sob. “I said look at me!”.
I opened my eyes and stared into his. “Remember that pain, Lila. Remember that image of your father as he died in that chair.”
“Why?” I whispered between clenched teeth.
“Because that pain you feel whenever you think of that exact moment is what’s going to make you stronger. It’s going to motivate you.”
“Motivate me for what?”
He placed his palm against my cheek, his thumb gently rubbing against my bottom lip.
“Revenge.”
I searched his face while I struggled to keep the pain and the rage contained.
“This man” he pointed toward Doc “he was the one that brought your father to Damon and my mother. He was the man that beat your father so hard there were no bones left in his face to break.”
My body became heavy, my mind reeling with every word Nico spoke as I glanced from him to Doc in disbelief.
“Doc was the man that tied your father to the same chair he died in. This man you want me to show mercy to had a role in your father’s death.”
He let go of my arms, and my legs felt as if they could give way beneath me at any moment. I stared at him. “Is it true?”
He remained still. “Is it true?” I yelled, and he only flinched without saying a word.
Funny, a few minutes ago, he couldn’t shut up as he tried to beg for his life. But now he was as silent as a mouse a little mouse.
He walked over to Doc and pulled out his gun, aiming it at his head.