Chapter 186 BEG.
\~~~LUCIANO.
I walked out of the room where I had left Talia. Her screams came after me, faint but sharp, like knives cutting through the thick walls. I did not slow down and my face stayed calm, too.
The hot anger inside me had cooled into something harder, something I could control. This was not wild rage anymore. It was a plan, step by step, to make them pay.
I fixed my sleeves as I walked down the dim hall. The fabric felt smooth under my fingers, a small habit to steady my hands. Viktor and Gabriel followed close behind, saying nothing.
The hideout smelled of old metal and sweat. Lights buzzed overhead, casting long shadows on the concrete floor. We passed locked doors where my other men stood guard, their faces hard and ready.
I stopped at the door to Marco's room. My hand rested on the handle for a second. I could hear my own heartbeat, steady and slow. Then I pushed it open.
Marco hung there, tied to the iron rod against the wall. His body showed the marks from the first beatings my men gave him. Dried blood stuck to his jaw and collar. One side of his face swelled up, purple and tight. He looked tired, worn down. But his eyes were still sharp, and full of fight. He would not break easily. That pride of his held him up, like a wall I knew I had to tear down brick by brick.
I stepped inside slowly. My gaze locked on him. I said nothing at first. I just watched, studied the way his chest rose and fell, the sweat on his skin, and measured how much he could take before he cracked.
Then, quietly, I asked, “Still not talking?”
Marco let out a dry laugh, like it hurt to make the sound. He shifted a little, the chains rattling. “There is nothing to say.”
I nodded, just once. I knew he would say that. I started to walk around him, my steps even and slow. “You touched what was mine,’' I said, my voice low.
He did not answer and just stared ahead.
“You hurt my wife.”
A pause hung in the air. The room felt smaller, and the silence even thicker.
“You took something from me... that you can never return.”
Marco lifted his head a bit. A small, tough smile pulled at his lips. “I’d do it again.”
That stopped me. I wasn’t mad, I just remained still as the world paused and then let out a soft breath, almost sad for him. “You said nothing would make you beg.”
He looked right into my eyes. “Nothing will.”
I nodded again. “Good.”
I waved my hand to my men. They moved fast, untied him from the rod, and pulled him to the new setup in the corner. This one was different, made for control and for making pain last.
They chained his arms up high, stretching them over his head.
His feet just touched the ground, his toes scraping the floor and his whole body pulling tight right away.
His shoulders were strained, and his muscles shook from the pull. He let out a sharp breath through his nose but kept quiet.
I watched him closely and saw the way his face tightened, fighting the ache already.
I looked at Gabriel and nodded at him.
Gabriel stepped up with the first tool. A thin metal rod, heated until it glowed red at the tip, was pressed lightly against Marco's side, just under the ribs.
Marco's body jerked. His jaw locked hard and a hiss escaped his teeth, but no scream.
I said nothing. Just watched the burn mark rise on his skin, red and angry.
Then... nothing. The room went quiet again.
Marco hung there, his breath coming faster. His arms pulled harder now, as the stretch burned into his shoulders.
Worse than the hot metal was the wait, and not knowing when the next hit would come.
Minutes dragged on and sweat was already dripping down his face. His eyes flicked to me, then away.
Suddenly, there came another touch on a different spot, on his arm this time. The same slow press and the smell of burning skin filled the air.
Marco twitched sharply. A low grunt slipped out, deep from his chest. His body swung a little in the chains.
Still, he didn’t beg.
I stepped closer. “She begged,” I said softly.
His breath rasped, rough and fast but no words came out.
“She begged for her life. But, did you listen?”
I waited for a while, letting it sink in.
“Did you listen?”
I tilted my head. “No.l
I stepped back. “Proceed.”
Gabriel changed it up. Not just burns now but into something to hit deeper.
He brought out a strap, wide and tight. Wrapped it around Marco's neck, loose at first. Then pulled.
Marco did not get it until it happened.
His breath caught, and his chest heaved as air would not come in fully.
His eyes went wide, panic flashing quickly. He pulled at the chains, his body twisting hard and his legs kicking for balance, but the stretch held him.
Then, there was a release and the strap loosened.
He sucked in air, big gulps, coughing hard. His face was red, and veins stood out on his neck.
Before he could catch it all, the pull happened tightly again.
Just enough to choke, to make his lungs burn, and to show him how easy it was to take his breath.
Now, there was pain from the burns and fear in his eyes.
His body shook more and his head dropped for seconds before he then jerked up.
I watched every bit. No face change. Just eyes on him.
Time dragged on as Gabriel repeated the process of burning, and choking him over and over.
His strength faded slowly and his arms trembled in the chains.
But he held on even as his breath came out broken.
I walked right up to him and stood face to face. “Beg.”
Marco blew out a hard breath and his lips moved slowly. “...Go to hell…”
I looked at him for a long time then nodded my head, “Continue.”
This time it was harsher and worse. There were longer holds on the strap, hotter presses, and deeper into his skin.
His body shook badly, and his reath ragged, like sobs he would not let out.
Then it broke, finally.
Not loudly, actually. Just a whisper, cracked and small. “...please…”
The room went dead quiet.
I did not move right away and just stared at the sweat on his face, the blood from the cuts, and the man who swore he would not beg.
Then I leaned in close. “You’re too late.”
His eyes flickered weakly and I stood straight, giving Gabriel the last sign.
It was quick now and there wasn’t any teasing.
Gabriel pulled a knife, sharp and clean.
He made just one cut, and it went deep into the neck. Blood sprayed fast and Marco's body jerked once, hard, then still.
There was no more sound from him and silence took over the room. I stepped back, looked at the body hanging limp, and then breathed out.
Like it was some finished job.
I turned and walked to the door. My voice came low, and final. “Burn their body.”