Page 57 of Playing for the Dark

“Aww, that was almost sweet, Bossman. If you all are done sucking one another off, I would like to get to the fun of this evening. We can save the circle jerking for later.” Nash blushes, and I think I might’ve even flustered Marcello with that comment. Ellie’s looking at me like she imagining said circle jerk.Goal accomplished.

I open the cabinet, looking for something to add to the torture. Something has me feeling extra spicy today. I see a can of powdered bleach and smelling salts. I murmur to myself, “Perfect.”

I walk over to the first one, running the salts under his nose, and right when his eyes fly open, I throw a hefty amount of the powdered bleach right into his eyes. Over his screams, I dully state, “Hopefully, you don’t take the eyes to donate, Boss.” That earns me a grunt, so I’m guessing I’m in the clear.

“Who sent you? And I would answer correct, or I’ll brand your mouth closed.”

I hear Nash whisper behind me, “Can you brand a mouth closed?” I whip my head around, silently telling him to shut the fuck up.

The one that hasn’t gotten his dose of bleach yet speaks, “You don’t know who they are.”

“Try me,” Marcello barks out.

“They threatened our families,” Bleach guy says between sobs.

“And what do you think they are to us?” I point at Nash and Ellie, full well knowing the fuck can’t see, but he knows what I’m talking about. They both hang their heads.

1 “Now the fun begins.” I start to laugh, and Ellie steps up beside me. I look down at her. “You joining the fun,Shpirt Im?”

“Yeah. They were coming after me, so it’s only right… Right?” I lift my brows in shock, but she’s not wrong.

I turn to Nash, he’s standing next to Marcello, but he says, “Y’all got it.”

Ellie walks over to the hot irons and pulls hers out, looking at the symbol. It looks to be the Barone family crest.

The guys are screaming and spitting all over the place. I punch one in the jaw and get in his face. “If you spit on her, I’ll cut your tongue out. Neverto spit again.”

Side by side, holding our brands, I lean in, placing a kiss on her pouty lips. She whispers against my lips, “This is what I was waiting to see come out of you. I knew you had some darkness lining that soul of yours.” She’s smiling up at me like she really is witnessing all of me. I never thought I would find someone who gets to see this side of me and accept it. Ellie passes all expectations with that as she presses the brand into his thigh. I follow suit, doing the same with Bleach Boy.

The screams they let out make me wish I had my headphones, but the laugh that comes out of Ellie after her guy pisses in his chair is worth bearing the screams.

We go through the next couple of brands before they both pass out. Marcello’s on the floor next to Nash, his hand comforting him on his thigh. He must’ve been shaken up, but I wasn’t paying attention.

I break out of that train of thought and announce, “One last…” I press the iron into the skin on his forehead. Right in the middle. “One.” Thank fuck he passed out earlier. I was tired of hearing the blood-curdling screams. I pull the brand back and admire my handy work.

“Pazzo bastardo,” Marcello mumbles to himself. I’m sure he’s talking about me. He can’t be the only unhinged one in this quad. I have a suspicion every one of us has some darkness trying to claw its way up to the surface.

Ellie’s guy is up and finally screams out the answer we’ve been looking for, “Enis!”

Marcello’s off the floor and in his face in seconds. “You’re a fucking rat, and you belong to me from here on out. Now scurry back to your pals and let them know Enis is dead for a fucking reason, and anyone wanting to keep their soul on this planet needs to stop taking orders from anyone other than me. I RUN VEGAS!”

1. Tell Your Friends - The Weeknd

Chapter 44

Marcello

Ithink we’ve shocked Nash into finally shutting the fuck up… I don’t like quiet Nash, though. He’s with me in my car, and Zamir took Ellie on the back of his bike. We’re riding back to our building, and I have to break the silence. Normally I can bask in it, but not with him, and especially not with what he just witnessed.

“Il Novellino,you okay over there?”

“I guess… if I say I’m not, you’ll probably just kill me anyway.”

I huff a laugh. “I’m not going to kill you, Nash. Seriously, are you okay? Torture isn’t for everyone, and you sure as hell are not used to seeing the bad guys at work.”

It’s his turn to huff a laugh. “You don’t know what I’ve seen, Marcello.”

“You’re right. I don’t. Why don’t youfill me in?”

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