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21
Liliana
Heading towards Carlo's hiding spot with Nico, I find myself reflecting on the tumultuous journey of the past few months. The loss of my family has left a permanent void in my heart and there will never be a time that I don’t think of them. While I cherish each of them dearly, I yearn for the feel of my mother’s arms around me, the heartfelt conversations we shared, and the simple pleasures of spending days together watching movies or baking my father's favorite cookies. Her special touch of folding homemade whipped cream into the cheesecake mixture before shaping the cookies added a sense of normalcy to our typically chaotic existence. Countless nights were spent with my mother anxiously waiting for my father's safe return, and yet his demise occurred within the confines of our supposedly secure compound, a tragedy I never could have envisioned.
Every action I've taken has led me to this pivotal moment. Following today, my family can find eternal peace... wherever they may be. Greta and I have coordinated a memorial gathering, to be attended by the other families, in honor of the Don who brought immense richness into their lives. Although I cannot physically lay them to rest, I have collected cherished belongings from each of their rooms, which will be placed in our family burial ground situated at the farthest corner of our estate. We will always be together until I join them on the other side. I hold onto the hope of reuniting with them, if only for my own peace of mind. There are instances when I sense their presence in our home, bringing me solace. While I am uncertain if Carlo's demise will provide the closure I seek, he no longer deserves to see another day dawn.
“Are you certain you don't want me to take care of this on my own, Nico?” I ask, sensing the anxiety emanating from him.
“Yes, I'm sure,” he responds. “I understand that you have your motives for wanting him gone, but I have my own reasons,” he continues. “The years of torment he subjected my mother to, all because she saved my life, warrant his death. Knowing that she endured such suffering out of love for me pisses me the fuck off!” He confesses, his knuckles whitening as he clenches the steering wheel tightly.
Carlo is evil and he will pay for all of his sins today. Before we departed from home, I used Antonio's phone to send Carlo a text, claiming he had caught me leaving Salvatore's house the previous night after tracking me. Enraged by the news that not only had he stood by and did nothing when I eliminated Bianca, but his only son was now dead due to his inaction. It was quite entertaining witnessing Carlo lose his shit as his plans fell apart. Amongst the Dons, he was always the weakest link, offering nothing to improve our lives and allowing the limited power he possessed to inflate his ego. His pursuit of control was insatiable, never satisfied with peace, and now, he will pay dearly.
As we arrive at the safe house, Nico presses the button for the gate before quickly rolling the window back up. Carlo’s face appears on the screen and upon spotting Antonio’s vehicle, he immediately grants us entry. Seizing the car was a calculated move; we needed access to the property undetected because unlike Salvatore, Carlo had a few more safeguards in place that were more difficult to navigate. Antonio’s car served as the perfect trojan horse to get us inside the property and Carlo was none the wiser. Bringing the car to a stop, I remain inside while Nico goes to the door. His build resembles Antonio’s, so Carlo won’t be on guard when he opens the door and notices a large figure standing there.
The door swings open and Nico quickly uses a taser to incapacitate Carlo, rendering him unconscious. Grabbing the duffle bag of supplies, I make my way inside and follow Nico downstairs to the basement. He grunts as he carries Carlo over his shoulder down the steep flight of stairs, leading to an escape room. Nico mentioned that Carlo had constructed the room as a precaution against potential threats from law enforcement. If Carlo had been more cooperative with my father's leadership, extreme measures like this wouldn't be necessary. I place the duffle near the door, move a chair to the center of the room, and help Nico secure Carlo to the chair. After binding his wrists and ankles to prevent any movement, we patiently wait for him to wake up to get this party started.
* * *
Carlo finally stirs, emitting groans of discomfort as he tries to orient himself. I deliberately move to stand in front of Nico, making sure he sees my face first. As his gaze sharpens, he makes a futile attempt to lunge towards us, only to realize he’s completely immobilized.
“Killing me won’t bring your family back, bitch!” he spits out, trying to wriggle his wrists free.
“You’re right. It won’t bring them back but your death will serve as retribution and that will have to suffice,” I assert.
“Tell me, how did it feel witnessing your father’s brain explode all over the place? He queries, sending a shiver down my spine as memories flood back of me pleading with my father to live. “I made sure it was my bullet that ended him and how sweet was it that Luca and your mother died with him in her arms. It was all very poetic,” he taunts, callously mocking the massacre of my family.
“First, tell me how it feels to know that Frankie is the one that saved me that day and he’s been working for me this entire time?” I seethe, struggling to contain the raging fury within me. “That look you have right now is the reason that your entire plan failed,” I retort, his face twisting in bewilderment. “Your greed clouded your judgement, leading you down a path to inevitable failure. My father was always a step ahead of you, and the only reason you gained access to our compound was due to Antonio providing you with the key,” I scowl. “There’s no way you could’ve done that on your own, you’re not that smart!” I gibe, chuckling at the change in Carlo’s demeanor.
“And here's the kicker,” Nico chimes in, positioning himself alongside me. “Antonio helped orchestrate the downfall of our family, because his intention was to seize control of both territories after eliminating you.” Carlo, appearing perplexed, shakes his head, prompting Nico to elaborate further. “He used you to murder the Rinaldis, not thinking anyone would survive, mother fucker.”
“It's all documented here on his phone,” I interject, brandishing Antonio's device in front of him. “You were oblivious to the fact that you were being manipulated by your own pawn,” I scoff, though the gravity of the situation dispels any semblance of amusement. This tragedy occurred due to Carlo's hunger for power, a quest for significance in a realm where mediocre schemes only result in one's demise. Though I’m uncertain of his identity, Antonio had been exchanging messages with a guy named Angelo, strategizing the elimination of Carlo and his immediate family.
Nico excuses himself and heads up the stairs, giving me a moment alone with Carlo. Following the revelation that he was double crossed, Carlo appears to be rendered speechless, yet a glimmer of remorse flickers in his eyes. It’s clear he ponders the choices he could have made differently. Had he aligned himself with my father, a marriage uniting the Rinaldis and Beneventis would have fortified our organization, ensuring a prosperous legacy for future generations. Unfortunately, Carlo's lack of foresight prevented him from recognizing this potential.
Nico quickly descends the stairs, carrying a small gas can in his hand and douses a shrieking Carlo in fuel. Retrieving a book of matches from my pocket, I inquire,
“Do you have any final words?”
“Nico, please don’t let her do this!” Carlo implores.
“It’s not about letting her do anything,” Nico snaps. “You brought this on yourself and it’s time to meet your maker, asshole!” he fumes. “Before you die, I’m collecting my pound of flesh for all the pain you caused me and my mother,” he declares, slashing away Carlo's shirt and cutting a piece of skin from his back. “Now my mother can finally live in peace, while you rot in hell!” he declares before making his way back upstairs. Despite his deep-seated animosity towards his father and his desire for his death, Nico understands that this task is one I must face alone.
Carlo struggles, toppling the chair as he pleads for his life. With resolve, I approach the door, turning to gaze at the man responsible for turning my entire world upside down, a lone tear tracing down my cheek. Knowing my loved ones were denied the opportunity to plead for mercy, I conclude that Don Beneventi must meet his end.
Without uttering another word, I strike a match and cast it towards Carlo. In an instant, he’s engulfed in flames, his agonizing screams blending seamlessly with the crackling blaze. While some may perceive me as a monster, my grief has revealed the true essence of the woman my father molded me into - someone capable of navigating the treacherous world of the mafia and leading without fear. The memory of my family flickers in my mind once more, but this time, a feeling of serenity accompanies the recollection, knowing that I have delivered the justice they rightfully deserved. With a heavy heart, I close the door on this painful chapter of my story, preparing myself for the grand finale.
22
Liliana
Carlo's anguished cries cease before I reach the top of the staircase and shut the door leading to the basement. It won't be long before the entire house is engulfed in flames, likely attracting the attention of nearby neighbors. Grabbing Carlo’s car keys from the counter, I exit the house and secure the door behind me. Nico stands at the bottom of the stairs, facing the yard, his demeanor subdued and contemplative.
“Are you alright?” I ask, enveloping him in a comforting hug from behind.
“I feel numb, but I'll be okay. He wasn’t a good father or husband but I can't help but think of my mother and how she'll receive the news of Carlo's death,” he responds. “Now that your mission is accomplished, you can finally put this chapter behind you and we can live the life we’ve always wanted,” he announces, turning to embrace me. I use the opportunity to retrieve the taser from his waistband, creating distance between us and aiming it in his direction.
“Lili, what the hell are you doing?!” He exclaims.
