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But maybe this would offer Sofia some sort of closure or some shit. Nico didn’t know. Was that something that would help her in the future?
I just hope you’re listening to what she wants, what she needs.
“Nico,” Filippo prompted. “What should we do?”
“Fuck,” he murmured and dug his phone out of his pocket. He punched the buttons quickly, before he could second guess himself.
She picked up on the third ring. “Hey, zio.”
“Ciao, principessa. That thing we have been searching for? I found it.”
Her breath caught slightly, just a tiny intake of surprised air. “You did?”
“Sì, sì. Without a doubt.”
She exhaled into the phone speaker. “Thank god.”
“You may rest easy, principessa. This thing will never hurt you again.”
“Grazie, zio.” She paused. “Is it wrong that I want this thing to suffer?”
“No, not at all. And I can promise you that it will.”
“Good.” She fell silent, and when he started to say good-bye, she rushed out, “Wait. Ugh. I-I don’t want the suffering to end. Does that make sense? I want the suffering to continue for a long, long time.”
He frowned at the windows high up near the warehouse ceiling. Was she saying he shouldn’t kill Sewell? Ma che cazzo? Because the man deserved to die for what he did to her. He also deserved to scream in pain for hours, maybe days, then bleed out on the dirty floor.
“Principessa,” he started, unsure how to articulate this. It would be easier face to face, and if he could speak Italian.
“No, listen. It’s worse if it has to live and suffer, zio.”
Ah, there was a bloodthirsty Marzano in there after all. He bit his lip, feeling a sharp rush of pride. And he could see the logic in what she was suggesting. Sewell, broken and disfigured, unable to resume his career . . . perhaps castrated. Yes, there was diabolical justice in this. Perpetual suffering, while ensuring he could not continue his playboy lifestyle or high-paying job.
It wasn’t what he normally did, but he could get behind this. For her. No one else. “Are you sure?”
“I think so?”
“You do not sound sure.”
“No, I am. Humiliation, but only if it can’t hurt anyone else ever again.”
“I can do that.”
“Good. Then I approve.”
There was no hesitation in her answer. Nodding, he could abide by her wishes. “This is a good idea. You should come and work for me, principessa.”
She laughed and he smiled at the sound. “I’ll keep that in mind for after I graduate. You know, if the nursing thing doesn’t work out.”
“Nursing?”
“Yeah, I decided to change majors when I go back. I want to help people.”
Cazzo, now he was getting choked up. “You are a good person, Sofia.”
“Sometimes. Not when it comes to this problem, though. Because if I were a good person, I’d be advocating for the authorities. To, like, take it to court.”
“The courts are a waste of time.”
