Chapter 134 - Ch

Leo gestureed to Fernanda to escort Becca outside the room and waited until they were far enough— or at least till he was sure that she wouldn't hear anything before permitting Martino to speak.

" We found Fabio." Martino said as Leo stared at the door that Becca and his grandmother went through. It was now shut.

" In what condition?" Leo's grim voice pierced the air and a short silence, shattering it like glass.

" Bad. He fled town to tend to his wounds." Martino reported and a chuckle clawed at Leo's throat, threatening to rip free. 

" Isn't it funny how life is. Even after betraying me—pushing me down so he would climb to the top— but now here he is at his lowest, suffering." Leo spun around on his wheelchair to face Martino. " What about Raphael? "

" We still haven't found him. Apparently, he is better at hiding than facing the matters he created head-on."

Leo hissed. " He's a coward, just like his dead father and bastard of a brother." 

Trouble. That was all the Dantes were fond of. They stir up shit wherever they go but when the matter gets heated, they run with their fucking tail between their legs. Like father, like son in this case. Normally, Leo wouldn't have spared a second out of his day to deal with Raphael's vengeance crap, even till Leo still doesn't see him as worth it but after the stupid prank those people tried to play on his Becca's life, emough was enough. Anything that had the potential to pose a threat to Becca in the future should not be left unhandled. 

" When are you planning on paying him a visit?" Martino asked, knowing that Leo probably would.

Leo's visits to his dungeon despite being frequent but were still unnerving. Frightening but necessary— necessary not just for the sake of his mafia, not just to punish and inflict fear into both his men and prisoners but also for him. Visiting the dungeon, killing gave him a sense of closure. They somehow— in a sick twisted way— pacify his inner demons. For years, Leo had used and seen killing as a sort of coping mechanism. His only way out because in the business he deals in, it was kill or be killed. Rule or be ruled. Fight or be brought to your knees. With how much he sees and draws blood, red should have been his favorite color. 

Death. Torture. Blood. Daily occurrences and after what happened to him in the past, there was no way he would let himself be brought to the ground again. Never again.

" Monday, once Becca's leaves for work. It would be unfair to Fabio if I just ask one of you to kill him off without coming to observe the process myself." 

Martino exited the room, almost bumping into Becca on his way out. 

" Sorry, miss." He apologized with a smile even though it was clearly her who wasn't looking where she was doing and bumped into him. Leo was preparing a suitable punishment for Fabio's betrayal and the last thing he wanted was to upset Becca and be the one serving that punishment instead.

" It's okay." Becca responded but didn't return the smile she was receiving, still angry at him for still trying to force work on Leo when he still couldn't handle it yet. As a matter of fact, Becca should be angry at Leo too. He was the one always permitting Martino to immerse him with stress.

Martino didn't mind her lack of enthusiasm to see him. Compared to Leo's rage— which in some cases can mean the same thing as a painful death— Becca's anger was more passive, less destructive and most especially, doesn't end in blood. Whereas her boyfriend was the complete opposite. In Martino's case, he had absolutely nothing to worry about— that's if Becca doesn't complain to Leo about him but knowing the person she was, the chances of that scenario happening was unlikely.

Till now, even she didn't know, talk more of understand the power and control she has over Leo, the extent of his obsession for her. 

The more Martino stared at her, the more he wondered if she heard anything from the conversation he just had with Leo. The fact that she just happened to be right by the door when he opened for some reason didn't feel believable to him. She didn't look like someone who was caught eavesdropping, nor did she try to avoid eye contact with him which in a way made her seem less suspicious but even if she was, he wouldn't be his problem. No, it would be Leo's problem, his business.

" Is there something you want to say, Martino?" Becca's voice plugged Martino out of his train of thoughts. 

He shook his head. " Nothing." 

Martino walks by and Becca stepped into the master's bedroom, gently shutting the door behind her before ambling towards Leo who sat on his wheelchair— the chair of dread as he loved calling it in his head. He sat by the window, gazing out but with that bleak look in his eyes, Becca was sure he was staring at nothing. 

A chill skidded down her spine. It was the same look he had on when he woke up from his coma. 

" Becca."

She stepped closer but stopped when he called out her name, his voice now sounding like a strange tone to her. Heavy. Somewhat along the lines of sounding sad. Of being sad. Depressed. Something he tried his best to keep hidden. But that couldn't be right. Just a few minutes ago, they were in the dining hall together and he looked like the happiest man alive while he fingered her. How could his mood change so much, so easily? What did he and Martino talk about?

" What's wrong?" She came closer, close enough for her to wrap her arms around him from behind and she did, resting her chin on his shoulder.

" Why would you think something is wrong?" He asked, still staring out at nothing and Becca kissed his neck.

" The tone of your voice tells me there is. You can tell me too."

Can he though? Could he just tell her how brutally he kills people just to stay calm? Could he explain to her how he became like this, a person who relied on inflicting pain on others as a means of soothing his own. Using their screams as a way of stifling his, the ones his dear uncle elicited out of him. The torture, he remembered them. It and every one of them. Becca just wouldn't understand. She might run away scared, but definitely wouldn't understand.

He sighed then fixed up a smile. " So, what do you think of my grandmother?"

***

The next morning.

Martino drove Becca to work as per Leo's instructions. Fernanda too had somewhere she had to go. After being away from America for many years, there were things, places she was dying to go. She said she wouldn't take long and would be back soon but to be honest, Leo really wouldn't be bothered if she chose to stay out a little bit longer. Being married to a man like his grandfather was bondage enough so for the time she would spend with him in America, he would give her as much freedom as she craved. Maybe even more. She deserved a break.

Not long after she left, he did too. A visit to someone. The job of the day. What better way to begin a beautiful Monday other than scoring scores with blood.

Leo's bodyguards helped him into his car and drove him to the base, where Fabio was held. A bloody mess, practically dead with how much wounds had been inflicted on him. Johnny knew Leo wouldn't be able to do much damage while confined to a wheelchair so he did him the honor of creating this masterpiece. A gory image from hell.

Leo rolled his wheelchair closer to Fabio, who sat tied up on a chair, closely examining his pitiful state. Blood oozing from the gaping cuts on his face, nose bleeding as well. Probably broken, just like the rest of his face. The clothes he wore stuck to his bleeding body, every inch of it painted red. All red. 

Beautiful.

Leo marveled at the work— the little gift his friend left him. It was quite a shame to know that sooner or later, Johnny would find out about Becca's relationship with the mad king and another fucking war would start. Just right after one ends. 

Great. Just great.

Leo actually wondered how Johnny doesn't know about his relationship with Becca yet. Why didn't Regina or Kristina say anything? Neither of them blow the whiskey. And the question was why? But then again, pondering over that wasn't the reason he was here. Fabio was.

Fabio. His eyes flickered open as he heard wheels approaching him, to see what the next round of torture he had to face would be like. From staring up at the ceiling, slowly, painfully, his eyes veered in the direction the sound was coming from. Deep down he knew it was going to be his impending death but somehow what he saw surprised him. Amused him.

"