No Strings Attached

CHAPTER 50

"Yeah, be a bit more like this," his twin says with feigned concern, taking another switchblade only to send it flying into Leonardo's lower back.

"You're both shit," Gabriel clicks his tongue disapprovingly, closing one eye before lining up his blade and throwing it ever so carefully. I punch him in the shoulder as the tip of his knife knocks the butt of my knife, sending it deeper into Leonardo's back.

"You fucking show off," I scoff, laughing loudly as we all start laughing at Leonardo's knife-ridden back, his choked screams still bouncing off the walls.

"He looks so fucking stupid," Everett snorts, roughly pulling the knives from Leonardo's back, causing blood to spill all over the floor surrounding his body.

Gabriel spins him back around, going to the corner of the room and pulling on a lever, causing the chains attached to Leonardo's wrist to pull upwards. Soon enough Leonardo is mid-air, hanging limply as his toes just reach the ground.

"Shooting practice?" Griffon suggests,

"He'll die immediately that way," Ari argues,

"Shit you're right," Griffon sighs, sending a bullet flying into Leonardo's other thigh.

I raise an eyebrow as Leonardo tries to speak, nothing but a gurgle coming out as his body trembles from exertion.

Everett mocks a sigh, "We've shot him, burned his fingers off, burned his tongue off, used him as a human knife target," he pauses, "What else is there to do?" he asks.

"Finish the job," Ari says quietly, looking at me as I nod.

Ari walks up to Leonardo and sends a final punch into his already unrecognisable face, muttering something into his ear which no one but them can hear.

Gabriel and the twins do the same, before all four of them turn to face me. I swallow and walk over to the table, getting gasoline, a match, and a gun.

I plant all 3 items at Leonardo's feet, unscrewing the gasoline before showering him in it. I light the match on the wall before placing it at his feet, fire catching quickly.

I pick up the gun and take a few steps back, meeting Leonardo's eyes. His gaze makes my stomach churn, his eyes begging me for help, almost as if he's...apologising?

Too late.

I let a laugh slip from my lips before raising the gun and shooting once, killing him instantly as the fire engulfs his body.

I drop the gun and turn around, not waiting for reactions as I walk out of the room, hugging my stomach with my arms.

"Ana, is everything alright?" I hear Ari call, catching up to me as he pulls me to his side.

"It's been a long day," is all I reply with, "I think I'm going to get to bed," I give him a small smile as he smiles down at me.

"I'm proud of you," he says softly, "And I know your parents would be too,"

I can't help the ear splitting grin which erupts on my face, my stomach doing a flip at the reassurance that Mom and Dad would be proud of me.

"Thank you," I whisper, reaching up and giving Ari a kiss on the cheek before he lets me walk away.

I make my way to Enzo's room, knowing he'll be expecting me. I open the door slowly, seeing his silhouette in the bed, his body rising and falling gently, indicating that he's asleep.

I don't bother waking him up as I go straight into the ensuite, shutting the door behind me before stepping into the shower and turning it on.

I strip out of my bloodied clothes and get into the shower, the hot water spitting down on my skin.