Chapter 352: Final Vote
*I’m very good at being Sophia. I just don’t like being her. – Shiloh*
The door to the Shack opened and a large group of men in suits entered with a woman in the middle of their pack. As they moved through the building, the men moved off and took up positions around the large space. The woman stopped in front of Pagan who wrapped her up in his arms.
“We’re going to get them back.” She quietly promised.
“I know.” Pagan whispered against her neck.
She pulled away from him and pressed a kiss to his lips before she turned in his arms. “Werewolf, what do you know?”
“They were taken by Aranya. We know where their president is.” He answered.
She spoke in Italian, and six men stepped towards Werewolf. “Tell them.”
Werewolf nodded and pulled up the map on his tablet. He explained where the Aranya clubhouse was located and what he knew of the buildings.
“Don, with your leave?” Nico asked and Sophia nodded.
“Yes, bring him to me.” The men turned to leave. “Nico," Sophia warned, "do not spill any of their blood.”
There was a pause with the men and Nico gave a small nod before leading the group out of the building.
“Bring the council.” Sophia ordered and more of the men moved to do her bidding.
“Halloween?” Toad asked from next to the couple.
The smile that crossed her face brightened up everything about her. “Hello, Toad.”
“You don’t look like you.” He grinned. “You’re still pretty, just not you.”
“Thank you. This is who I was before." She smiled at her granfather. "I think you know my Nonno, Joe Giovani.”
“Toad.” Nonno said as he joined the small group and held out a hand.
“Don.” Toad replied shaking the man’s hand.
“Pagan.” Joe said as he patted the other man on his upper arm.
“Nonno.” Pagan said quietly.
The older man gave a sad smile of understanding. “I assure you; we will get your girls back. You don’t touch my family and live to brag about it.”
“I just want my girls back.” Pagan said fighting back a fresh round of tears.
“So does my granddaughter.” He smiled at Sophia. “And hopefully, she will never have to look like this ever again. What did you call her? Halloween?”
“Yes.” Toad said as Sophia nodded.
“That fits her well.” Joe grinned broadly. “Long live Halloween.”
“Thank you, Nonno.” She replied as she sank into the comfort of Pagan’s embrace. “They’ll be okay.”
Pagan nodded even though he was not sure who she was telling. Him. Herself. Or the universe at large. What he did know was that if even a single hair on any of their heads was harmed, hell would be unleashed.
They spoke quietly for several minutes until the Council arrived. The once outlaw bikers were not sure how to handle having the Italian mafia in their clubhouse. The mafia was not sure how to handle being in the clubhouse surrounded by some of their most complicated frenemies.
They had fought against each other. They had done business together. Had fought for each other. Killed each other.
Luigi and a few others eyed the woman who would be the nest head of the family as she leaned against a biker. She ignored them. She dismissed the comments that were said. She ignored the looks she received.
And she prayed that her suspicions were wrong.
Certainly, not even Elizabeth would sink that low. Even if it was just related to the Aranya and their issues with the Saints, Sophia would put an end to it. Her untouchables had been taken. Blood was now required.
The doors opened again, and Nico re-entered with the six men that he took with him and three Aranya officers. The Aranya men were forced onto their knees in front of Sophia.
“Who have you brought me?” She asked evenly, no emotion in her voice.
“Hector Jimenez, President. Miguel Garcia, Vice. Anthony Vargas, Enforcer.” Nico touched the top of their heads with his revolver as he gave their names.
Sophia nodded and held her hand out for the pistol. The three men smirked and said something in Spanish. Without moving out of Pagan’s arms, she shot the enforcer straight through the eye. The room was silent as his body jerked and then fell forward, barely missing Sophia’s feet.
Looking at the remaining two, she lowered the pistol. “*That* is what the *chica* is going to do.”
“You’re going to die, you fucking cunt.” Miguel declared as he started to stand.
“We all die.” She observed as she shot his knee. “We can choose to do so with honor, or shame.”
The man screamed in pain, and she shot his other knee, the pain knocking him out. With cold indifference, she aimed the gun at the president of the Aranya.
“Time to choose.”
“Choose what?”
“How to die.” She cocked the gun. “You took two little girls and their aunt. I want to know why and where they are.”
“Go to hell.” He spat out.
“*Dita*.” Sophia said and one of her capos grabbed the president’s hand and laid it out flat on the floor.
She moved away from Pagan and knelt before the president. “Do you know what the means? *Dita*. It means fingers. *Dito* is finger.”
“Thanks for the lesson.” The president sneered.
“She wasn’t telling you.” Pagan explained. “She’s teaching me.”
“*Un dito*.” Sophia said and then shot off his index finger.
“One finger.” Pagan said as the man screamed in pain.
“You have nine more. Answer my answer questions and you can keep them.” Sophia said. “Why did you take the girls?”
“Your people hired us.” Hector hissed.
Sophia placed the barrel of the gun on the next finger. “*Due dita*.”
“I don’t know her name, but I can show you.” He said quickly.
“Show me.” She ordered as she stood up.
Clutching his injured hand, he let himself be yanked to his feet. He walked over to where Elizabeth, Roderigo and Paul stood. The two men looked at the next head of the family and knew they were dead. Maybe not today, but they were dead. Then again, with the coldness in her eyes, they might be dead today.
Sophia walked across the room, handing over the nearly empty revolver and accepting another one. Her movements were smooth and fluid. Watching her, you would never know that she had just killed one man and tortured two others.
She stopped in front of Paul and held her left hand out slightly as she looked at her would-be fiancé. “Kneel and beg for mercy.”
Paul swallowed hard as he went down on one knee and took her hand in his to lift the signet ring to his lips. “Forgive me, Don.”
She placed the pistol at the base of his skull. “I shall consider it. Prove yourself worthy, and you will live.”
Moving away from him, she stopped in front of her stepfather. Feeling more confident, he took a knee and lifted her signet ring to his lips. The pistol was placed at the base of his skull. As he began to ask for forgiveness, she pulled the trigger.
He slumped forward and she moved to stand in front of her mother. Sophia motioned for her mother to kneel, and Elizabeth did so as she looked at her now dead husband.
“A vote against me, is a vote for this. Is this really what you want the family to become?” Sophia demanded. “Kidnapping innocent children? Associating with the likes of the Aranya? Making deals behind your backs?”
There were murmurs of no from the Italians in the room.
“I call for a final vote. And I ask that you support Nico Giovani as the next head of the family. If you will support Nico, let your vote stand.” Sophia instructed and no one moved.
It was clear that they would support Nico since they all remained standing.
“Thank you.” Sophia said just before she shot her mother in the head.
With the body of her mother and stepfather at her feet, Sophia turned and looked at the shocked Aranya president.
“She was my mother, she put my daughters in danger.” Sophia told him. “If you think that I will not kill you, think again. If you do not tell me where they are, I will kill every Aranya member, and anyone associated with your club. I will hunt you down and put a bullet in every single person with your mark.”
“They’re at a warehouse in Monroe.” He said quickly.
“Have them brought to Pop’s Place.” She demanded. The man quickly got out his phone and called someone. “Nico, I need to clean up my mess. I trust you to handle the family.”
“I will make you proud, *cugina*.” Nico assured her before approaching her to hiss her cheek. “Find peace, Shiloh.” He whispered in her ear.
