XXXVII

Punishment is power.

The bad people face a consequence, no matter the intention. And the good people are viewed as hero's.

Milana is bad, bad for me, as well as herself. She doesn't fear self destruction, which intrigues me the most about her.

Eye contact with her is more than just eye contact, it makes me feel something.

Suddenly, a voice brings me back to reality, "Martinez.", she calls out.

His head raises and he takes note of the blade in her hand, sharp and pointed. "Lie to me and I'll cut every inch of you, bit by bit." She explains, the all too familiar smug look appearing on her face.

He gazes at her for a while, his thoughts racing against each other. "You're threats don't scare me." He spits, thrashing against the knots which bound his hands together.

She laughs, before setting her smile into a pout.

"Really?" She asks inching the knife closer to his torso.

I step in.

"You talk a good game, Martínez. But I've been watching how you play." I announce, stopping in my tracks before him.

He tilts his head to the side.

"Hm. And how exactly do I play?" He questions with his eyes still fixed on Milana's knife. "Well for one, you're not as smart as you think. We found you here, didn't we?" I say, Milana smiling in agreement.

She wastes no time as she makes the first cut, not even with a warning. Luca flinches in pain and digs his nails into the palms of his hands, but tries his best to remain unfazed.

"Bitch." He mumbles.

"What was that?" Milana asks, knowing exactly what he said. She laughs once again and she makes an even bigger and deeper cut on his upper arm.

I watch her almost in amazement. She cuts him with precision and skill.

"Alright, stop this fucking bullshit. We want answers Luca, answers about why you tried to overthrow us." Fran calls out, almost taking me by surprise.

She's right, I almost got lost in thought there...

"Fine. Fine." He starts, beginning to panic from all the blood, "What do you wanna know?"

Milana smiles, knowing shes won at her own game, and hands the blade to me. I take it from her and she looks at me with fire in her eyes.

"Why now?" I ask as Lana turns around. He cocks an eyebrow, pretending to be clueless. "Why now what?" He asks.

"You know exactly what I mean. Why now are you trying to claim New York as your own?" I ask once again, growing angrier by the minute. He breaths in and exhales loudly, before his eyes open wide. "I have been plotting against you for years, only now the plan has come to life." He explains.

Milana nods at me, making sense of the situation, before taking a step closer towards Martínez. "Who else is working with you?" She asks.

He chuckles before looking between all three of us.

"Oh no, you're gonna have to kill me." He exclaims.

Milana shrugs her shoulders and lifts up my shirt slightly, pulling my gun from my waistband.

She keeps her eyes on mine as she removes her hand from me and turns back around.

"You're right." She agrees, before shooting him point blank in the head.

I watch in awe as his body as well as the chair he is seated at, falls to the ground, blood cascading on the floor. Milana's eyes are almost glued to the scene unfolding before her, feeling almost euphoric.

She turns to me.

"He wont bother us again."

My lips curve into a smile, before Francesca interrupts. "What now?" She asks.

Milana sets her face straight, "What do you mean, what now? Now we have freedom." She explains.

"I guess. It just feels-"

Milana interrupts, "feels what?"

"It just feels to easy." She says after a little hesitation.

I intervene.

"Easy my ass. Can we just acknowledge the many times we have almost died due to Martínez and his men?" I blurt out with rage lacing my words.

Milana gives me a head nod and paces around the room. "We have to find the others." She say's a glint of determination in her eyes. "Breaking the news will be fun." I add with a wink.

"We will have a care free day tomorrow. Just us and a few of the others. Out in the clubs, not giving a fuck." She says.

Hearing these words make me think back to what Francesca said. Shes right. It does feel too easy. But maybe we are just used to getting our way the hard way. I hope so anyways...

"What are you thinking about?" Lana's voice brings me back to reality. I look up into her big brown eyes, telling me everything I need to know.

"You. Me. This whole thing." I whisper, moving in closer to her.

I look at her lips and she notices.

"We aren't alone" She states. I look around and give an almost dirty look to her sister, which is returned.

"I don't care." I reply.

She pauses.

"Later."

I roll my eyes in defeat and push myself off of the wall, before pacing towards the door. "I'll send someone to take care of the body later." I explain.

I take one glance back at the blood-stained scene besides me, before shaking my head and flinging the door open. Footsteps behind me confirm that Lana and Francesca are following closely behind.

We walk around outside, still taking caution for any guards, and rejoin with our family who are awkwardly standing a few metres away.

"Why do you look constipated." Francesca asks, being deadly serious.

Her mother bursts out laughing, as do others, and the tension subsides slightly. "Good one." Her mother says. "So, has Luca been dealt with?" She quickly asks.

"It's done." Lana calls out confidently.

Milana attracts stares wherever she goes. Whether she is just randomly in public, or at an important meeting. Eyes are always on her. Shes a woman who knows what she wants and won't stop until she gets it.

"Then let's not spend another minute out here, everyone load back into the vans and we will meet back at the mansion." She instructs.

Everyone parts ways to their vans, including Francesca. Leaving just me and Lana.

"I'll drive you." I state.

She smiles.

"Sounds like I don't have a choice." She complies, already following me to my vehicle.

She walks around the car to the passengers side and pulls on the handle, settling inside. I do the same.

I rear up the engine, it's purr breaking the silence. She watches as I wait until all the vans have left, before pulling the keys out.

"What are you doing?" She asks suspiciously.

I press my to her lips and pull her onto my lap, forcing her legs apart. She doesn't argue, not fight my grip, she complies and presses her lips to mine.

The kiss is intense, and her tongue fights mine in a wet, hot battle for dominance. Her hips roll against my crotch and she teases the bulge in her pants.

"Stop that." I demand.

"Why?" She asks teasingly.

"You know why." I reply.

She smiles before pulling me by the collar and kissing me once again, this more with more vitality.

She unbuttons my shirt before I stop her.

"You really want this. Don't you?" I assume.

She licks her lips, "You talk too much."

Actions speak louder than words, right?

And I'll prove that to her...

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