Third person's pov-

It had been two weeks since the rescue mission yet Gabriella had showed no signs of waking up which worried her brothers deeply.

They decided to take their frustration and anger on the person who caused it.

The brothers descended into the dimly lit basement, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. Luke, battered and bleeding, was tied to a chair in the center of the torture room. The sight seemed to please the brothers, their faces twisted into cruel smiles.

"I see the guards have already warmed you up," Alessandro sneered, his voice dripping with malice.

Luke, despite his situation, glared at Alessandro. The guard beside him reacted swiftly, landing a brutal punch that sent Luke's head jerking back.

"Keep your head down!" the guard snarled, his face contorted in anger.

Antonio settled into a chair opposite Luke, his calculating eyes boring into the man. Luke shifted uncomfortably, attempting to squirm away from the monster seated before him.

"Who's your boss?" Antonio asked, his voice low and menacing, his eyes never leaving Luke's face.

Luke hesitated before responding, "I was working for Viktoria, but your sister killed her already."

Antonio nodded thoughtfully, his gaze drifting to the array of deadly weapons on the nearby table. His hand trailed over each weapon, his smirk growing wider.

His gaze turned deadly, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity. "You must think I'm an idiot," he said, his voice low and menacing. "Start talking before things get real messy."

Every time Antonio looked at Luke, he saw his baby sister's bloodied body, and it ignited a firestorm of rage within him.

"I'm not lying. Besides, that girl is a bitch, and she deserved every bit of what we did to her. I destroyed her, and it doesn't matter what you do. That bitch will never be the same again." He said as he cackled away

Luke's laughter was short-lived. Domenico's fist connected with his jaw, the crack echoing through the room. Luke's jaw hung loosely, his eyes widening in shock and a scream erupted from his mouth

Antonio's expression remained impassive, his eyes never leaving Luke's face. "Which weapon do you like, Luke?" he asked in a deep, ominous voice. His eyes darkened, an evil glint flickering within them.

Luke's eyes widened in terror, but he kept his mouth shut. Antonio turned to the guard, who punched Luke, sending him into a screaming fit.

"Answer the Don's question!" the guard bellowed, smacking Luke hard on the head.

"I don't know!" Luke stammered, his words barely intelligible due to his broken jaw.

Antonio's gaze never wavered. "Oh, come on. Pick one," he insisted, his voice dripping with sadistic pleasure.

Luke's stubborn refusal earned him another brutal punch from the guard.

"Fine!" Luke screamed, his voice hoarse. "The dagger! I choose the dagger!"

The dagger, the smallest weapon on display, seemed like the lesser evil. But appearances can be deceiving.

Antonio's eyes glinted with malevolence as he held the dagger, twirling it around his fingers. "Now, I'll ask you again. Who's your boss?"

Luke gulped, but he refused to back down. "Are you deaf?! I don't have a boss!" he snapped.

Antonio's expression darkened. With a swift, ruthless motion, he plunged the dagger into Luke's thigh, twisting it roughly.

"I'll ask one more time," Antonio growled, his voice low and menacing. "Who. Is. Your. Boss?"

"I-i-i c-can't t-tell you. He'll kill me" Luke stuttered and Antonio laughed darkly, the air around them turned ominous

"What do you think I'm gonna do? Tell me, what makes you think you'll get out of this alive?" He asked, his voice void of emotion

Luke's eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape that didn't exist. Antonio's words hung in the air like a death sentence

"Now you choose, do you want to die painlessly or do you want me to rip you apart, limb by limb?" Antonio asked and Luke began to cry hysterically.

"I can't tell you!" He sobbed out, his body shaking uncontrollably and the brothers scowled at how pathetic he was

"If you don't open your mouth right now, I will gut you" Xander snapped as he took a step towards him. He had never been patient and seeing his sister in the hospital because of Luke made him want to rip his head off

Luke's screams echoed through the basement as Antonio's dagger sliced through his skin, carving a jagged path across his chest. The wound gaped open, revealing a mess of torn flesh and shattered bone.

Antonio's eyes gleamed with pleasure as he reached for a nearby blowtorch. The flame danced across Luke's skin, searing his flesh and causing him to writhe in agony. The stench of burned flesh filled the air, mingling with the scent of sweat and blood.

The brothers watched with a mixture of disgust and satisfaction, their anger toward Luke still simmering.

"Will you talk or should I force it out of you. Because trust me, I prefer the latter," Antonio growled

Luke's responses were incoherent, his mind shattered by the relentless pain. Antonio continued his torture, using a pair of pliers to rip out Luke's fingernails, one by one. Luke's screams grew hoarse, his body trembling with each new wave of agony.

The basement was filled with the sounds of Luke's suffering: the crackle of the blowtorch, the rip of flesh, and the screams that seemed to go on forever.

Despite Antonio's relentless torture, Luke's resolve remained unbroken. His body was battered beyond recognition, yet he refused to talk, his silence proof of the overwhelming fear that gripped him.

It was clear that the mastermind behind the plot had instilled in Luke an absolute terror, one that even the most extreme physical suffering couldn't penetrate. This realization unsettled the brothers.

"Dammit!" Antonio cussed loudly when he realized Luke wouldn't talk no matter what they did

"Let's just kill him. If he doesn't want to talk then he's useless" Stephano suggest and Xander nodded in agreement quickly

"It's not our place" Antonio said and they understood immediately

After everything Luke did, the only person who deserved to end his pathetic life was Gabriella

Antonio stepped into the hospital wing, the soft beeping of machines and the antiseptic smell enveloping him. He approached his sister's bedside, his eyes scanning her fragile form. She looked better than before, but the tubes and wires attached to her body were a harsh reminder of her condition.

He sat down beside her, his fingers brushing against hers. "I'm so sorry, bambina," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I promised to protect you, and I failed. I'm sorry you had to go through this. It's all my fault."

Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes as he gazed at his sister's pale face. He felt a lump form in his throat, and his chest began to shudder. Antonio's facade, carefully constructed over the years, started to crumble.

He never let himself feel too much for his siblings. If they saw him weak they would crumple and he couldn't have that but today, he couldn't keep it in anymore

"If I could take your pain away, I would," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Please, just wake up, and I'll make it right. I'll do anything."

A sob escaped his lips, and Antonio's body shook with the force of his emotions. He felt like he was drowning in his own guilt and helplessness.

Antonio's strong mask cracked, and his hidden pain poured out. For years, he'd carried his family's secrets and his own hurt, hiding behind a tough face. But today, his sadness and anger burst out, leaving him feeling broken and exposed.

"I didn't know my oldest brother was such a crybaby" he heard a weak and teasing voice and his head snapped up and he quickly wiped his tears away

"Bambina, thank God you're awake. Are you okay?, Does anything hurt?" He asked as his eyes shone with worry

"I'm okay Tony. I heard everything you said, I just want you to know it's not your fault

You're the strongest person I've ever met and I admire you for it. The way you carry our family so well, you take care of us despite how annoying we can be some times

I never blamed you for anything, and you shouldn't either" Gabriella said softly as she stared at her older brother

She had never seen him this broken and it worried her. She wanted to ease his concerns, get rid of the guilt he was feeling

"No bambina, it's my fault. I failed you ever since you were just a baby, if I tried harder to convince mom, if I tried harder to get you back you wouldn't have gone through all this" he said, everything she said already leaving his head as he continued to blame himself

"It wasn't your fault Tony. You were a child and at that time I'm pretty sure there was nothing you could've done to convince mom. And you did find me, at the right time and I wouldn't have it any other way

If I hadn't gone through what I went through, I wouldn't be who I am today. Everything that happened so far has made me stronger, and I'm getting over it. You should too Tony" she said in a reassuring tone

"When did my bambina get so mature?" He joked, letting out a light chuckle

"Nonsense, I've always been mature" she said with an eyeroll and at that moment, Antonio was grateful for her being awake and safe again

"Where is my granddaughter!" A powerful voice boomed through the hospital and both of them frowned

It wasn't Riccardo. Who was it?

______________________________________ Hey guys,

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