Chapter 08
1744 Words
FROM THE CLUB, Elijah's men brought Saul Tieves, who, despite his attempts to fight Casimiro and Taddeo, was quickly subdued once Elijah intervened. Congressman Dimaano managed to escape thanks to his men, but Elijah's crew didn't bother chasing him, especially since Casimiro knew they'd eventually catch him.
Upon arriving at Elijah's manor, Casimiro and Taddeo took Saul directly to the punishment room, located at the back of the manor, a place that hadn't seen use in a long time.
Inside the punishment room, Elijah settled onto a stool, while Casimiro and Taddeo tied Saul to face him. Saul's face was a canvas of bruises, a fresh cut at the corner of his lip courtesy of Casimiro.
Moments later, Vito and Lorenzo arrived, having learned of Elijah's return to the manor.
"Why did you bring him her—woaah! Holy mother of Lucifer! Is that freaking Saul Tieves, Penecarte twins?" Lorenzo blurted out, his eyes widening at the sight of Saul.
"Why are you two tying up Tieves? He's your associate, right, Casimiro?" Vito questioned the twins, who had just finished securing the still-unconscious Saul.
Lorenzo then turned his gaze to Elijah, who sat casually on the stool, arms crossed.
"Did Saul do something foolish enough to be brought to this long-unused punishment room, Il Capo?" Lorenzo asked Elijah, who rose from his seat and walked towards the unconscious Saul.
"Salvatore, gather all the soldato and under-capos of the twins in front of the manor," Elijah ordered Lorenzo plainly.
"Now?"
Elijah shot Lorenzo a cold look, and the latter nodded.
"Right, I'll call them all," Lorenzo said before exiting the punishment room.
"What did he do, Penelton?" Vito asked Elijah, whose gaze returned to Saul.
"He's a f*****g traitor I caught on the f*****g spot. This bastard is tying up with the f*****g enemies of Senza in my own f*****g territory," Elijah stated emotionlessly, giving Saul's cheek a sharp tap that brought him back to consciousness.
Saul groaned softly. Feeling his arms were immobilized, he looked down to find himself tied up.
"What the—" Saul's curse died in his throat as he sensed the heavy presence in front of him. His eyes instinctively met Elijah's, who stood before him, an emotionless stare fixed upon him.
"I-Il C-Capo..."
"I'll give you a f*****g chance, Tieves. What plan did you discuss with Congressman Dimaano?" Elijah's voice was frigid, but Saul shook his head.
"You're mi-mistaken, Il Capo, I ha-haven't done anything against yo—" Saul received a sharp smack to the back of his head from Taddeo, cutting him off.
"i***t! You're still making us look stupid even after we caught you. Maybe your brain got scrambled; let me remind you that you attacked us, me and my twin, when we caught you in the act. You're still denying it, you bastard," Taddeo snapped at Saul.
"I-I panicked, that's why I attacked you, but believe me, I'm not plotting anything against Senza. Master Casimiro, believe me, Il Capo..." Saul pleaded.
"What I f*****g hate the most is lies, Tieves. I told you I would give you a f*****g chance to redeem your f*****g self to me. Just f*****g speak up," Elijah said coldly, a flicker of hesitation visible in Saul's eyes.
"Speak, Tieves, what did you discuss with that congressman?" Casimiro prompted, and Saul turned to him.
"I-I know that even if I tell you what we discussed, you'll still kill me. There's no chance of getting out of here alive..." Saul said as Elijah put his hands in his pockets.
"You're choosing to shut your f*****g mouth?" Elijah's cold words made Saul look at him.
"M-My daughter. The congressman has my child. If I don't cooperate with them, they'll kill my only daughter. If I speak against them, they'll kill my princess. I-I didn't want to betray Senza, but I had no choice, so I'm sorry, Mr. Penelton, but I won't speak," Saul declared, tears welling in his eyes, simply awaiting his death.
Taddeo and Casimiro looked at Elijah, knowing that Elijah usually had no sympathy for such reasons. Betrayal was betrayal, and death was the usual punishment.
"Why didn't you tell the organization about the threats against you?" Vito asked.
"W-What would the organization care about our situation, us who are just associates? We're not recognized members of Senza, so I knew that even if I approached them, no one would help because I'm not truly part of the organization," Saul explained, and Vito sighed softly.
"Even if there's a reason why you chose to betray Senza, you still chose to betray us. We have to kill a traitor even if you have a valid reason; you still put Senza Pietà in danger with its enemies," Vito stated, turning to Elijah.
"Do you want us to torture him first before killing him, Il Capo?" Vito asked, and the three noticed that Elijah remained silent.
"Il Capo?" Taddeo called, trying to get Elijah's attention. Elijah removed his hands from his pockets.
"Is the congressman you're talking to the one holding your child?" Elijah asked. Casimiro, Taddeo, and Vito stared at him, surprised; it was the first time he had shown concern for someone else.
"Yes, Mr. Penelton. We met at the club so he could get what he wanted about Senza in exchange for a video that would assure me my daughter was alive. Then Master Casimiro and you arrived, so we didn't finish our discussion," Saul replied.
"Deo, Miro."
"Yes, Il Capo," the twins responded in unison, anticipating Elijah's order to kill Saul.
"Untie him."
"Okay, Il Capo—Eh?! We're untying Saul?!" Taddeo exclaimed in surprise, and Vito turned to look at Elijah.
Saul, confused, stared at Elijah because of his order to release him.
"Penelton—"
"—prepare some of our soldato, Miro," Elijah interrupted Vito before he could speak further.
"For what reason, Il Capo?" Casimiro asked him.
"We will rescue his daughter from the f*****g hands of that congressman. No one should f*****g use any of my people in Senza just to f*****g destroy me," Elijah declared, shocking Taddeo with his words. Even Saul couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Are you saying, Penelton, that we're going to save Tieves's daughter, and you'll spare him?" Vito asked, and Elijah met his plain gaze.
"You heard what I said," Elijah replied before turning back to the twins.
"Untie him first, and once you've gathered the number of soldato we need, let's visit the congressman, who least expects it," Elijah announced. Just then, Lorenzo returned, having called all the soldato and the men under the twins.
"I've gathered them all, Il Capo—"
"—prepare yourself; you'll come with us to save your daughter," Elijah interrupted Lorenzo, then walked away, leaving Vito and the others behind.
"T-Thank you, M-Mr. Penelton..." Saul sobbed, overwhelmed with gratitude, while Lorenzo, bewildered, approached Vito.
"What did I miss?"
"Should we be worried, twinnie?" Taddeo asked Casimiro, whose face also held an incredulous expression, making Lorenzo even more curious.
"Hey, Penecarte twins, what happened? Benitez, would you mind sharing with me?" Lorenzo complained, then looked at the crying Saul.
"Penelton spared him for his betrayal after he heard his reason, then we have tasks tonight to save Tieves's daughter," Vito explained, and shock registered on Lorenzo's face.
"What? Il Capo will let Tieves live after his betrayal? How? Isn't death the price for betraying Senza, with or without a reason?" Lorenzo asked, confused.
"Il Capo must have had something to drink at the club that gave him some sympathy for Tieves," Taddeo mused, still clueless about their leader's behavior.
"I think Il Capo's decision now has something to do with Silas calling him self-centered," Casimiro said seriously, making Vito and Lorenzo turn to him.
"Silas called Il Capo self-centered? Don't tell me your associate, Penecarte the first, is still alive?" Lorenzo turned to Taddeo, who nodded.
"Still breathing easy, Salvatore."
"What the f**k?! When did Il Capo ever allow himself to be disrespected like that by just an associate? And he spared a traitor's life and is even helping him? What the hell?" Lorenzo questioned, confused and disbelieving. All four of them were equally bewildered by Elijah's sudden change.
"He changed his usual routine in this kind of situation just because a woman called him self-centered, and he spared a life of a traitor and even helping him. Penelton was affected by what Silas said to him, but when did Penelton ever care about what other people said to him?" Vito lamented as Taddeo's phone rang.
Taddeo quickly pulled his phone from his pants, seeing that Samara was calling him.
"Silas is calling," Taddeo informed Vito and the others before answering the call.
"Why are you calling—"
"—did you already kill Saul Tieves? Because if not, don't kill him! I just found out that Congressman Dimaano has his daughter, so he had no choice but to betray the orga—"
"—we already know, Silas, and don't worry, Tieves is still alive, and guess what? We're preparing tonight to get Tieves's daughter back," Taddeo interrupted Samara.
"Re-Really?"
"What did you give Il Capo to drink that our leader had a change of heart?" Taddeo asked.
"What? He only drank expensive liquor. Wait, I'm coming with you to rescue Tieves's daughter."
"Huh? Why are you coming?" Taddeo said while Casimiro was untying Saul.
"I'm coming, that's it. What time are you leaving? Just pick me up at the club, okay?"
"Wait, Silas—" Taddeo couldn't say anything more as Samara disconnected the call.
"Damn it, I'm still confused about what's happening," Lorenzo grumbled, and Vito tapped him on the shoulder.
"You're not alone, Salvatore, for now, let's follow Penelton," Vito said as Casimiro assisted Saul, who continued to express his gratitude for not being killed.
"Whatever happened to Penelton today, I think we'll see more changes in him," Vito remarked before leaving, followed by Casimiro and Saul.
"Is this the end of the world?" Lorenzo blurted out, and Taddeo placed a hand on his shoulder, making him turn.
"I have a vague idea of what's happening with Il Capo."
"You know something? Tell me, what's the reason?" Lorenzo pressed, and Taddeo made a money sign with a grin.
"Every information has a price. Buy it from me for $1 million, Salvatore," Taddeo declared before leaving, abandoning Lorenzo in the punishment room.
"What the f*****g hell?!"
- Writer
