Chapter 21: A Devil's Bargain
Abruzzi sat frozen, eyes shut, waiting for the sharp sting of steel to end him. But instead of pain, an absurd thought flickered through his mind.
Will I go to heaven… or to hell?
He wanted heaven, of course. Every believer did. But with blood on his hands — too much of it to ever wash away — he doubted even God would forgive him. The thought of hell clawed at him, and for the first time in years, genuine fear pricked his chest.
Seconds passed. Still no blade. No death.
Confused, Abruzzi opened his eyes. "You're not going to kill me?"
"Why would I kill you?" Tommy smirked.
The truth was simple: killing Abruzzi now would be reckless. Too many witnesses had seen them together. If the boss of a gang turned up dead minutes later, suspicion would fall squarely on him. And if Abruzzi died, the Nostra Family would replace him with some unknown figure Tommy had no leverage over. A known enemy was better than an unpredictable one.
Still, letting him live for free wasn't an option.
"I'll spare you," Tommy said calmly, pressing just enough with the knife to remind him of the stakes. "But you'll pay a price. From today, I want half the appointment rights in the prison factory."
Abruzzi's lips twitched. Half his power stripped away in one demand. But the promise of survival dulled the sting. For life, a price like that was nothing.
"Fine," he breathed. "I swear before God, I won't raise my hand against you again."
Tommy didn't flinch. "Oaths are easy to break. I'll need more." He leaned in, voice low and deliberate. "Send your family abroad. America. I know a route. They'll be safe there. Until then, I'll hold you to our deal."
The words landed heavy. Rage simmered in Abruzzi's chest — Tommy wanted to keep a knife pressed to his weakness. Yet when the fury ebbed, logic remained. He didn't trust his own men. Not anymore. Locked inside Redhaven, he couldn't watch their loyalty, couldn't shield his wife and children if betrayal struck. Tommy's demand, twisted as it was, offered protection.
Abruzzi's eyes darkened. He exhaled, then nodded. "There's an unregistered account. Five million euros. Hidden with someone I trust. Help my family get out of Europe, get them American green cards… all of it is yours."
Exactly as Tommy expected. The first sum Abruzzi had dangled — two hundred thousand — was bait, a test. A man who once controlled smuggling routes, casinos, red-light districts, even ran contraband flights in his own plane, wouldn't only have scraps tucked away. His empire had been vast; his fortune matched it.
Tommy lowered the blade at last. "You've made the right choice."
He tossed the serrated knife aside, then pulled out his phone. Gianna's phone. The one she had slipped him past prison checks with the confidence of someone untouchable. No guard dared pat down a woman of her rank.
In front of Abruzzi, Tommy pressed a button and ended a call — one that hadn't been on speaker. The message was clear: Gianna already knew. Even if Abruzzi tried to back out now, there would be no escape.
Abruzzi's expression twisted as he understood. Rage, resignation, and fear all collided in his eyes.
Tommy simply slid the phone back into his pocket and smiled faintly.
"Welcome to our partnership, John."