Page 88 of Marcello

The Cosa Nostra would scream in pain –

But he never gave up an answer.

Finally, Cesare realized that beating the guy to death wasn’t getting him anywhere –

So he stepped back, pulled a pistol from the back of his jeans, and aimed it at the Cosa Nostra’s head.

“One more time, shithead: what’s Amato doing down at the docks?”

The guy looked up hazily, his eyes struggling to adjust.

Then he saw the gun and smiled, blood coating his teeth like red syrup. “Vaffan– ”

Cesare lowered the gun and shot the guy’s right kneecap.

BLAM!

The sound was deafening in the enclosed space.

My ears rang from the blast –

But I could still hear the man’s screams.

“WHAT’S AMATO DOING DOWN AT THE DOCKS?” Cesare roared even louder.

When the guy didn’t answer, Cesare shot him in the other kneecap.

BLAM!

The prisoner’s screaming doubled in intensity. Blood from his wounds turned his pant legs wet and pooled on the floor beneath his shoes.

“Fuuuuck,” Cicciobello said in a voice that was almost admiring. He was addressing me, but he said it loud enough for everyone to hear. “Getting kneecapped is one of the most painful things you can do to a guy. If he still ain’t talkin’, he ain’t gonna talk.”

I didn’t know if Cesare had heard Cicciobello – after all, I could barely make out anything over the ringing in my ears – but he stared at the prisoner dangling from the hook…

And then started firing at the guy’s thighs and crotch.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

Blood spattered the floor as the guy shrieked in agony.

Cesare stopped after five shots.

The Cosa Nostra didn’t stop screaming, though.

“Fuck this,” Cesare said in a weary voice. “Romeo, get over here.”

I looked at Cicciobello in panic.

Ciccio raised his eyebrows and jerked his head like, Get over there, motherfucker!

I hurried to Cesare’s side. His eyes were dead and detached as he stared at the Cosa Nostra. Then he held the gun out to me. “Finish him off.”

“…what?” I asked, astounded.

“I said, finish him off,” Cesare repeated. Then he grinned. “And don’t fuckin’ shoot him in the ass this time.”

The other guys laughed.