The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 89 Puttanesca
Sebastian
Mandan was only ten minutes away from Bismarck and approximately thirty minutes away from New Salem. Unlike Bismarck and New Salem where Pete has established his network, Mandan was overlooked, even though it was in the center of everything.
Our safehouse was an old warehouse located at a compound near Mandan Refinery, the largest oil refinery in North Dakota. Xavier bought it when we moved here, thinking it would be a great place to serve as our headquarters. He was right as always, although Lou’s antiques and vintage warehouse was proving useful too.
Alongside the warehouse is a six story office building where the offices were converted into bedrooms to house all the men. While the upper levels housed the rooms, the first level was equipped with a kitchen, dining space, recreation and lounge area with a bar.
Sure, on the outside, the building looked like it needed repairs and a paint job, but inside, it was cozy and comfortable.
The warehouse gates opened to allow our cars to enter. Once I exited my car, Marla came running towards me.
“Dom, they have my mom. They said they only need to make one call and they would kill her. I need to go back to New Salem and help my mother. She’s all I got,” she said, sobbing into my chest. “Please, please you have got to help me.”
“Ssshhhh. It’s already being taken care of,” I said, comforting her. “Your mom will be here in
an hour or so. Trust me.”
She raised her tear-filled eyes from my chest and stared at me incredulously, thinking I was joking. “No, you don’t understand. Pete has my mother. He’s some mafia boss with guns and goons. He owns the town. Dom, he’s going to kill my mother. You have to believe me,” she said hysterically.
“I do believe you. Now come on. I heard they made spaghetti,” I told her, gesturing for her to take my hand, but she didn’t move. She continued to stare at me blankly. I rubbed my forehead to case my frustration. Marla had difficulty understanding.
“B-but if you believe me, why aren’t you doing anything?” She aske
1/5
THE
CHAPTER 89 Puttanesca
a plate of spaghetti. My mother’s recipe,” I told her.
“Miss Virtue is rescuing my mother?” She asked, shaking her head in disbelief.
“It’s hard to believe, I know, but Virtue is trained for situations like these. She isn’t just a pretty face. Come on. I’ll ask for an update,” I said, gesturing for her to take my hand.
It took a little time, but she eventually placed her hand in mine and allowed me to lead her into the building.
“Oh wow!” She exclaimed as she walked in. “It looks really ugly from the outside, but inside it’s so modern. This is better than my house.”
I led her to the dining area where there were several small tables and pulled a chair from the table in front of the Smart TV. She sat down and wiped her tears away.

I walked up to the kitchen island where Cook was preparing two plates of pasta for me and Marla. He was a tall fellow who looked like a wrestler and had a passion for cooking… both in the kitchen and in a laboratory.
“Have they started?” I asked him. Although quiet, he was always updated.
“Yes, Domenico. Shadow is point man while Beaufort is assist.”
“What?!” I exclaimed.
Xavier allowed Joy to be point man?
“She already has the other with her, Domenico. Take a look. I have to warn you though, feed is delayed,” Cook said, serving me two plates of puttanesca and some garlic bread befor turning on the Smart TV. I took the food and placed it in front of Marla. Cook placed two wine glasses beside our plates and opened a bottle of white wine for us to share.
“That’s my house,” Marla said. “Who is that?” I looked up and saw Joy in an all black leather suit walking up to Marla’s house. She was carrying a bottle of alcohol while her gun was behind her. Oh boy. “Dom, do you know who that is?”
“Yes. Eat your pasta and drink your wine. You’ll feel better,” I urged her. She ignored me and continued to watch.
Joy rang the doorbell and waited. When Marla’s mother finally opened the door, Joy looked as if she was trying to convince Marla’s mother to leave with her, but just like Marla, the
2/5
CHAPTER 89 Puttanesca
mother was stubborn.
All of a sudden, the feed went black. All we could see were flickers of light… obviously, gunshots.
Gradually, the feed went to infrared and I saw Joy dragging Marla’s mom across the driveway. Joy was able to put Marla’s mother inside the car, but she dropped down to take cover.
Lights from a vehicle came into view, however the vehicle suddenly crashed into a lamp post. Joy quickly entered her car and sped out of the neighborhood, but was blocked by another car. Two men quickly walked out, but they collapsed on the pavement soon after.
“Oh my G od! Are they dead?” Marla gasped. She turned to look at me. “Who are you people?”
“We’re the people who just saved your mother,” Cook said. “If there is thank, it’s Shadow.”
one person you should
“Shadow? What kind of freak calls himself Shadow?” She asked. My eyes narrowed angrily at
her.
“The freak is a she and she is someone I love, respect and admire. I suggest, Marla, if you want us to continue on with our friendship, you will never ever call her a freak again.”
Joy
Using the secret wall panel, Xavier and I walked into my boutique to find Cristos placing his laptop back in his bag.
We were done for the day.
“I have to go to the pub. You guys wanna come with and grab a drink? To celebrate?” Cristos asked as he placed the strap of his bag on his shoulder.
“Nah, I’m tired and I gotta start rummaging through these boxes,” I said, taking off my skull. cap and shaking my hair out of its confinement. Cristos took me in his arms and gave me a
tight hug.
“Virtue, you did excellent tonight. I’m so proud of you. Because of you, Marla’s mom is safe. Unfortunately, Marla won’t be able to grace this year’s Spring Parade. I’ll call the first runner up tomorrow after the Sheriff announces the Lawrences are missing and tell her to swing h5
CHAPTER 8
Puttanesca
so you can dress her up as Miss Honey Bee, Cristos said.
“Yeah, it’s a shame, but better safe than sorry,” I replied.
“Has the Sheriff found the bodies?” Xavier asked. Cristos nodded his head.
“One of Pete’s men called Sheriff Combs and said… and I quote, “a person in a black car killed everyone”. I heard Jack is furious his neighborhood is now one big crime scene while Liam is pi ssed this killing spree will be bad for his image. This is why I need to get to the pub. I wanna hear what the townsfolk have to say. Maybe they’ll finally put up a neighborhood watch.” He paused and looked at me from head to toe. “I love that leather suit, by the way. I wonder who got it for you,” Cristos joked.
“You did,” I said, kissing him on the cheek. “Go. I’ll see you tomorrow. If you get in touch with Dom, tell him to take care.”
Once the wall panel closed behind Cristos, I unzipped my leather suit and stripped. I stood. in front of Xavier in my lace lingerie.
“X, let’s take a shower together,” I said, using the first initial of his name as if we were still working a hit together. I walked over to the wall and dimmed the lights in the shop. “I need you to scrub my back for me.
“Your wish is my command,” Xavier said, winking at me.
He stripped, throwing his clothes in a heap on the floor. He stood proud and fully erect.