Chapter 9
“I arrived just after you collapsed. Poor Matteo was terrified, seeing you so still.”
“Dante’s eyes looked like he was ready to eat someone. After you were sent to the hospital, Matteo grabbed a fork and stabbed Vivian right in the hand. I have no idea where a three–year–old gets that kind of strength.‘
“Later, when Dante learned what they had done to you, he had his men hold Joey down and took his fingers. One by one.”
“And Matteo… he watched the whole thing without flinching. He’s a Moretti, through and through.”
Carlie took a sip of water and continued:
“And because Vivian had scratched you.”
“Do you know what Dante did?”
Carlie’s voice dropped, trembling slightly. “He had his men hold her down. Then, in front of everyone, he took a pair of pliers and pulled out every single one of her fingernails.”
“With every nail he pulled, he asked, ‘Still want what belongs to another?“”
“Vivian was screaming, so Dante had his men melt down all her gaudy jewelry. Then he forced the molten gold down her throat.”
“You should have heard her screams. I thought it was an earthquake.”
“Finally, Dante did it himself. He took a red–hot branding iron to her face, then had her sunk in the East River.”
Carlie was a writer, and she told these bloody tales with the flair of a storyteller.
