“Carmen…”, I croak, feeling like crying and knowing that I can’t. And I would like to tell her that I am sorry, that I am so very sorry, that it’s all my fault, that I am the one to blame, that they’re all paying for something they’re not responsible for, that she made a mistake marrying me. I would like to tell her so many things, and instead I say nothing.

“It’s okay…”, she says hurriedly but sweetly, helping me as I try to get up, “…I love you so much, Shane, remember that… And just trust me, everything’s gonna be fine”.

“Okay, now stop it”, the older man says, annoyed. He doesn’t bother to get up. He just stares at us and his eyes are icy-cold.

“I am not here to witness your emotional outbursts. I am here to play”, he states.

“What the fuck are you talking about?”, Dante replies in a very bored tone, grimacing.

He turns his head to him, narrowing his eyes.

“Lieutenant, your position doesn’t allow you to be that arrogant. Especially not with me”.

“Look, you wanted us here, right? Your intention is to kill us, to kill all of us. If you expect me to beg and cry and kiss your ass, you can go fuck yourself”, he says.

Francois lunges at him, literally, and smashes a fist on his face. Dante’s head turns abruptly to the left, then, slowly, turns again just to watch the man straight in the eyes. And for the very first time, I realize that there’s no more trace of the friendly, sweet guy I used to know. I don’t know Dante at all, right now. All I know is that if looks could kill, Francois would be already dead.

Dante spits blood on his Gucci shoes, and Francois laughs heartily. He seems frankly amused by his reaction.

“I told you…”, he says to the older man, “…This guy has –“.

Dante turns around abruptly, silently, and grabs the head of the man standing right behind me with both of his hands. For a second, I can see the bewildered look into his eyes. Then, his neck makes the noise of a cracking branch and he plops on the rich Persian carpet on the floor, at dead weight. He doesn’t breathe anymore. Dante looks at him from the above, his arms hanging to his sides.