MANGATA: A Sequel to Consigliere

TEASER

In the living room, Gregorio and Feliciano grew panicky at the sound of footsteps in the hallway. Together, they tip-toed into the kitchen and crouched behind the counter, Feliciano pulling a balled-up plastic bag out of his pocket with shaking hands. They listened intensely to the sound of the slow footsteps disappearing into another room, and then the click of a door being closed.

It's Val, Gregorio thought to himself as he and Feliciano rose and began to take careful steps down the hall, adrenaline spilling through his body.

It's Val, Amelia reminded herself as she stood and walked slowly to the door, the sound of heavy footsteps becoming gradually closer.

Feliciano Arnolfi stopped in front of the door and opened the empty plastic bag, ready to throw it over Val's head as soon as the door opened. As he reached for the doorknob, his breath slowing, Amelia Arlotti gradually took a step back from the other side. Something, she decided, was very, very wrong.

"Val?" She whispered, though no sound escaped her lips.

Feliciano ripped open the door and tossed the bag over Amelia's head, just as a scream managed to erupt from her throat. Amelia managed to catch a brief glance of Feliciano before the bag was tightened around her throat, her world quickly becoming blurred.

"Val!" she choked, struggling to remain upright as Gregorio bound her hands from behind. "Help!"

Panic quickly began to flood Feliciano as he realized it was not Val, but his wife, that he was now holding a bag over. "Val can't help you now," Gregorio snarled as he kicked Amelia in the shin and watched in relief as she moaned and sank to the ground.

"Val..." Amelia's vision grew increasingly dark and hazy, her body numbing from the neck down. "Save...save me...I..."

Feliciano sealed the bag even tighter around the woman's neck, his knuckles white with pressure. Sixty seconds passed.

Amelia Arlotti stopped breathing.