by Reilly, Cora
So calm. Clinical. Cold.
Just what I needed. It was a cool flood against this terror-filled inferno. Blissfully emotionless. I stared into his eyes, stared for a long time, and he let me, until I brought the first breath of oxygen into my lungs.
I could breathe again, and the face of my husband came into focus, his narrowed eyes all too knowing.
Lowering my gaze to his chin, I tugged at his hold on my wrists. He released me, and I placed my hands into my lap. My naked lap. He, too, was completely naked, kneeling across from me. He must have pulled me into a sitting position some time during my panic attack.
This was it. He knew something was utterly wrong with me. I pulled my legs against my chest, swallowing.
I wished he’d kill me now. I’d often wished for death after my uncle had broken me.
“What happened to you?” His voice was emotionless.
I considered lying, but I had lied for too long. And I had a feeling he knew. “I was thirteen,” I said, but then I couldn’t say more. I began shaking again, and he put a hand on my shoulder. I didn’t flinch this time. The touch was too clinical to elicit any terror.
“Someone raped you.”
The word made me feel small and dirty and worthless. I gave a nod.
“Your father?”
I shook my head. He was already dead by then, and he would have never done that. He knew I would have been ruined. He hit me and screamed at me, but he never touched me like that. Maybe he would have later on if Luca hadn’t killed him.
“Someone from your extended family, then. Girls like you are protected. It must have been someone you were related to.”
I nodded.
“Who was it?” he asked firmly. “Your uncle who raised you?”
I licked my lips. “My other uncle.”
“For how long?”
I lifted four fingers.
“Four years?”
I shook my head.
“Four times?”
Only four nights, yet every day since.
Ever since.
“I dream about it every night,” I choked out. That admittance felt good. I was doomed anyway. I had sealed my fate. Nothing mattered anymore.
I didn’t dare look up to see his disgust, his anger at having been given someone tainted. “You know,” I said quietly. “A kind man would spare me the humiliation of having to face my family, living in shame, and just kill me.”
“A kind man might,” he said in a low voice.
I raised my eyes, resigned.
A terrifying smile played across Nino’s face. It didn’t reach his eyes. “But I will find the man who did this to you and make him feel the same terror you did that night and pain unlike anything he thought possible. And eventually, when he has been begging for it for a long time and when he’s given up hope, I’ll grant him death.”
My breath caught in my throat. I stared. I could do nothing else. He was calm about it, but in the depth of his eyes there was something dark and dangerous. Not directed at me. And I didn’t dare hope that this could really be the truth.
“And what will you do to me? I’m not what was promised. I’m not a virgin.”
He looked at me almost as if I’d said something stupid. “I don’t care if you are a virgin. It’s a small piece of flesh that’s completely useless. But I’m aware of the importance it holds in the minds of so many people, even yours.”
“Then why are you furious if it’s not because someone stole what you wanted for yourself?”
“Because someone stole what you weren’t willing to give,” he murmured.
I looked away because stupid tears gathered in my eyes. I didn’t understand his reaction or him for that matter. I’d heard the rumors about Vegas, about how they dealt with women who didn’t pay their debts or displeased Remo Falcone in some other way.
I gestured at the sheets. “It’s tradition. My family expects to see blood.” I swallowed. “If you take me with force, will I bleed?”
He nodded, his expression impassive. “It’s been years for you and you only had sex a few times, so if I use enough force, you will most definitely bleed. Your vaginal muscles are very tense from fear, and you will tear when I force myself into you all the way.”
My stomach constricted. He sounded like a doctor explaining the physical effects of his actions. My lips fought to form the words that rationality wanted to say. “Then do it so my family and the Famiglia get the blood they expect.”
He leaned forward, his beautiful, cold face so close I could see the dark specks in his gray eyes. “They will get blood, don’t worry.”
I nodded and moved to lay back, but he stood from the bed and put on his briefs. Confusion filled me. “I thought you would ...?”
He got into his pants and buckled his belt. He didn’t say anything until he was dressed in his black wedding suit again and had strapped on his knives. “I will find the man who raped you and slaughter him like a pig on these sheets. Do you think that will be enough blood for your family?”
I choked, sliding off the bed, clutching the blankets against my nakedness. “That means war. Luca will kill us all.”
Nino didn’t say anything, but he moved closer. I tensed but didn’t back off. He raised his hand, and I flinched. I hadn’t been hit in years, not since my father—and later Uncle Durant—but my body still expected it.
“I won’t hit you.” I opened my eyes and stared at his white shirt. He put a single finger under my chin and lifted my gaze. His cold face peered down at me, almost curiously as if I was something he needed to understand. “Do you want your uncle to live?”
“No,” I admitted.
And that sealed all our fates.
NINO
I dropped my hand and walked over to the desk to pick up my mobile then raised it to my ear.
Remo picked up after the second ring. “Shouldn’t you be busy?”
“I need you to come over.”
“I assume it’s not because you want me to help you fuck your wife.”
“No, that’s not it.”
Silence. “Two minutes. This better be good. I chose a waitress to fuck.”
He hung up, and as promised he knocked two minutes later. I opened the door, and his dark eyes went to something past me. I stepped back and he entered. Kiara backed away, the sheets still clutched to her naked body, her face tearstained.
Remo turned to me with raised eyebrows. “That was quick. You realize you can’t give her back once you’ve opened her, right?”
“I’m going to kill someone. And I wanted to give you fair warning.”
His twisted grin slipped right off his face. Remo tilted his head. “So you aren’t asking for my permission.”
“No, not this time. I will kill that man and nothing will stop me.”
Remo looked at Kiara, and she flushed, trying to make herself even smaller. Her shoulders rounded in, her arms wrapping the sheets tighter around her body.
“Someone got her before you could? You want to cancel everything?”
“Someone raped her when she was a child.” I paused, regarding my wife, who now stared at the ground, shaking. “And she will come to Las Vegas with me.”
She raised her widened eyes.
“Her rapist is among the guests. He’s the husband of Luca’s Aunt Criminella, Underboss of Pittsburgh,” I said. Remo needed to know the extent of our problems.
“I know.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You knew?”
He shrugged then cracked his neck, stretching out his hands. “Then I better sharpen my knives and load my guns.”
“We could prevent war if we gave Luca a warning.”
“Ask him for permission to deal out revenge on someone who attacked your property?” he snarled. “He gave us less than was promised and you think we owe him anything?”
“Not ask but warn him,” I said. I turned to Kiara, who had pressed herself against the wall at Remo’s outburst. “Get dressed.”
Her
gaze flickered between Remo and the bathroom door he stood beside.
Remo understood her expression before I did. He walked over to me, away from the bathroom door. Kiara grabbed her bag and quickly rushed into the bathroom.
I raised my eyebrows at him.
“She was scared to walk past me,” Remo said with a shrug.
“She’s fearful.”
“Aren’t they all?” He pulled out his phone. “I’m going to call Fabiano. Savio better stay with Adamo before the kid gets himself killed.”
“Come on,” I said and led him out into the corridor. It was deserted.
Fabiano arrived a few minutes later, his eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me you killed the girl.”
I raised one eyebrow. “I’m not prone to emotional outbursts like Remo.”
“Perhaps you faked your emotions too well,” Fabiano muttered.
“I didn’t. Kiara is alive and well, considering her circumstances.”
Fabiano threw a glance at Remo. “Nino wants to spill the blood of her uncle. Fucked her when she was a kid,” my brother said.
Fabiano grimaced in what I assumed was disgust. “Killing off Luca’s family won’t go over well.”
“Luca would kill him if he weren’t family. I saw the look he gave the old fucker. And the guy isn’t even Luca’s blood. He’s married to Luca’s aunt.”
“It’s one of his men. He will insist on dishing out punishment himself.”
“No,” I said. “He punished Aria’s cousin for leering at her on Outfit territory. He will understand that I need to kill his uncle myself.”
Fabiano considered my words. “Maybe. But it’s not a good start to this union.” He regarded me. “But I see that you will do it no matter what I say, so I will go looking for Luca and attempt damage control. Maybe he hasn’t left for his own mansion yet.” Fabiano paused. “Where will you take the asshole?”
“I will tend to him on my wedding sheets,” I said, and my mouth pulled into a smile.
Fabiano sighed then turned on his heel and went in search of the Famiglia Capo.
“Ready to pick up your date for the night?” Remo said with a laugh.
I tried to figure out what he meant with it.
“I assume you are going to fuck him with your knife.” I stared down at the blade in my holster.
I nodded slowly. “I’m going to take my time breaking him, body and mind.”
“I hope you let me in on the fun.”
I inclined my head. It would be unreasonable to prevent Remo from participating. I knew every spot on a body that brought agony, but Remo knew how to break them with mind games. Both were more effective if applied in combination.
“Let’s go,” I said, and Remo let me lead the way because this was my crusade.
Keeping to the shadows, we found Durant in the gardens with his wife, laughing loudly and clutching a wine glass in his hand. “I hope he’s not drunk,” Remo muttered. “Don’t want him to miss the night of his life.”
“We will get him sober,” I said quietly as I regarded him. He was a tall man, wide shoulders but had a paunch that told me it had been a while since he’d really fought. Not that it mattered.
Remo sneered. “Fucking a kid. That gives even me the creeps. I hope he isn’t one of those that passes out quickly.”
“We will make sure he stays awake.” I wanted him to enjoy every second of his last hours.
Fabiano stood over to the side, beside the buffet, with Luca. It wasn’t difficult to read the Capo’s emotions. He was furious.
“Come on,” I said to Remo. “Let’s grab Durant.”
He didn’t need any further encouragement. I gripped my bowie knife, fingers curling around the smooth wood handle, as Remo and I moved along the fringes of the party. Most people still around were shit-faced. The moment Durant spotted me and my brother, his eyes widened. He dropped the glass and turned, fleeing the party and leaving his wife standing there with a dumbfounded expression.
Remo sighed. “Why do they always think they can escape?”
I began jogging and spotted Durant stumbling down the slope leading to the water. Maybe he hoped he could reach one of the boats and escape. When I reached a good spot, I stopped and flung my knife. The Damascus blade gleamed magnificently in the moonlight before it impaled itself in Durant’s calf. His ear-piercing scream was a good start to the night. No cries of pleasure tonight. Only agony.
Durant fell to his knees, clutching at his calf.
“Nice,” Remo acknowledged as he came to a stop beside me. We walked down the hill slowly as Durant pushed to his feet and tried to hobble toward the nearest boat, but he couldn’t put any pressure on his injured leg. He should have pulled the knife out; it either would have helped him move faster or it would have made him bleed out quickly. Both would have been better outcomes than what awaited him under Remo’s and my hands.
We reached him and Remo walked around to face him. “Why are you leaving? The fun is about to start.”
Durant took a step back. I kicked away his legs so he fell to his knees. I reached for the knife and twisted it. He screamed, his eyes flying up to meet mine. “Whatever she said, the little whore lied.”
“How do you know this is about Kiara?” Remo asked quietly. “Perhaps I can’t stand your face. Nino and I have killed for less.”
Durant’s gaze flitted between my brother and me, his breathing picking up. Terror started to fill his veins like poison. I knew the telltale signs. This was only the beginning.
I leaned down, my mouth curling. “You will admit to it soon enough, and before the sun rises, you will beg Kiara for forgiveness, trust me.”
Twisting the knife again, I left it in his leg. I gave Remo a sign, and we hoisted Durant to his feet, gripping his arms.
As we dragged him back toward the house, Luca and Fabiano stepped in our way. Luca regarded his uncle without any emotion. “This is my territory, and Durant is part of the Famiglia.”
I met his gaze. “That’s true, but I will be the one to tear him apart. Or are you telling me you would have acted differently if someone had dishonored Aria before her wedding night?”
Luca smirked. “I would have killed everyone who would have stopped me from dishing out punishment.” Then his expression hardened. “I need to see Kiara before I can allow you to begin...” his eyes darted to the knife in Durant’s calf “...or to continue.”
“Luca,” Durant began, but Remo jerked his arm, causing the words to die in a scream.
“We will continue, Luca, but of course you can have a quick word with my wife if she agrees.”
Luca’s mouth tightened, but he gave a sharp nod. He followed us as we dragged Durant toward the mansion. A few people caught sight of the scene and stared openly. Matteo jogged over to us, but Romero stayed back with the Scuderi sisters.
“I knew this day would end in a fucking bloody wedding,” Matteo muttered after Luca had filled him in on the details. “Of course, I’d hoped it would give me the chance to stick my knife into one of you fuckers.”
“Ditto,” Remo said with a dangerous grin.
We didn’t stop and as we passed the patio, Giulia caught sight of us. She ripped away from her husband Cassio and stormed toward us as we stepped into the foyer.
“You should leave,” Luca told her firmly.
She stepped in our way and glared at Durant. “Tonight you will finally get what you deserve for what you did to Kiara.” She met my gaze. “Make him pay.”
“Oh, I will.”
Cassio arrived and pulled his wife back. He looked at Luca, resting his hand on his gun. “Do you need help?”
“No,” Luca said. “This is a Camorra matter.”
I inclined my head, surprised by his answer. When we entered the master bedroom, Kiara stood in front of the window, dressed in pants and a thick sweater. She paled when she spotted her uncle and backed away, bumping against the wall.
Remo and I dropped her uncle on the floor.
“
What did you tell them, you traitorous whore?” he snarled.
I yanked the knife out of his calf with a sharp twist as I bent over him and rammed my fist into his throat to silence him. He sputtered and fell forward.
Kiara watched the scene with wide eyes.
Luca took a few steps toward Kiara, but she flinched, still crippled by her terror. I barred his way. “Unfortunately, I can’t allow you to go any closer to my wife.”
Luca frowned but nodded. “She is yours.” Then he spoke to Kiara. “I can only allow Nino to punish Durant if I know he deserves it.”
Kiara wrapped her arms around her chest, swallowing hard as she glanced at her uncle then looked away. For a while she didn’t say anything but she began shaking. “I was thirteen,” she whispered then released a broken sob. Her dark eyes met Luca’s, and whatever he saw on her face convinced him because his expression turned to stone as he leveled his gaze on Durant. “You are subject to the Camorra’s judgment, Uncle.” His lips pulled into a smile not unlike the ones Remo was notorious for. “I’d tell you to hope for mercy, but we know you won’t receive any from Nino and Remo.”
Mercy? No.
Durant coughed, still trying to get his voice back after my throat punch. “Luca, I’m your family.”
Luca sneered. “You are a child fucker. You aren’t family.” Luca looked from Kiara to Durant then to me. “Don’t get blood on the ceiling and the walls. It’s a pain in the ass to paint them.”
“Luca! You can’t do that!” Durant begged. He fell forward and clutched Luca’s feet. “I beg you.”
Luca narrowed his eyes. “Let me go.” When Durant didn’t, Luca grabbed him by the collar and threw him away from himself. Durant clambered to his feet with a wince, and I stepped in his way.
Matteo came in and held out rope for Remo, who took it with a twisted smile. Then the Famiglia Consigliere left.
Luca walked out as well, but before he closed the door, he said, “Don’t disturb the neighbors with his screams and don’t feed him his dick. I want to present it with the sheets in the morning to get a message to my men.”
“There are enough other parts of his body we can feed him, don’t worry,” Remo said. “His balls might work well.”
