by Reilly, Cora
I shook my head. It wasn’t time to divulge information yet. Adamo could do the talking.
“Don’t hurt Harper,” Adamo whispered.
I frowned at the tone of his voice. “That girl in your junkie group?”
Fabiano grimaced. “She was with Mason when I went after him, sucking his cock.”
“You’re lying!” Adamo jerked out of my grip and lunged at Fabiano, trying to land an uppercut. Fabiano blocked him and shoved him to the ground, but Adamo pushed up to his feet and went for it again. I didn’t intervene. Adamo needed to realize that his actions had consequences, and it gave me the time to stomach the fucking truth that my brother had fallen for a useless bitch who probably whispered sweet nothings in his ear in exchange for drugs.
Fabiano grasped Adamo’s arm and thrust him face-first into the wall. “Stop this shit,” he warned, “or I’m going to defend myself for real.”
He released Adamo, who turned at once, head flushed and eyes full of dread. “What did you do to Harper?”
Fabiano glanced at me. Nino shook his head at me, obviously worried I was going to lose my shit.
“Don’t tell me the little slut gave you head in return for drugs, Adamo. You should know better.” We had so many fucking whores who could suck cocks, why did he have to find a girl who used him?
Adamo glared. “Harper and I are in love. You wouldn’t understand.”
“She sucked another man’s dick. How does that mean ‘I love you?’” I snarled.
“She wouldn’t! You’re trying to ruin things for me.”
Fabiano sighed. “I’m not lying. Mason had his cock shoved up to his balls inside her mouth.”
“Shut up,” Adamo said fiercely.
“I told you it’s difficult to find what you’re looking for,” Nino told our brother. “People will always try to gain something from being with you.”
Adamo shook his head, a stubborn gleam in his eyes. “What did you do to her?”
I nodded at Fabiano.
“Nothing. I sent her away before I beat some sense into your friend.”
“He’s alive.”
“Broke a few of his bones, but alive, yes,” Fabiano said.
I should have had him killed. If I had known the exact details, I would have given the kill order.
Adamo looked relieved. “You kept them alive so I’ll take the tattoo tomorrow, right?”
“That wasn’t the plan,” I said. “I thought you’d want to be a Falcone.”
Adamo looked away. “You never spare anyone without good reason.”
“Get a drug test, Nino,” I ordered.
Nino disappeared into his wing.
“I’m clean,” Adamo blurted but his voice shook.
I turned my back to him, my fingers curling to fists. Why did Adamo have to make this so fucking hard? I wasn’t sure how to deal with his shit, especially the drugs. He needed to realize that he was treading a dangerous path.
“I told the truth,” Fabiano said to Adamo.
“Maybe Mason forced her. You don’t know anything,” Adamo muttered.
Nino returned and motioned for Adamo to follow him into the guest bathroom so he could pee on the test strip. When they emerged and I saw Nino’s expression, I lost it. I grabbed Adamo by the collar and threw him to the ground.
“What did I tell you about taking drugs? Do you want to end up like all the lost losers roaming our streets? What the fuck is wrong with you?”
Adamo shrugged. “My friends and I only take it now and then to relax.”
I breathed harshly. Adamo lay completely still beneath me. I took a deep breath, stifling the fury burning through me, then got to my feet. “You won’t ever take anything again or I will kill every single of your so-called friends. Rich parents or not. And now you will take your new car for a test drive to Harper’s home and tell her you won’t give her free drugs anymore. If she wants drugs, she can come to me and pay the regular price. Understood?”
Adamo blinked up at me. “Understood,” he said slowly, sitting up. “My new car?”
I thrust the keys to the ground beside him. “Bought you that Ford Mustang Limgene in red and black that you’ve had as your screen saver for months now.”
Adamo took the keys. “For my birthday?”
“For your birthday and your initiation. Now talk to Harper and take Nino with you,” I said then walked into the living room, straight toward the punching bag. I began kicking and punching, but my rage didn’t lessen.
Fabiano joined me after a moment. “I suppose I don’t need to watch the girls anymore?”
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to think about Serafina now because if I started thinking about her, I might end up ruining my own fucking plan.
Fabiano stepped in my line of vision. “That girl led him on.”
“I know,” I growled and sent the bag flying. The hook groaned but stayed anchored in the ceiling. “How about a sparring match?”
“You don’t look like you want to spar. You look like you want to destroy someone,” Fabiano commented, but he began unbuttoning his shirt. I tugged at my own T-shirt and dragged it over my head then shoved down my pants and swung myself into the boxing ring, wearing only my briefs.
Fabiano did the same and stood across from me. I motioned him forward, and he went into attack mode at once.
We hit and kicked hard and fast. Fabiano’s punches spoke of suppressed anger, and my own were fueled with fury. I shoved him into the ropes, but he caught himself. “Is this because of Serafina?” I taunted.
“No,” he shot back. “I always enjoy kicking your ass, Remo.”
He lunged at me again.
“What’s going on here?” Kiara asked from the entranceway.
We ignored her.
“If nobody bothers to give me an answer, I’ll head upstairs and talk to Serafina.”
“You won’t,” I ordered, and Fabiano landed a hard punch in my side.
Snarling, I did a sidekick and got his shoulder. “Kiara!” I held up my palm toward Fabiano to pause the match.
She froze. “I thought she could have dinner with us. I have mac and cheese in the oven.”
“You won’t go anywhere near her without someone to watch your back, understood?”
She nodded eventually. Then her eyes moved on to Fabiano. “Why don’t you call Leona. I made enough food so you can join us.”
“That’s a good idea,” I said then jumped out of the ring. It was obvious that I wouldn’t get rid of my anger today.
“Will you bring Serafina down, then?”
“No,” I said tersely.
“Why not?” Kiara asked, and I stalked toward her. She didn’t back off as I stopped right in front of her.
“Because I don’t fucking trust myself around her today, okay?”
Kiara nodded, a deep worry line forming between her brows. “Okay.”
“I can bring her food up later,” Fabiano suggested.
I slanted him a hard look. “Yeah, why not?” My voice rang with warning.
He held my gaze for a long time until he grabbed his phone from the pocket of his pants off the ground and brought it to his ear. I put my clothes back on, not giving a shit that I was sweaty. Kiara trailed after me as I sank down on the sofa. She didn’t know what was good for her. Now that she wasn’t completely terrified by my presence anymore, she was starting to annoy the fuck out of me.
“Is it because of Adamo?”
“What?”
“Your sour mood.”
I smiled darkly. “You haven’t seen me in a sour mood yet, and if I can help it, you won’t.”
She pursed her lips. “He’s conflicted. He doesn’t want to disappoint you, but he also doesn’t want to kill and torture in your name.”
I didn’t say anything, only returned her gaze until she looked away. She had more trouble holding my eyes than Serafina did.
“He’s killed before.”
“And he feels guilty for it.”
I braced myself on my thighs. “Nobody forced his hand back then. He could have hidden like all the other spectators of the fight. He could have run. He could have shot the asshole’s leg or arm, but Adamo shot him in the head. Maybe Adamo doesn’t want to be a killer, but he is. It’s in our nature, Kiara. He can fight it as long as he wants, but eventually the darkness seeps through. It’s what it is.”
“Maybe,” she agreed.
“Fabiano was a good boy once. Goldilocks with remorse and a squeaky clean white shirt, but now he’s my Enforcer.”
Fabiano snorted. “I was never good and definitely not goldilocks.”
“I should get dinner ready. Can you help me with the mustard jar in the kitchen? I can’t open it,” Kiara said.
I nodded toward Fabiano. “He can help you.”
Kiara shifted nervously, her eyes sliding to Fabiano then back to me. My eyebrows shot up. I got to my feet.
Fabiano gave a small shrug. “Leona will be here in five minutes.”
I followed Kiara into the kitchen and took the mustard jar she held out to me. “I didn’t think I’d live to see the day that someone was less scared of me than of Fabiano or anyone else for that matter.”
Kiara flushed. “I know I’m safe with you,” she said quietly.
Fuck, she was. I held out the open jar. “Here.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re safe around Fabiano as well,” I told her.
“I know,” she said. “But it takes a bit longer for the message to get through to my brain.”
“You should be wary of a brain that makes you love my brother and trust me, Kiara,” I muttered.
She laughed. “It’s not my brain, it’s my heart.”
I narrowed my eyes then turned on my heel and walked out, not in the mood for emotional nonsense.
CHAPTER 9
SERAFINA
I wasn’t sure if it was Remo’s plan to break me by letting me stew with my own thoughts all day. I had nothing to do except relive this afternoon’s kiss, torn between guilt and a flicker of terrifying excitement, because that kiss had been unlike anything I’d ever felt before. And every time that realization hit me, my guilt doubled. I knew I wasn’t supposed to enjoy it—not only because Danilo was the man I was supposed to be kissing, but also because Remo was the last man I was allowed to kiss.
Whenever Samuel had returned from a night out with friends while I was stuck at home, I’d be overwhelmed by a wave of longing and jealousy. I wanted to be free to party with him, but that would have been my ruin—even if Samuel had been at my side to protect my honor. I couldn’t be seen in a club, dancing the night away. We’d had a few secret house parties, which had been exhilarating even if Samuel had been glued to my side every second so none of his friends got near me. Not that any of them would have dared. They were all Made Men or on their way to becoming one. My father was Underboss. My uncle was the boss of the Outfit. My fiancé as good as the underboss of Indianapolis and my brother a Made Man. No guy ever looked at me twice, at least not the guys allowed near me. I could have been naked and thrown myself at these guys and they wouldn’t have batted an eye ... from fear of losing it—and their life.
And I had been okay with it, had accepted it because we were bound by the rules of our world. It wasn’t as if I wanted to sleep around like Samuel, even if the few stories he’d shared with me in the beginning when he was overexcited about losing his virginity had made me curious.
The lock clicked and I quickly sat up, bracing myself. I wouldn’t allow Remo to catch me by surprise again.
My eyes widened when Fabiano stepped inside, carrying a plate. I stood. Why was he here? Would he help me after all?
Fabiano regarded my face then shook his head as if he could read my mind. “I’m bringing you dinner.”
He came in but left the door ajar, and I wondered why he did it. I doubted it was so I could run. Was he worried of being alone in a room with me?
“Here,” he held out the plate with steaming mac and cheese to me.
I glared. “Do you remember how you, Samuel and I played together? Do you remember how you and him pretended to be my protectors? Do you remember that?” For a moment we did nothing but stare at each other, but he didn’t allow me to glimpse behind his emotionless mask.
With a sigh, he walked past me and put the plate down on my nightstand.
“You should eat,” he said firmly.
I whirled around to face him. “Why? So I stay healthy just so Remo can break me?”
Fabiano glanced down at my arm and grabbed it, inspecting the wound closely. “That’s Remo’s doing?”
“Who else enjoys slicing up people?”
Fabiano’s mouth switched into a wry smile. “Pretty much every man in the mob, Fina.”
He touched the wound lightly. “It’s not deep.”
“I’m sorry that my wound doesn’t fulfill your high standards. Next time maybe you should cut me.”
Fabiano shook his head. “Remo cuts deep. Hits hard. Kills brutally. He doesn’t do half-assed cuts like this.”
I tugged my arm free. “So what? Maybe he wants to save the bloody fun for later.”
Fabiano’s blue eyes searched my face with a small frown. “Maybe.”
For some reason, his scrutiny annoyed me. “When people said you were a traitor who ran off with his tail between his legs, I didn’t want to believe them, but now I see they were right.”
Fabiano leaned down, and the look was one I hadn’t seen on his face before, one that reminded me that he was now Enforcer. “I didn’t run. I’m loyal.”
I huffed.
He took a step closer, and I backed off. “I am. My fucking father sent one of his men out to kill me. That man couldn’t go through with it and dropped me off in Bratva territory so they could finish the job for him. Without Remo, they would have succeeded. I’m alive because of my Capo, because of those four Falcone brothers who stood together when the world was against them and against me.”
I blinked, utterly shocked by his words. “Your father tried to kill you? Why didn’t you tell Dante?”
He glared. “I’m not a fucking snitch. And the Cavallaros have stuck with my bastard of a father for too long. I don’t give a fuck if your grandpa thinks highly of him. My father is a disgrace.”
“My grandfather is very sick. He probably won’t live much longer.”
“Good,” Fabiano said fiercely.
I swallowed. “Even if my grandfather doesn’t hold a protective hand over your father anymore, Dante won’t give him to the Camorra. He’ll deal with him.”
Fabiano smiled sadly. “Dante will hand my father over. Trust me.” He took a step back. “I only wished you weren’t the one who’s going to make it happen.”
I touched Fabiano’s arm. “I know you can’t help me escape, but at least let me talk to Samuel, Fabi. I miss him so terribly.”
“That’s not his decision,” Remo said in a low voice as he stalked into the room. Fabiano gave a terse nod, exchanging a look with his Capo that I couldn’t read. Then he walked out without another look at me.
“Trying to talk my Enforcer into betraying me?”
“Unfortunately, everyone I’ve met so far is loyal to you.” It was true and they couldn’t even blame it on fear. Despite his reputation, the people close to Remo seemed to tolerate him, maybe even liked him. Remo left the door open as well, and he kept a few arm lengths between us. Something about him was off, and it set my alarm bells off.
“Let me talk to my brother,” I said. I couldn’t bring myself to say please.
Remo tilted his head, his expression assessing. “What about Danilo? Don’t you want a chat with your fiancé? After all, he’d be your husband by now if it weren’t for me.”
“Samuel. I want to talk to Samuel.”
His eyes narrowed briefly before they traveled the length of me. “What do I get in return for allowing you to talk to him?”
“I’m not a whore,” I snapped. “I
won’t give you that in return for a call.”
Remo approached slowly, like a predator. “You will give it to me for free?”
“Hell will freeze over before that happens.”
He backed me into the wall. The violent vibe he gave off was even stronger than usual, and it was starting to make me nervous. I wasn’t sure what had him on edge like that, but I knew to be wary.
“Isn’t your brother worth a kiss?” he taunted.
“My brother wouldn’t want me to give away a kiss for him.”
“You already gave away your first kiss, Angel. What do a few more matter?” His dark eyes raked over my face until they lingered on my lips.
I scowled. “One kiss and you’ll let me talk to my brother? Tomorrow?”
“One kiss,” he agreed with a dark smile.
I pushed to my tiptoes, gripped his neck to pull him further down, and smashed my lips against his for a second before drawing back. “There you go. One kiss.”
Remo shook his head, his face still close to mine. “That wasn’t a kiss.”
“You didn’t stipulate the details of the kiss. I kissed you. Now fulfill your part of the bargain.”
Remo cupped my face, caging me in with his body. “I showed you what I consider a kiss. I won’t settle for less.”
I glowered, but trying to stare Remo down was a ridiculous notion.
“Not brave enough?” he murmured.
I shivered at the low vibrato of his voice. Gripping his shirt, I tugged him down violently. Our mouth clashed but Remo held himself still, waiting for me to make the next move, daring me to do it. With a burst of indignation, my tongue nudged his lips and despite the heat rising into my cheeks, I held his dark gaze. My moment of control was ripped from me the second Remo deepened the kiss. He took the lead, demanded with his mouth and tongue for me to surrender. I had trouble keeping up. His scent and heat sucked me in, made my body spring to life in the most terrifying way possible.
Remo’s hand touched my waist and then it moved up, closer to my breast. My reaction was instinctual, instilled by defense training with Samuel; I jerked my knee up. Remo’s reaction was quick, his hand shooting down, but the momentum still made my knee graze his groin. He growled and I stilled, frozen with fear because of the look in his eyes. He breathed harshly, his gaze burning me with its intensity. Yet a flicker of relief filled me because I doubted I’d have found the strength to end the kiss.
