I stared at the email from my lawyer in complete disbelief. I read it over and over again, making sure I hadn’t missed anything or misinterpreted any words. And when I stood from my desk at my warehouse office, I started printing off the documentation my lawyer had sent me.
The divorce papers, to be exact.
Still legally bound.
Those three words completely toppled my entire morning. According to my lawyer, even though my marriage was null and void to Bonnie, I was still legally bound on paper to Brianna. I couldn't believe it. I wanted to throw my damn computer through a fucking window. I was so angry. I snatched the divorce papers from my printer and signed wherever I needed to. I initialed, dated, and then highlighted all of the areas where Brianna would have to sign.
Then, I drove my ass over to the Moretti estate.
I didn’t want to disturb Bonnie while she was working, so I kept my knock soft. A very old, hunched-over butler who looked like he needed a retirement package instead of more working hours opened the door. Still, he ushered me into the house, and I kept my footsteps silent as I made my way into the kitchen. And when I found Mrs. Moretti eating a sandwich, she glared up at me.
“The hell do you want?” she asked.
“An audience with Brianna. Where is she?”
“What for? Isn’t it bad enough you already turned one daughter against me?”
I slapped the divorce papers on the table. “Get her. Now. And don’t you dare alert Bonnie to what’s going on, or I’ll kill you where you sit.”
With a glare, Mrs. Moretti got up from her seat. She disappeared behind me and started down the hallway, and a few minutes later, Brianna appeared. For a split second, I had to double-take. Dammit, she looked so much like Bonnie. Or, Bonnie had looked so much like her. Either way, in some weird fashion, I wanted to compliment the person who had turned Bonnie into Brianna because their likeness was uncanny.
“What?” Brianna asked flatly.
I pointed to the papers. “Sign them.”
She snickered. “Like I’m going to do what you ask me to do.”
“Sign them, or I drag your ass into court and plaster it all over the papers.”
She peeked over toward the table. “Divorce papers?”
I nodded. “And you’ll never be free of me, or my wrath, or my presence until you sign them.”
I watched as she walked over to the table. She sat down and picked up the pen I had brought with me, poised and ready to sign. I pressed my hands against the hardwood table and watched. I tried to draw steady breaths to calm the anger that charged throughout my body.
But, when Brianna set down that pen, I knew I had an issue.
“No,” she said plainly.
I blinked. “No, what?”
She smiled up at me. “No, I won’t sign.”
I shoved the paper toward her. “It’s either this or a media-frenzied court appearance.”
She stood. “Okay.”
I slowly raised myself upright. “Come again?”
She grinned. “Okay. Take me to court. Do whatever you have to do. But, I’m not signing those papers.”
“Are you telling me you want to stay married to your family’s enemy?”
She giggled. “No. But, I am telling you that if there’s any way I can hurt the traitor of this family, I will.”
I stepped in front of her, blocking her exit from the kitchen. “You listen to me and you listen right now. You’re going to sign those papers, or I’m going t—”
She waved her hand in the air. “Ah, we know your threats are empty anyway. Because if they weren’t, we’d all be dead by now. You’re nothing but a man who’s full of hot air and—”
I gripped her arm. “You’re going to hurt Bonnie with this. The woman who runs this family and finances your lifestyle. Do you really want to take that chance?”
Her eyes danced between mine. “You love her, don’t you?”
I tightened my grip. “I will have her cut you off and bleed you dry until you sign those papers. Are you really ready for something like that?”
She ripped away from me. “Bring your worst, Israel.”
I stood there in shock as she pushed past me. I heard her footsteps making their way out of the kitchen as I stared down at those fucking papers. I turned around to see if anyone was watching—to see if I was on some sort of candid camera show or whatever. But, when no one jumped out to yell, “gotcha!” I knew I was in for a world of hurt.
And so was Bonnie.
Have I become weak?
I gathered up the papers and made a quick, quiet exit out the front door. I walked back to my car with that question turning over in my head like some horrendous horror film my brother always forced me to watch when we were kids. Was I really weak? Full of nothing but hot air?
Or, had Bonnie made me a better man?
I won’t be any man she needs if I can’t get Brianna to sign these papers.
I slammed myself into my vehicle and cranked the engine. I sped down the driveway, almost barreling through the wrought -iron gate that opened just enough to let me squeak through. I didn’t know anything anymore. I had been raised to believe that weakness and kindness were one and the same. That kindness was nothing but a portal for others to take advantage of, and it was something I didn’t need to dabble in when it came to the family business.
But, if Bonnie had made me kind… if she made me a better person…
She’s the woman for me.
I hated this. I hated the feeling of not having a straight-and-narrow path to take in front of me. I hated this constant back and forth, and I hated the fact that Bonnie had been swept away by a current I couldn't control. Everywhere I turned, people were trying to manipulate me. My father. Alice. My brother. Pava Moretti. Brianna. Would it always be this way? Would Bonnie and I always be under attack if we stayed together like this?
“Would it be better to let her go?” I murmured to myself.
I pulled over onto the side of a deserted road and placed my forehead against the steering wheel. No matter how much I tried to focus on work and keeping things running smoothly, I felt more unfocused than ever before. There was too much swirling around. There were too many enemies coming out of the woodwork that were way too close to the two of us. Family, and exes, and trusted confidants with ulterior motives. I didn’t know which way to turn. I didn’t know who I could trust. But, I knew there was one person in my life I could still trust. One person I could still lean against. One person I could still count on.
And that was Bonnie.
So, whatever I had to do in order to make sure she had the best life available to her, I’d do.
Even if it meant giving her up.
18
Israel
I pulled up to the warehouse and made my way inside. I had to figure out a way to get Brianna to sign these damned papers. I charged through the lobby and tore a path straight for my office. I needed to be alone for a little while. I needed to kick back and think. And the last thing I needed was outside distractions of any kind.
“Hello there, Israel.”
My head fell back. “What do you want, Alice? Goddammit.”
She giggled. “And here I thought I’d get a little peck on the cheek.”
I closed my office door and made my way to my desk. “You have two minutes,” I said as I flopped the divorce papers in front of me, “so spit it out.”
She nodded. “I think I have a way to get Brianna to sign those.”
I paused. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, come on, Israel. Did you really not think I’d find that little loophole.”
I slowly looked up at her. “Why don’t you try the truth for once, Alice?”
Her eye twitched. “I overheard your altercation in the kitchen with Brianna.”
“You were at the estate.”
“Visiting Bonnie, yes.”
I slowly stood back to my feet. “What the fuck were you doing—?”
She waved he
r hand at me. “Nothing personal, just wanted to speak with her about something.”
I came around my desk quickly. “What did you say to her? What did you do, Alice?”
“Please, no need to shout. I swear, everyone is wound so tightly lately.”
My voice lowered. “If you’ve done anything to her, I’ll kill you with my bare fucking hands, Alice.”
She snickered. “Clearly, you don’t give that woman much credit.”
I didn’t know what the hell that meant, but I knew what I was asking Bonnie about once she got home from work.
“Spit out why you’re here, Alice.”
She furrowed her brow. “Are you hard of hearing now? I just told you. I’m here to help you get Brianna to sign those papers. I think I have something she’ll work with. You know, before I chew you out for finalizing a marriage like that.”
I leaned against my desk. “Like you have any room to talk.”
She glared up at me. “Actually, I do. You’ve whisked me off on dates and met me for drinks and have tried to get to know me, but you didn’t divulge the fact that you’re still married? Are you insane? Well, if I weren’t such a level-headed woman, I’d probably put a bullet between your eyes.”
I shrugged. “What makes you think I would’ve married you in the first place?”
She blinked. “I’m sorry. Come again?”
I snickered. “What makes you think I’m my father’s lapdog? That I would marry someone he set me up with just to benefit the family? I’m my own man, Alice, and I carve my way in this world. I never had any intention of marrying you. I only intended to keep you away from Bonnie long enough for me to suss things out between her and my own family.”
Her face grew red. “You… what?”
She went on a tirade that echoed down the damn hallway. She yelled, and she cursed. She threw her purse onto the floor and pointed at me. Her eyes bulged with anger, and her face grew red, and the entire time I simply stared at her with my arms folded over my chest.
“You’re a slimy, good-for-nothing, manipulative bastard, Israel Rossi! You led me on! You played around with my heart! You—”
I lunged at her. “I gave you a taste of your own medicine, Alice.”
“I—you—uh—what!?”
I wrapped my hand around her throat. “I gave you a taste of what you did to me. How you lied to me. Led me on. Manipulated me into thinking you were someone you weren’t. And when you had me down on one knee, Alice, you kicked me square in the teeth. You turned your back on me, and Bonnie’s never done that. She never will do that. And I’d gladly give up everything in my life and run for the rest of my days if it meant running with Bonnie.”
I shoved her away, watching her stumble as she rubbed her throat.
“You’ll pay for this, Israel. Your entire family with pay!” she shrieked.
My security guard opened the door. “Mr. Rossi?”
I nodded. “Take her away. And make sure she’s on the ‘banned’ log for this property.”
Alice started to shake. “I’ll find a way to ruin you, Israel. I will bring the wrath of my entire family down on your head!”
I shrugged. “Then, I’ll simply let them know.”
“Know what, you slimy little asshole?”
I smiled viciously. “That you had a chance to marry me and be the daughter your mother wants you to be, but you squandered it on a lie.”
Her face fell as my security guard dragged her out of my office. And when my office door closed once more, I turned back to my desk. I gazed down at the divorce papers with uncertainty. I had to tell Bonnie what was going on. I had to tell her about this.
But how?
How did I tell her I was still legally married to her snake of a cousin?
Better now than later.
I dug my cell phone out of my pocket and went to dial her number. I paused, though, when I saw I had an unanswered voicemail from Bonnie herself. I dialed my voice mailbox and put the call on speakerphone, not wanting to miss a word of what she had to say.
And when her voice filled the room, my stomach dropped to the floor.
“Hey, Israel. It’s me. I’ve got one more thing I have to do today. Then I’m bringing the rest of my work back home. I need to speak to my uncle about everything. I think I finally have it put together, so I’m headed downtown now to find him. See you when I get home.”
She’s going to find out everything.
Including exactly what I did with the driver of the truck that almost killed her. And while Bonnie knew the kind of man I could be, she didn’t know brutality like this. She didn’t know this side of me yet. She didn’t understand what had happened to me and the things I was capable of when someone tried to rip away from me someone I cared about.
She’d find out after speaking with her uncle, though. Surely, he’d tell her what had happened to that driver. And I worried if the details would forever tarnish her image of me.
I worried she might not be capable of loving me anymore after she figured it all out.
19
Bonnie
I stared at my reflection in the plexiglass screen as I sat on the cold, unforgiving chair. My lower back started to pulse with pain as I moved myself to the edge of the chair. I didn’t want to be here any longer than necessary. But, I had some questions I wanted to ask my uncle.
And I knew he had a few to ask me as well.
With my hands folded in my lap, I heard the buzzing of the doors. The one in front of me swung open, and standing before me in a bright-orange jumpsuit with his hands cuffed to shackles around his feet stood my uncle with that smug fucking grin on his face. He sauntered toward me with his shoulders rolled back and his head held high as if he had something to take pride in.
Then, he sat and picked up the phone beside him. “Never expected to see you here, Bonnie.”
I held the phone to my ear. “I suppose surprises aren’t always terrible.”
He chuckled. “What are you doing here? What do you want?”
“Is that really all you wish to ask me?”
“No. I have a great deal I want to ask you.”
“Then, get to it. Because this is the only time I’ll be visiting you anywhere.”
He snickered. “Like you have that kind of self-control.”
I smiled. “Try me.”
His face fell. “Why have you fired so many of my best and most reliable men?”
I shrugged. “I needed people who would back me and not slam me with a pet grooming truck.”
His face fell stiff as stone. “You can’t get rid of all of them. It isn’t possible. I hope you know that.”
“No clue what you’re talking about. I’m trying to preserve things, not destroy them.”
“Is that why you’ve come? To talk about the one you can’t find?”
I smiled. “I suppose that depends.”
“It does depend, yes.”
My eye twitched. “And what exactly do you mean by that?”
He grinned. “You really don’t know, do you?”
I narrowed my eyes. “If you’re trying to talk around things, you aren’t doing a very good job of it.”
“Or, you’re simply not suited for what’s currently going on.”
“You’re aware this phone conversation is being recorded and listened to right now, correct?”
He nodded. “I’m aware. Are you?”
“Awkward question, given the fact that I just proved I did.”
He smiled viciously. “Proof is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? Say, how’s Israel doing nowadays?”
My gut locked up, and my back stiffened. I didn’t like that segue. The jump in topics my uncle made didn’t sit well with me. Worry filled my chest. Was something wrong with Israel?
Wait. The man from the truck.
“What do you know about PetShop Galore?”
He leaned back. “It’s the best pet grooming place in the entire city. I figured you’d already know that, though.”
His eyes grew angry. “Is that really all you came here to talk about? Some stupid truck that ran into you at an intersection?”
I grinned. “How did you know it was at an intersection?”
His eyes grew stern. “You can’t get rid of all my men. And neither can that pesky bedmate of yours. I don’t know what you thought you would accomplish by coming here, but as far as I’m concerned, this conversation is over.”
“So, that’s it?”
He blinked. “What?”
“You’re just going to give up? Let go the woman who’s slowly taking your empire and turning it into something you don’t approve of?”
He growled. “Trust me. This trial won’t take much longer. And while I’m thankful you’ve kept my seat warm, don’t expect to keep it forever. I’m coming for it, and I’m coming for you. You’ve been nothing but an ungrateful child, and I should never have taken you in like my wife insisted.”
I ground my teeth together, and, for a brief second, I regretted not killing the man myself when I’d had the opportunity. As I gazed into the eyes of the man who had single-handedly toppled my world onto its head when I was only a child, all I could think about were the many ways to kill him. I envisioned strangling him. Poisoning him. Slitting his throat or drowning him. I thought about what Israel might do if I simply threw him to the dogs. Kicked him and his family out onto the street and let them fight for their lives like I’d had to fight for mine all these years.
Remember, you didn’t even want this power.
I drew in a deep breath to settle my raging mind. “Goodbye, Pava,” I said.
He narrowed his eyes. “What did you call me?”
I stood from my seat. “I’ll make sure to keep your prison tab full, Mr. Moretti.”
He shot up from his chair. “What did you just call me, girl?”
I hung up the phone and turned my back as guards stepped out from all corners of the room. I heard my uncle cursing my existence and spitting at the plexiglass before they tackled him to the ground. I lifted my head high as I slid my purse up my shoulder, walking away from whatever life I thought I had. Because in that moment, I disowned my uncle. I disowned part of my family.
His Prize: An Arranged Dark Mafia Romance (Cruel King Book 3) Page 9
