by Stone, Piper
“Yeah, I remember,” I said, shaking my head. They’d risked a hell of a lot to come to my aid, something I wouldn’t forget.
Not that they would allow me to.
“Any sign of Diego?” Cristiano asked.
“He’ll show.” I only prayed to God this wasn’t a wild goose chase. “Fan out. I want this cut and dry.”
“Be careful, brother,” Cristiano said before moving away.
Careful wasn’t in my vocabulary.
Ten minutes passed.
Then fifteen.
We would wait another fifteen minutes before I called it. Anger was furrowing to the point I was ready to explode. I didn’t like being made a fool of and that’s exactly what had happened. Just admitting to my brothers that Diego was still alive had been humiliating enough. The fact they were all here was both comforting as well as disconcerting. I didn’t like the odds of what we were facing.
When another five minutes went by, I moved closer to the water, the gun positioned in both hands. Then a shadow caught my eye.
“That sweet little thing you claimed will make a nice addition to my stable.”
Diego.
There was a sudden coolness to my emotional level, as if the anger had been taken to an entirely different level.
“She doesn’t belong to you.” I said the words with no inflection in my voice as I turned to face him. The scar on his face was easy to see in the light over the docks.
His laugh boosted my adrenaline level.
“She will very soon and I’m going to enjoy breaking her down piece by piece.” He walked closer, a smile on his face. “Tell me, oh, great King. What does it feel like to be a rat in a cage?”
I bristled, obviously visibly enough for him to laugh. The same words issued as the man I’d taken out was just another attempt at pushing me over the edge. I had to be very careful.
“That is what Puevo said to you before you killed him. Isn’t it?” When I didn’t answer, he inched closer. “That’s right. You call him the Ghost. It seems more appropriate since you’ve been haunted these past few days.”
I took my turn at laughing, glancing up and down at the asshole. He was in possession of several weapons, including two handguns as well as a large hunting knife. “I’m curious. Did you purposely find soldiers with facial scars in order to continue your ruse? That was a very nice trick.”
“Oh, you mean like the man you killed in Switzerland?”
I nodded. “Clever.”
“I have additional tricks up my sleeve, King. And my men are happy to be scarred in their effort to enlarge our empire. That is what you call your territory. Isn’t it?”
“You’re right, Diego. It’s our territory, one that you will never lay claim to.” I pointed my weapon at the shadow on the right, pulling the trigger without hesitation. By the time I directed it toward Diego, he’d already pulled out his weapon.
“Your family might try to keep it, even capture more of the market, but they’re going to have to do it without one of their prized family members.”
As he prepared to fire, the rest of the King family drifted out of the darkness, surrounding him.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Diego. We’ve taken care of all your other men. It’s just you and the Kings.” Cristiano’s deep baritone boomed in the night air, his statement followed by a powerful bolt of lightning.
“You motherfuckers,” Diego hissed.
I walked closer, pointing the barrel to his temple. “I suggest you make your peace with God. Or in your regard, with the devil.”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be, Michael?” Cristiano asked as he crowded closer, a grin forming on his face. He removed the weapon from Diego’s hand, tossing it into the ocean, snagging the others and doing the same.
I pulled back, nodding after a few seconds, feeling more relaxed than I had in years. “Yeah, I guess I do. I’m sure you can handle this.”
“Gladly, brother. I think you should take some time off.” Dante shifted his head in my direction, winking.
As I glanced from one to the other, giving them a final nod of approval as well as respect, I realized just how grateful I was for having such a tight family.
Even if they could be pains in my ass on occasion.
I walked away, more lighthearted than I’d felt in some time. I also made a promise to myself.
Family came first.
Never again would I lose sight of that.
After clearing the docks, I stopped just after hearing the single gunshot.
Then I smiled.
The nightmare was over.
For now. There would always be conflicts, heightened levels of danger, but it was time to let go of the past, forging a union that would provide the happiness I’d been seeking for one hell of a long time.
Now onto the future, sharing every aspect of my life with the people I loved.
The woman I adored.
Chapter 18
Daniella
Love.
Love came in many forms, shapes, and sizes. There was the love of good friends and a favorite food and drink. There was the love of furry creatures, parents, and grandparents. Then there was the love that stole your heart, capturing and placing the beating muscle in a beautiful crystal box.
That’s the kind of love that flowed within me.
The day was beautiful, a few white fluffy clouds in an otherwise blue sky. I was nervous, butterflies swarming in my tummy.
But my heart was full.
“What do you think, Elle?” I asked as I peered down at the beautiful pup.
She gave me a twist of her head as well as a single woof, her tail forever swishing back and forth.
I took another look in the mirror, pressing my hand against the gorgeous necklace I’d almost tossed into the trash. While the dress was different than the one purchased in Switzerland, the color was the same, the jade hue perfect for accenting the necklace. I turned in a full circle, adoring the way the material rustled against my legs. As I peered down at my bare feet, all I could do was laugh.
Perfect.
I did love Key West, the quiet and peaceful way that a good number of people lived. While I was sad that Steven wasn’t by my side, he was doing well in rehab. Once clean, he had a job waiting for him in the King organization—the legal side upon my insistence. I was grateful I’d get to know my brother all over again.
“I think it’s time to go, baby. You ready?”
Woof!
“I know you are.” I moved toward the door, my hands shaking as I reached for the bouquet of the most perfect sterling silver roses I’d ever seen. Then I took a deep breath before opening the door. As I walked down the three steps, Elle by my side, I couldn’t keep a smile off my face.
Not only because of the gorgeous ocean view, but also the man waiting for me on the sandy beach. I’d never seen him look so incredible before. While he’d refused to wear shorts, he’d allowed me to select a tropical shirt and I couldn’t keep from laughing at the sight. In bare feet, the wind flowing through his hair, he was truly a picture of a stunning hunk.
My hunk to be exact.
The closer I came, the more animated he became, his gaze full of lust.
As well as love.
When I finally approached, he shook his head. “You look beautiful.”
“And you look dapper.”
He laughed, a sound I adored hearing more than anything. In the two weeks that had passed, he’d let go of almost all his demons, enjoying being home with the twins, allowing his brothers to handle a lion’s share of the work. While he hadn’t opened up about everything, he knew I really didn’t want to know any details.
I simply wanted to enjoy a new life with the man I loved.
He’d surprised me with the trip to Key West, calling it our time to get to know each other. The proposal had caught me by surprise, the ring even more stunning than the necklace. And the little house he’d rented on the beach was gloriously wonderful, not at all l
ike the estate in New Orleans.
“Are you ready?” the Justice of the Peace asked, nodding to both of us.
“Absolutely,” we said together and at that point, I could feel my cheeks flushing. I carefully handed my beautiful bouquet to the assistant who’d been brought as a witness before taking his hands into mine.
“We honor this day of love, two people brought together in holy matrimony.”
As the ceremony began against the backdrop of the turquoise ocean, with Elle by our side, I knew there was no other place I’d rather be.
* * *
“What are you doing?” I asked, laughing when Michael scooped me into his arms.
“Carrying you across the threshold. That’s what all husbands do with their brides.” He winked as he stormed up the stairs, struggling to open the front door then kicking the solid wood frame the second it was cracked.
“A man of tradition, huh?”
“You bet. Something for you to keep in mind, Mrs. King.”
When he eased me onto my feet, I swept my arms around his neck, laughing as Elle nudged between us. “Hmmm… I wonder what that means.”
He pressed his lips against my forehead. “You’re going to find out. But first, your wedding present.”
“We said no presents.”
“And as the master of the house, I can do whatever I want whenever I want. Understood?”
“Well, yes, sir.”
He backed away, his eyes twinkling. I’d never seen him so happy. Then again, I’d never been so joyful in my life. I was no fool. There would always be a dangerous element to the man and his family, but in my heart, I knew it was the choice I made every time. I wanted nothing more than to be in his life.
As his wife.
When he walked into another room, I moved toward the table, pulling the champagne bottle from the ice bucket, taking my time opening it. For some reason, my hands were shaking, the butterflies remaining.
Then I sensed his presence, the dangerous man I’d once called a monster. I tingled all over from inhaling his insanely exotic cologne, already hungry to share a bed together. Our bed. Well, a rented bed.
“First, the house,” he said quietly.
“What about the house?” I asked as I poured two glasses, refusing to turn around just yet.
“It’s ours. I purchased the little house after I saw how much you loved being here.”
I giggled like some schoolgirl, turning around to face him. Then I began to shake.
As he walked closer, tears were in his eyes. While this was the first time that I’d seen such emotion, I hoped it wouldn’t be the last. “What did you do?” I was floored, my eyes locking on the case he held in his hands.
He shrugged as he looked down at the violin. “I had it sent over from Switzerland. A beautiful instrument is supposed to be enjoyed. I couldn’t imagine anyone else creating such incredible music.”
Tears slipped past my lashes and as I walked closer, my heart thumping, I had no words. “You are… amazing.” I reached out, stroking the case. “Thank you.”
“Thank you for bringing me joy once again.”
“Can I play something for you?”
“In a little while. First things first.” He growled after issuing the words, his nostrils flaring.
“Meaning?”
He placed the violin down, making certain the case was stable before jerking me into his arms. “Well, as I mentioned, there are traditions. We’re getting started right away.”
“What does that mean, oh, husband of mine?”
When he tugged me forward, plopping down on the couch and dragging me over his lap, I squealed.
“It means every new wife deserves a hard spanking just to get things off on the right foot.”
“No! What about Elle?”
He laughed, the tone sweeping through me like firecrackers. “She’ll get used to it.”
As he dragged my dress up to my waist, yanking down my panties, I groaned. The second he brought down his hand in rapid succession, I wiggled, kicking out, the pain instant and biting.
But there was something else.
A release of fear and frustration, trust and love replacing them, the feeling freeing.
I’d found a best friend, a protector, a lover, and a family.
And most of all, I’d found joy.
“I’ll be your naughty Red Riding Hood if you’ll be my big bad wolf…”
The End
Afterword
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