by Piper Stone
As everything started to come together, I felt an odd calm settling into my system.
“There was so much blood in the streets, so many deaths. I had a wife and a baby to take care of, another on the way. I had no sense of the loyalty within our ranks and so I reacted badly, assigning hits to every important member of the Vendetti family. And yes, your mother was horrified, even catatonic as one by one members of her family were murdered. If it hadn’t been for you, then your brother, I don’t think she would have survived.” He continued to shake, his face paling.
And for the first time that I could remember seeing, there were tears in his eyes.
“I killed them all, with one exception. One. The youngest son. He fled New Orleans before my men had a chance to find him.”
Joseph had suspected and he’d kept my father’s secret.
“His name?”
He handed me the envelope, locking eyes with mine. “Enrico. This is the last picture I have of him. I have no doubt he is capable of retaliation. I tracked him for years. I knew he’d at least made contact with the Morales Cartel, but then he disappeared.”
“And Enrique Vendez suddenly appeared.”
“Yes, but I didn’t hear that name until recently. The last thing he said to me all those years ago was that revenge would be sweet.” He inched closer, now appearing to be a weak man.
As the damning news settled in, I could no longer think clearly. I tore open the envelope, staring at the black and white photo of a young man, a man who would be my father’s age now. There was something about the face that I recognized. Then I realized that Enrico’s reign of terror on my family had begun with Bella all those years ago. My body began to shake. “You allowed Bella to be killed for something you did. You allowed my baby sister to be murdered because of your anger.” I reached across the desk, wrapping my hand around his throat.
He made a choking noise, but not from my actions. From the tears flowing down his face.
At that moment, I realized that I could no longer remain the monster I’d allowed myself to become. Slowly, I dropped my hand, retreating with the picture still in my fingers. “You should have told me. You almost cost me everything, old man. For that, I will never forgive you.”
As I stormed toward the door, I stopped long enough to take a deep breath and issue one last statement. “I am well aware of Mario’s gambling problem, Pops. Now I know what I have to do.”
Once again, blood would be shed in the streets of New Orleans.
Like father. Like son.
Enrico Vendetti. As soon as the name was released, several of our informants disappeared, likely sequestering themselves from the violence about to occur. It was only a matter of time before the man would be found.
And I would be the one ending the vendetta that had gone on for far too long.
I stood in my office, staring out the window as I’d done so many times during the years. My father had called me a wanderer, a dreamer, and a man incapable of putting down roots. Maybe that had been the case before, but the thought of a quiet life, a house filled with laughter was forefront in my mind.
Although I wasn’t certain that would ever happen.
I heard the footsteps and didn’t bother turning around, merely taking a deep breath. While I’d never brought a lowlife into my house nor had I ever attempted to dole out any form of punishment, I felt a strange need to have the asshole fully comprehend why he would face the devil himself.
“Mr. King?” Dimitri asked, the formality almost giving me a smile. As I turned, the sight of Mario almost pushed me over the edge. He’d been roughed up, Dimitri no doubt enjoying taking out his own sense of anger on the man who’d betrayed us.
“Leave us, Dimitri. And if you will, bring Ms. Porter to my office.”
Dimitri gave me a strange look before nodding and walking out.
Mario stumbled forward, his mouth sagging. One eye was swollen shut, his mouth bloodied from the recent beating. Sighing, the distaste in my mouth was another oddity.
“As I told you before, Mario, fucking with me isn’t in anyone’s best interest, especially from someone trusted by my family for years. Years.” My voice rumbled in the room.
“I didn’t betray you, Mr. King. I would never do that.”
“Interesting. So you’re trying to tell me that you didn’t provide certain details of our organization to Enrico Vendetti, otherwise known as Enrique Vendez?”
He seemed genuinely confused, his good eye darting back and forth. “I swear on my sister’s life that I didn’t do that. I don’t even know who he is.”
“You expect me to believe that given the fact you owe almost two hundred thousand dollars in gambling loans?”
Mario coughed, taking gasping breaths. “I swear that I never sold any secrets. You don’t know how good your father has been to me over the years. He’s been like a father to me. I owe a lot of money but I’m paying it back. I sold my house in order to do so.”
What a crock of shit.
“I should have known when you tossed Ms. Porter into that cage that I couldn’t trust you.”
Once again, he shook his head, walking even closer. “No. I tried to tell you that I didn’t do that. I didn’t toss her into that cage.”
“He’s not lying.”
The sound of Emily’s voice wasn’t surprising, but her words certainly were. “You were blindfolded. You wouldn’t know.”
“Yes, I would. I heard their voices, Cristiano. The other asshole was horrible, groping me then hitting me when I fought back. This man refused to even come down into the basement.” She was insistent, her face pinched.
I thought about what she was saying, turning my attention to my Capo. “When did Darren come to work for us?”
Dimitri narrowed his eyes. “Two years ago.”
Two years. The timing was interesting.
“From where?” I asked, my tone more demanding.
“I don’t know.” Dimitri shook his head. “He volunteered to be on your temporary detail.”
“I’m sure he did.” I took a deep breath as I walked toward Mario. “If I’m made aware you had anything to do with betraying this family…” I allowed the words to linger.
“I swear, Mr. King,” he said quietly. “Your family is very important to me.”
And damn it if I didn’t believe him.
“Find Darren.”
Dimitri nodded.
When I heard the sound of my phone, I grimaced. Seeing my father’s name appear on the screen did nothing but fuel the anger boiling inside of me.
“Now is not the time, Father.”
There was nothing but silence on the other end of the phone for a full five seconds. Instantly, my hackles were raised. “Who the fuck is this?”
The laugh would have curdled the majority of men’s blood. For me, it brought the need for vengeance into my soul.
“From what your father has told me, you’ve already figured it out.”
“Enrico.”
“Very good. At least your father confessed the truth. I’m certain his guilt has been weighing on him.” Enrico laughed again.
“What do you want and what have you done with my father?”
“Nothing yet, which is why I suggest that you and I have a meeting.”
I turned my attention to Dimitri, giving him a hard stare. “That’s fine with me. I think we have a score to settle.”
“Don’t take too long, Cristiano. My patience is wearing thin.”
I ended the call, throwing back my head and roaring. My patience was now gone. “Dimitri. Stay with Emily. Do not let her out of your sight.”
“What the hell is going on, boss?” he asked, moving to flank Emily’s side.
Her face was pinched, her eyes imploring. I gave her a loving look, longing to end this nightmare. “Enrico Vendetti has been found. He’s threatening to kill my father.”
“Jesus fucking Christ.” As the Russian spewed hatred in his native tongue, I moved behind my desk, grab
bing a second clip of ammunition. All the while, Emily watched my every move. I was surprised there was no horror in her eyes, only a concept of resignation as to the life she was prepared to live.
“Let me go with you, Mr. King,” Mario implored. “Please.”
I moved to Emily, cupping her face. “Everything will be all right.” As I kissed her forehead, I heard her whisper words that would haunt me.
“Don’t kill anyone, Cristiano. You aren’t that man any longer.”
But I was that man.
A monster.
A murderer.
I was also a son.
Sighing, I nodded. “Then you’re going to need a weapon.” Walking back to my desk, I pulled a second gun from a drawer, slapping in a round of ammunition. “But don’t fuck with me.”
“I won’t, sir. That I promise you.”
A promise.
An act of revenge.
An arranged marriage to save the peace.
Only one of which made any sense.
The house was quiet, not a sound to be heard. With Mario remaining behind, I walked toward the partially cracked door to my father’s office, pushing it open with a single finger, waiting before walking inside.
The face was exactly as I remembered from all those years ago, the horrible day Bella was murdered.
Enrico had his arm around my father’s neck, the barrel of his gun placed at my father’s temple. I was able to recognize the face from the boy smiling in the picture. Age had been difficult for him, his once good-looking features morphing in a man hell bent on revenge.
“You’re so much like your father,” he said casually, his gaze ripping a hole through me.
“What do you want, Enrico? More blood?”
“You handle your business just like your father as well. That’s good to know. What do I want? Peace. You see, your family murdered mine. I have no beautiful sister or loving brothers. I have no father to talk to. I also have no legacy to depend on.”
Legacy.
I hated the word.
I walked closer, my Beretta firmly placed in both hands. “We can either end this peacefully or one of us is going to die.”
He laughed, the sound full of bitterness. “I assure you that there will be blood spilled today, but it won’t be mine.”
“I’m curious. What did you think you were going to accomplish?” I was able to dart a quick glance out the window, able to see movement. My gut had told me that he wouldn’t come alone.
“What did I hope to accomplish. Let me see,” he said, pushing the barrel against my father with enough force my father moaned. His eyes held the kind of fear I’d never seen in them. “Oh, yes. Ruining your business. Taking back what your family stole from me. Returning to the city I loved.”
“Through your connection with Carlos Morales.”
Enrico’s eyes opened wide. “You’ve been doing your homework. Good boy. I learned a lot from the fascist pig. I also gained enough connections to allow me to fund my love of business.”
“And the woman? Was she a plant in your organization?” I had to know the truth about Emily.
He huffed, shaking his head. “The lovely blonde was merely a coincidence, but she proved to be very useful. Too bad your attorney managed to get you out of prison. I admit that I enjoyed watching you suffer on a daily basis.” His laugh filled the space, adding another layer to my rage.
“You seem to underestimate my family,” I said quietly, inching even closer, the action forcing Enrico to yank my father back another two feet.
“You shouldn’t threaten me, Cristiano. You have no idea what I’m capable of.”
“Oh,” I said, chuckling under my breath. “I think I do. First, you started with my sister, then you murdered my brother’s wife.”
He laughed, the sound sending a chill down my spine.
I’d learned through my years that when business became personal, mistakes were always made. The second the sun was shadowed by movement, I ducked, my aim concentrated on Enrico’s head.
As the explosion of glass permeated the room, I reacted, but not as quickly as Mario. When he bolted forward, everything seemed to go into slow motion, several shots shattering the windows. Everything moved into slow motion, the sight of the soldier who’d betrayed us something I would never forget.
Mario threw himself in front of the window, managing to get off several rounds as I rushed forward, taking aim while Enrico laughed and laughed.
Pop!
Blood spewed from Mario’s chest and he was pitched backwards, but his spray of bullets had taken out the man who’d betrayed us. I turned my attention to Enrico, my father’s eyes watching everything I did. When I gave a slight nod, my father jammed his elbow in Enrico’s chest, managing to break free of the man’s hold.
Pop! Pop!
Boom!
Chapter 18
Emily
Love.
Family.
Friends.
For most people, these were the three things that mattered the most. While wealth and power were certainly desirable for many, they meant nothing without a sense of joy, which only relationships could bring.
The last few days had been difficult, Cristiano remaining distant for the most part, although he’d held me tightly every night. While there were still soldiers surrounding the house, Cristiano had allowed me additional freedoms. In turn, he’d been forced to clean up the remainder of the mess created by a true monster.
Then again, everyone was capable of violence if it meant protecting their loved ones.
While I couldn’t understand every aspect of the revenge Enrico Vendetti had inflicted, it was clear that his years of planning had almost destroyed the entire family.
Secrets and lies.
Everyone had them.
The day was beautiful; bright sun in the sky, wispy clouds and even a light breeze to squelch part of the humidity. I’d ventured to the small garden near the pool, a place I’d visited several times, weeding the bed until the flowers were allowed to breathe. I felt a sense of accomplishment, a moment of pride as I eased back onto my knees.
“Grow and thrive,” I said in passing, my heart still heavy. I had no idea what to expect any longer. I’d caught several news reports, the prosecuting attorney more interested in Enrico Vendetti’s criminal activities, the drugs he’d brought into the city. Griffin Williams beamed in front of the cameras, taking credit for capturing a notorious criminal when Enrico had been delivered to the man’s doorstep by Cristiano.
The irony was amusing.
One of his former soldiers had been killed during the attack on Cristiano’s father, the very man who’d been betraying the entire family for two years. At least I hadn’t been told about any of the gruesome details. Things were much quieter.
Except that Cristiano’s fate still hung in the balance because I was still alive.
The thought was never far from my mind.
I smiled when I sensed him, my heart palpitating. When Cristiano hunkered down beside me, staring at the flowers, another moment of longing crept into my system. He’d spared Enrico’s life. Maybe because I’d asked him to or maybe because he was trying to become a better man.
“Beautiful,” he said softly.
“Yes, they are.”
“I was talking about you.”
I felt a blush creeping up from my neck, the same as always when he complimented me. “I didn’t expect to see you.”
“I wanted to talk to you.”
I turned to face him and as he took my hand into his, pulling me to a standing position, I could see a pained look in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
He took his time rubbing my fingers before pulling my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles. “Nothing is wrong.”
“How is Mario?”
“He’s a tough man. While his road to recovery will take some time, he should make a full one.”
“And Nick?”
When he pointed behind him, I tipped my head, happy to see th
e grinning blond standing near the door. “He’s earned his promotion in spades.”
“I’m so glad.”
“You are such an amazing woman.”
“I’m just me, Cristiano.”
He was silent for a few seconds, returning his attention to the flowers, whatever burden was on his mind weighing heavily.
“I’m not a good man, Emily. I’m not certain I ever will be, but I intend on changing some things. Maybe too little too late, but it’s important to me.”
“I can tell you’re already changing.”
After taking a deep breath, he lowered our hands, still keeping his grip. “I was wrong in taking you from your life. I know my apology can’t mean very much, but it wasn’t fair to you. You did nothing wrong. I’m the monster and I certainly will understand if you call the authorities.”
“I was wrong for calling you a monster. There’s no reason to talk to the authorities. I’ve learned a lot about you as well as myself over the last week. Sometimes, you have to look beyond the obvious, peeling away the layers in order to find the diamond inside. You’re a kind, decent man who lost his way. You’ve suffered in order to protect your family and those you care about, and you do care about them tremendously, including the men who work for you.”
I knew he’d never completely change, but I couldn’t stand the thought of living without him.
“Well, you helped me discover what’s important, the joys that exist, things I never knew were possible.”
“What are you trying to tell me, Cristiano?”
“I’m trying to say that I’m releasing you from my insane obligation and demands. While you may be called to testify at the new trial, I refuse to alter your life any longer. You allowed me a chance to experience life. For that, I’ll always be grateful.”
