by Kate Stewart
I lower my eyes to the carpet as he clasps his hands between his knees. A long silence passes before he speaks up.
“He’s right, you know. My brother spoke the truth. He’s spent half his life setting things up, always in the background, doing everything he could to fucking get this thing together. To make sure we were taken care of.” I look him over and see the exhaustion in his posture, in his eyes. “He was telling the truth.”
“I’m not sure you know the meaning of that word. That any of you do.”
“You wanted in,” he reminds me. “This is in.”
“Not this way,” I counter. “And not at this cost.”
“I told you more than once you didn’t want the truth. Why do you think I tried so hard to push you away at first?” One side of his mouth lifts. “You were so fucking perfect.” His eyes cloud with memory. “Standing there in my yard that day, and after…” he shakes his head. “I wanted to hate you. I tried so hard to hate you.”
“Didn’t notice.”
We share a sad smile.
“We always knew the truth would be the end. We always knew that keeping you in the dark was the only real way to keep you. You were amongst liars, thieves, and killers,” he says softly, “way too fucking good for any of it, and I think we clung to you because you represented everything we wanted to protect, but could never be.”
“I never saw you that way. Not ever.”
“Until tonight, huh?” He hangs his head. “Even if we’re trying to do right, we aren’t saints, Cecelia.”
The familiar pang of my name on his lips stings me, and I breathe through it.
“I’m no saint either. You made sure of that. I was a game.”
“No,” he tugs at my hand so I’m standing above him, “never, you were never that.”
“Tell me why you’re here.”
“You didn’t miss me?”
My eyes instantly water. “Every day, rain or shine.” I huff and slap the tears from my face. “Jesus, why can’t I hate you?”
“For the same reason, I can’t hate you.”
He eyes his phone and sets it down before a sad smile tips his lips. “I haven’t seen him look at any woman, the way he looked at you. I’ve never seen him light up like that. I knew it the minute I saw you together. I knew that we were fucked. Sean did too.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does. I can hate him all I want for taking what didn’t belong to him, but it’s true.”
“We didn’t mean—”
He jerks his chin. “I can’t hear that right now, okay?”
“Well, I’m not a possession. Despite the fucking branding on my back. No one has that right over another person. This is supposed to be about free will, remember?”
He laces our fingers. “You make that hard to remember. And we were too late.” He looks up at me, and all I see is hurt. “We were too late.”
“So, you guys fucking mark me? Throw a fit and fucking mark me?”
He squats and leans in, pressing his forehead to my stomach. “I can’t do this now. I can’t…just…make him happy.”
“I’m leaving, Dominic. Right now. That’s what I’m doing.”
“You may be, but we both know he won’t let you go.”
“He doesn’t have a choice.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, nuzzling my stomach before looking up at me. “I’m so fucking sorry for all we’ve put you through. I want you to know that. We all are.”
I swallow. “I might be pissed at you, too, but I’m sorry about the cost to you. I never got the chance to tell you I’m sorry about your parents.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“I don’t understand how you could—”
He snaps his gaze to mine. “Be with you?”
I nod.
He stands, and time stops when he cups my jaw. And it’s just me and my cool dark cloud. We lock eyes for long seconds. “That’s one question I can answer,” he whispers, his eyes piercing as he leans in, “yes.”
“Yes, what?”
“Yes,” he strokes my face, “I’ve been in love.”
The words strike hard, and I burst into tears at the sound of them.
He grips me in his hold before pressing a brief kiss to my lips and pulling away. “But she went and fell in love with my brother.”
He brushes a tear from my cheek as I look up at him. “I swear to God. I didn’t want to. I clawed his eyes out for as long as I could.”
He gives me a weak chuckle. “I believe that,” he clears his throat and eyes the suitcase behind me.
“I’ll never forgive him,” I say, the ache intensifying.
“I’ll leave that up to you.”
“Will you?” I ask.
He sighs. “He’s my brother, hell, in a way, he’s been like a father, too. I don’t know, Cee. It’s been a fucked-up couple of days.” He scrubs his face. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
“Not without answers, first—”
His phone goes off, and he lifts a finger to me before he reads the text and his eyes fly to mine. “Fuck.”
The look on his face has me paling. “What is it?”
He jerks his chin to quiet me before he races out of my bedroom.
I move to follow him and freeze when Dominic speaks up from the top of the stairs.
“What brings you here, Matteo? It’s a little late for company.”
“What brings you here, Matteo? It’s a little late for company.”
I race to the threshold of my room and look over Dominic’s shoulder. Running through my thoughts, I search and search, dread coursing through me when I recall my conversation with Sean at my first meetup.
“That’s Matteo and Andre, The Spanish Lullaby.”
“Why are they called The Spanish Lullaby?”
“Use your imagination.”
Matteo’s eyes meet mine over his shoulder, and his lips lift in a sick grin as he answers Dominic. “Business.”
Dominic stands ramrod straight, his back to me, violence in his posture, and protectiveness in his voice as I duck away from Matteo’s lethal gaze.
“Aren’t you playing on the wrong side of the fence?” Dominic asks.
“Money doesn’t care.”
“You need to turn the fuck around, and don’t ever let me catch you out of Florida again. It won’t end well.”
“You tapping that?” Matteo asks, batting away Dom’s threat. “I was thinking of sampling.” I’m sure Dominic’s eyes scream murder when Matteo speaks up again, clearly amused. “Pussy’s that good, huh?”
Matteo has to be pushing around three hundred pounds, a lot of it muscle, his hair as greasy as his clothes, his thick nostrils flaring as he eyes me with a look that turns my stomach as his knife comes into view. A hunting knife at least nine inches long. Panic zings through me as I turn and scan my room for anything I can use and come up empty. I step out onto the landing behind Dominic as he speaks up.
“Cecelia, baby, get back into your room, now.”
The door across the hall opens and Tobias appears, a similar gun in hand as the one Dominic discarded when he steps out, his eyes sweeping me with relief before he glances down at Dominic.
“What’s good, brother?”
“Got this handled,” Dominic replies, his voice lethal. “Speaking of brothers, Matteo. Where is yours tonight?”
“You know him,” Matteo shrugs, “probably out at the club.”
“Actually, he’s in here, resting,” Tobias says, jerking his chin over his shoulder. “You should join him.”
I peek over Tobias’s shoulder, and he shakes his chin subtly. I school my features.
Don’t fucking react.
There’s no one in that room, which means the other half of the Spanish Lullaby, Andre, is somewhere in my house. Have they been here the whole time?
Just as the thought occurs to me, Tobias’s eyes drift past me and widen, and he lifts his gun, training it just above my shoulder.
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“Come to me,” Tobias says in a steady voice as I leap into the clearing between the two doors. Tobias jerks his chin in an effort to get me to back up more, and I plaster myself to the wall behind me just as Andre appears at the threshold of the bedroom door, where I was just standing. There’s a knife in his hand similar to the one Matteo has. Fear paralyzes me as Andre gazes on at Tobias with black eyes.
“Oh, looks like he showed up after all,” Matteo says with a sickening lift to his voice.
“I must have been mistaken,” Tobias says in a dull monotone.
“Don’t worry, we have more joining the party,” Matteo assures.
Just as he says it, the doorbell rings, making me jump out of my skin.
Ding dong. Ding dong. Ding dong.
Matteo hollers out something in Spanish, and the noise stops.
“Out of respect, we wanted to try and handle this like gentlemen,” Andre says to Tobias by way of greeting.
“Appreciate it,” Tobias says matter of fact.
“Least I could do,” Andre says. “After all, you’re the one who brought me in.”
“And look where that got me.” Tobias’s tone goes ice as he looks on at Andre with disgust. “What the fuck are you doing, Andre?”
“Things are getting a little too light down south.”
“So you take a fucking contract that has to do with my personal interests? Not a good decision.”
“Gotta get paid,” he says as if this is an everyday occurrence. And I’m guessing for him, it is. “I don’t blame you for your interest,” Andre says, eyeing me.
“Don’t even look at her, you greasy motherfucker,” Tobias barks.
“You’ve seen what I can do with this,” Andre threatens, “let’s not get offensive.”
“Tobias,” I whisper hoarsely as a veil of fear-induced sweat cloaks me.
We’re not playing a game with toy guns, extra lives, and Monopoly money.
As much as I’ve witnessed over the last year, as much as I’ve been warned away, I realize I’ve been spared to the point I still felt like the danger was in an alternate reality. This is what they’ve been trying to avoid all along. And now I’m living in my worst nightmare. I could very easily die tonight, and so could the men I love.
It doesn’t get more real than this.
“Let her go, and I’ll pay you twice as much,” Tobias says to Andre.
“Deal,” Matteo says quickly. “We’ll take your money, bro.”
“Andre,” Tobias spits in warning. I look over and see Andre inching toward me. “Don’t.”
Andre stops and gives Tobias a sheepish grin. “Been a long, long time, man. I almost didn’t recognize you in that suit.”
“You like it?” Tobias smiles, and it’s the most dangerous thing I’ve ever seen in my life. He’s going to kill them, both of them.
“Where is Daddy?” Andre whispers to me. “His car is here.”
My eyes shoot to Tobias, and I try to read him for the right answer and get nothing.
“I d-d-don’t know. I just got home,” I stutter out. I hate that I can’t get myself right. That I can’t mirror the two men with steady hands and strong voices defending me, protecting me.
“I don’t think I’m satisfied with the terms of this agreement,” Dominic says, his voice steady.
Andre cocks his head. “How so?”
Tobias looks to me as I begin shaking uncontrollably.
I read his expression.
Easy, baby.
I’ve never been so fucking scared in my life.
Ding dong. Ding dong. Ding dong.
Tobias darts his eyes to Matteo, his gun still trained on Andre. “Want to answer that?”
Matteo speaks up. “Trust me, man, you don’t want me to open that door.”
Tobias nods. “I can have the money to you in minutes.”
“Like I said,” Dominic hisses, “I’m not happy with this deal.”
It’s then I see Dominic’s gun tucked in Matteo’s jeans. He’s unarmed. He didn’t make it to his gun in time. And it’s because of me. If he’d had it, this would already be over. Bile climbs up my throat as I try to steady myself against the wall behind me.
“It’s the only deal to be made, brother,” Tobias snaps, a warning in his voice.
“Cecelia,” Dominic says, in the intimate tone he used with me in the days we spent together, alone.
“Dominic,” Tobias implores, a jagged fear in his voice.
“I’m talking to Cecelia,” Dominic counters.
“Yes?” My eyes spill as Tobias darts his apprehensive gaze between his brother and me.
“After this, you want to watch a movie?” Dominic asks. “You can make that cheddar popcorn I love. We can crowd under that blanket that smells like…what’s that smell?”
I choke on a fresh wave of fear. “Lavender,” I say as more tears stream down my cheeks.
“Yeah. And I’ll let you watch a chick movie because all I really want to do is watch you watch it. Your face gets all dopey when you get love drunk.”
“Must be some good shit if she’s whipped you, Dom,” Matteo snarks, his vacant eyes lifting to me.
“We love rainy days, don’t we, baby?” Dominic’s voice drifts up as he takes a step toward Matteo.
“We do.” A sob escapes me as I cripple under the tension. To my right is safety—Tobias—to my left, certain death. And death is much closer. If that blade reaches me before Tobias’s bullet, I’m first. But if he doesn’t make it to his brother in time…it’s a choice that Tobias has to make. Save his brother or me, and Dominic is making it for him, trying to throw himself on the grenade.
“We don’t fucking negotiate with terrorists.” Dominic tilts his head in challenge, and Matteo only grins, his canines dripping acid. He outweighs Dominic by at least eighty pounds, but Dominic has speed and incredible strength. He wouldn’t need either if I had trusted him earlier. If I’d believed him. I’m the reason he doesn’t have his gun.
“Dominic,” I whimper as he takes another step down the stairs toward Matteo.
“What is it, baby?”
“S’il te plaît, ne fais rien de stupide. Je t’aime.” Please don’t do anything stupid. I love you.
“Je sais.” I know.
“Dominic,” Tobias orders gruffly. “Stand down, right fucking now. We’re still talking.”
Dominic takes another step toward Matteo. “Care to dance?”
“Honored, my friend,” Matteo replies.
“Make it a good one.”
“Dominic, no!” Tobias yells just as Dominic lunges for Matteo.
Tobias charges forward a second before Andre reaches me with the blade, batting me back before he takes Andre down with a point-blank shot to the head. Tobias clears the whole of the railing, stumbling in his landing just as Dominic lands a solid right to Matteo’s face. I hear the crack of bone as blood sprays from Matteo’s nose.
Tobias is just a few steps away from his brother when Dominic rears back and kicks Matteo in the chest. Matteo falls straight back, bypassing the stairs, his back smacking in the landing. Dominic leaps toward where Matteo lays before he makes a fast turn back in our direction, meeting Tobias midway and knocking him out of the way just as the air splinters with the ping of bullets.
The plaster next to my head explodes as I scream out. Dominic is leaping toward me, his eyes bulging when the second shot rips through his abdomen. The third shot hits Dominic in the thigh just as he cups his stomach falling to his knees before jerking forward when a fourth shot pierces his shoulder just as Tobias pushes him out of the way.
Tobias roars, turning and unloading his gun on Matteo’s lower half before crashing into him at the foot of the stairs. Another shot pings the air landing somewhere in the foyer. Leaping to my feet, I race to Dominic just as his eyes cloud over and his mouth opens, clear agony written all over his face as he reaches for me. I make it to him in seconds, and he pulls me with him before he stumbles back, landing agains
t the wall and sliding down, leaving a trail of blood behind him. Matteo cries out below us, and I see only a glimpse of him before the side of his face disappears, and he lands in a lifeless heap on the floor.
Dominic coughs as I cover his wound with my hands and look up into silver eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I press my hands to his stomach as his eyes dart left and right and blood begins to coat his beautiful lips.
“Hang on. Okay? Hang on.”
Dominic pulls at my hands and coughs again, just as Tobias meets me where I kneel. “Go,” he rasps out, his face drawn due to the pain.
Ding dong. Ding dong. Ding dong.
We all turn in the direction of the door and know the clock is ticking. We have seconds.
I press onto Dom’s stomach and he winces, every breath challenging him as his eyes drift between us.
“Hold on,” I say, desperately trying to stop the blood leaking from his stomach. “I’m sorry,” I press in harder, and he cries out in misery.
“I’m sorry, baby, I’m so sorry,” I murmur, pressing my forehead to his as Tobias unties his belt and wraps it above the bullet wound in Dom’s thigh. Dominic jerks as we struggle to address his injuries, and that’s when I see his leg is soaked. “Go,” he rasps out, his eyes rolling up as he battles a fresh wave of pain.
“Goddamnit, goddamnit, Dom,” Tobias exhales anguished, while he inspects Dom’s shoulder, pressing his hand over the bullet wound in his leg.
Dominic covers my hands with his and squeezes them faintly before his eyes lift to his brother. His pain-filled words coming out chopped. “Nous savions tous les deux que je n’allais jamais voir mes trente ans, mon frère. Prends soin d’elle.” We both know I was never going to make it to thirty, brother. Take care of her.
Dom coughs again, more blood lining his lips, a grimace twisting his beautiful features. “Go,” he coughs out. “Please,” he wheezes.
“No,” I shake my head furiously as his eyes drift to mine. “Sorry, you can’t go, Dominic, because I dreamed your future up for you. Hang on, and I’ll tell you all about it,” I press into his wound and look him right in the eyes. “Don’t you dare leave me here. I want that date with you.”
Skin slick with a glaze of sweat he gazes at us both, and the next time he coughs, I hear the gurgle behind it, his struggle. I continue to press against him as he releases my hands, finally relenting to let me help him.
