Beauty & The Crime Boss (Foster Family Book 1)

by Zavi James

  "Can I help you with something, Xavier?" I stepped into the room and he almost dropped the frame. He placed it back on the shelf before he turned to me.

  "It's rather rude to sneak up on people," he told me.

  "You're creeping around my home."

  "I'll remind you that I've known the Foster family longer than you have." His tone was sharp and cold. What he said was the truth, but I didn't feel it gave him the right to sneak around Charlie's office. I didn't think Luc would appreciate it.

  "What are you doing here, Xavier?" I asked him.

  He let out a frustrated sigh. "My godson, Charlie's boy, is engaged. None of us thought Lucas would settle down. It just didn't seem in his nature. So, forgive me if I wanted to reminisce today. Charlie should have been here for him."

  There was a twist of guilt in my stomach and something else that I couldn’t put my finger on. I wasn’t sure I fully believed what Xavier said.

  "Mia?" Gabriel's voice came down the hall.

  "We best go join the party again," Xavier said. "Sounds like my son is looking for you."

  Xavier stepped past me and I looked around the room again before leaving it, shutting the door behind me.

  Chapter Fifty Eight

  Mia

  "Hmm?" I slowly opened my eyes to see Luc propped up on one arm as he brushed the hair out of my face.

  "Morning, beautiful," he greeted me.

  Even the dim light of the bedroom made my eyes and head hurt. I closed them again and scooted closer to Luc as he laughed quietly.

  "I feel awful," I groaned.

  "Welcome to a hangover."

  I buried my face in his chest and Luc wrapped a strong arm around me. I had spent the rest of the night by Luc while being constantly supplied with champagne. Xavier had left not long after I had caught him, and my worries and concerns were swept away in laughter and alcohol, handed over to me all too readily by Dante.

  Luc kissed my head. "Let's get you cleaned up for the day."

  "I feel like I've swallowed a desert."

  He laughed again.

  "Give me sympathy or I'm backing out of this engagement," I threatened him.

  Luc gave my ass a firm slap and my eyes snapped open. "You're mine," he told me. "You don't get to back out. Not now. Not ever."

  I gave him a lazy smile. I loved hearing him say I was his. More and more I didn't feel like I belonged anywhere other than with Luc. I carefully untangled myself from him. "If you say so, love," I said to him.

  He kissed me and I sat up before the room spun and I groaned. "I'm never drinking again."

  "Not if Dante has his way, now that he's seen what damage can be done."

  After a long shower, I changed straight back into pajamas.

  "You're not even going to try and make an effort today?" Luc said, eyeing me.

  I watched from the bed as he pulled on some pants. I wished he didn't have to work today but he'd set up a meeting that required his attendance.

  "I don't plan on leaving the house today," I told him.

  He shook his head before pulling on his shirt and walking up to the bed. "Fair enough. I'll be home as soon as the meeting is wrapped up, okay? How about we visit Mom and then I take you out for dinner?" He leaned down and kissed me.

  "Sounds perfect to me."

  I followed Luc out of the room and down the stairs.

  "Mia, you should let your Dad know," Luc said over his shoulder.

  I had avoided the topic so far. Dad hadn’t been invited to the engagement party because I didn’t have the courage to face rejection, which was inevitable since the guest list had been everyone from Luc’s life. The thought of breaking the news that I wasn’t just in love with Luc but planning on becoming his wife made me sick with anxiety.

  "We've set a date, love," Luc said gently. "He deserves to know what's happening."

  As we reached the bottom of the stairs, I sighed. "Will you come with me?" I asked him.

  "Do you think that's a wise idea?"

  "I'm not sure I can face him on my own after last time."

  Luc pulled me into a hug and kissed the top of my head, my hair tickling his nose. "Okay," he relented. "We'll go together. Do you want to do it tonight?"

  "Um..."

  "I think we should."

  I chewed on my lip nervously. "Okay."

  Deep down I hoped that Dad would see just how much Luc meant to me and that he would be there on the day but there was a niggling feeling that he would be furious at me for accepting the proposal.

  After Luc left for work, I made myself a coffee and went back upstairs. The house was completely empty, which was no surprise considering how much alcohol had flowed last night. Dom and Lydia had the day off and the staff weren't coming to dismantle and clean up from the party until later.

  My feet led me back to Charlie's old office. I stood outside the door before I finally pushed it open and entered. I’d never been inside on my own. Never really taken the time to look around.

  "What were you doing in here?" I muttered to myself.

  I went to the spot that Xavier was standing in last night and placed my coffee mug on the shelf as I looked over the photos. So much of Luc's childhood, it was obvious to see Charlie adored his son even if he had been tough on him. I smiled at the picture of Luc and Dante that Xavier had held last night.

  Pulling my phone from the pocket of my pajama shorts, I dialed before I had time to think it through.

  "Hey, Mia," Gabe's voice came down the line. "Everything alright?"

  "Hey. Yeah. I mean, I'm a little hungover but good."

  He laughed. "Join the club, bella. Why'd you call? Are you coming over?"

  "No, not today. I was wondering..." I trailed off.

  "What is it?"

  "I was wondering if you knew anything about your Dad and Charlie?" There was silence and I tried to think of something to say. "I wanted to know how involved in the ceremony Xavier should be and I didn't want to ask Luc because you know how he is with Charlie."

  More silence. I worried I had come across as suspicious.

  "Do you ever take a break?" Gabe asked me. "You decided on a date yesterday and you're already trying to plan things?"

  "I only have 5 months, Gabe," I said with a nervous laugh.

  "Dad and Charlie were really close. Pretty much like brothers. You've seen how Dante and Luc are? That was Dad and Charlie," Gabe explained. "Tori and I pretty much grew up around Luc but there were plenty of people that hated the fact Charlie was close to Dad. They did what they could to rip it all apart. You've heard about Isa?"

  I took in a deep breath. "Yes, Luc told me."

  "Yeah, well, someone took Charlie out too. Dad lost it and Luc shut off. Dad's Luc's godfather but it's like they both went completely different ways. We haven't seen him much over the past 4 years."

  My heart tugged in my chest at the information.

  "I guess Luc kept a low profile because of everything," Gabe said.

  "Did you ever find out who did that to Charlie?" I asked quietly.

  "Yes. Dad, well, to be honest, it's probably best not to discuss it whilst you have a sensitive stomach."

  I felt goosebumps appear on my skin.

  "So, to answer your question, Dad's the closest thing to a father figure that Luc has, but you've seen it can be a little strained sometimes."

  "Mmm, okay. Thanks, Gabe," I said.

  "No worries. If you need anything else just let me know."

  "You'll be a bridesmaid, right?"

  "Fuck you, Mia," he laughed.

  "Speak to you later, Gabe."

  "Ciao."

  I put the phone away and looked back at the photos. Maybe I had read into it too much. Maybe Xavier really just wanted to look out for Luc.

  A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. When I checked the time, it was eleven o'clock and I grabbed my mug from the shelf and trotted down the stairs to answer the door.

  "Hi. Thanks for coming," I said. "Most o
f the things are out the back in the yard." I showed the staff through the house. "Are you guys okay to handle this?"

  Happy that they could sort it all out, I went back inside and settled in the living room to nurse the headache that lingered.

  Chapter Fifty Nine

  Stefan

  When Mom had told me that Luc and Mia were engaged something inside of me snapped. Luc was never happy unless he destroyed things entirely. What the hell had Mia thought when she accepted such an idiotic proposal?

  Mom had been utterly ecstatic with the news. She was insistent that I tried to patch things up with Luc so that it could be a family wedding but that wouldn't happen. Not only because Luc had made his stance on me completely clear but because as long as I was around there wouldn't be a wedding.

  I’d watched Mia carefully ever since my mother had told me. Mia wasn't attached to Dominic anymore. Luc didn't feel the need to have her watched so closely anymore because they knew exactly who she was. She was no longer deemed a plaything that was disposable. Mia had been given value along with that ring. They knew what had happened to Marco Bianchi. It made it easier to get close to her but never too close. I had to pick my moment. That was what had led me to Luc's place that morning after the engagement party.

  I hadn't crashed the party. I wasn't stupid. There would have been enough firearms there to take me out before I even opened my mouth. I wouldn’t have put it past Luc to give that order on sight. No. I needed to see her on my own. I needed to convince her when no one else was there to turn her head.

  Mia had let cleaning people into the house, and I took a deep breath. This was it. I walked up the steps and pushed open the door. Men were walking back through the house with the remnants of last night's bash.

  "Thanks," I said. "Just make sure everything is cleaned out properly."

  They gave me a nod and I watched as they worked to empty the yard. When they'd left, I took slow, measured steps down the hallways and that was when I caught sight of Mia in the living room. She sat with her legs stretched out on the couch, in a shirt that didn’t fit and shorts that made up her pajamas. Her hair was piled up on top of her head in a bun and she looked a little fragile from what I assumed was a night of drinking. Mia was engrossed in her phone and I was engrossed in Mia.

  My Mia.

  I stepped into the room properly and closed the door with a gentle click. Mia's head snapped up and her eyes widened when she saw me.

  "Stef?" Mia asked. "What are you doing here?" She got up from her seat.

  "You didn't invite me to your engagement party," I said to her.

  "You aren't welcome here, Stefan." Mia studied my face and I took a few steps closer to her, but she backed away.

  "I've healed pretty well, right?" I asked her.

  "Yeah..."

  "Mia, why are you so nervous?"

  She fiddled with the phone in her hands. "Stefan, I think you should leave. Luc is going to hit the roof if he finds out you were here."

  "What about you? Do you want me to leave?"

  "Yes," Mia told me shortly.

  My brow furrowed and I moved towards her again. She started to tap at her phone. "I just want you to listen to me, Mia," I told her. "I know you must feel something for me. If Luc hadn't come back, then this could have been us."

  "No, Stefan," Mia said. "I love Luc. I'm marrying your brother."

  "Let me kiss you, Mia."

  She looked at me as if I were crazy, but I believed I could convince her. I’d never had the chance with Isa, but I wouldn't lose Mia. Mia was my second chance.

  "Get out, Stefan," Mia told me.

  If Mia wanted someone dominant, then I could be dominant. I strode towards her as she lifted her phone to her ear.

  "Luc? You need to come home. Stef..."

  I ripped the phone from her hand and threw it out of reach. Mia dashed across the room to get to the door, but I was quick to follow after her and just as Mia opened the door, I slammed it shut. Mia pulled at the handle, but it wouldn't budge.

  She turned around to face me. "Stefan, let me out!"

  "Not until you finally see that you're making a mistake."

  With one hand against the door, I wrapped the other around her waist and pulled her to me, before finally placing my lips against Mia's. She pushed at my chest, but I didn't let up. This was what I had waited for and it felt good to finally get it.

  "Stefan!" Mia said, turning her head away. "Stop! Please!"

  She managed to push me away before making a break for her phone. I refused to let her ruin this, to ruin her life. For my entire life, I’d worked hard to get what I wanted. I’d done the right thing and I had been rewarded by losing Isa.

  Following after Mia, I grabbed her around the waist before she could reach her phone. Mia screamed and I clamped a hand over her mouth.

  "Stop struggling!" I told her. "Give me a chance."

  Chapter Sixty

  Lucas

  "It's a new venture we hope will be very successful."

  In front of me sat a few of Xavier's friends from out of state. Over the past few weeks, I had added weaponry to my line of work. It had been 4 years since Dad had passed away and 4 years of me skirting on the outside and carving a path for myself. Now that I had Mia, I felt ready to take a proper handle on things again. No more hiding and no more playing it small.

  "Excuse me a moment," I said.

  My phone vibrated and I pulled it out to see Mia calling. She never called while I was at work. Her panicked voice came down the line as I answered it. "Luc? You need to come home. Stef..."

  She didn't finish the sentence.

  "Mia?" I asked. "Mia? What's going on?"

  I could hear her screaming at Stefan to let her out and that was all it took for me to shoot up from my seat.

  "Sorry, gentlemen," I said, trying not to panic. "I have an emergency." I didn't give them any more explanation before I flew through the door of his office, almost knocking Dante down.

  "Woah!" Dante said. "Where's the fire?"

  "Stefan's at the house with Mia," I told him.

  I moved out the back door of the casino and got into my car. As I pulled away, I could see Dante getting into his to follow.

  What the hell was my idiot little brother up to now? Mia had sounded panicked. If Stef so much as touched her I would make him pay. I put my foot down, ignoring the stoplights the whole way. When I pulled up outside the house, I jumped out of the car and raced up the stairs to the house.

  "Mia?!"

  I heard something crash in the living room and I ran towards it, pulling my gun from inside my jacket. I smashed the door open and saw Mia on the floor, looking terrified. My shirt she had chosen to wear this morning was torn open and Stefan stood over her.

  "Stefan!" I roared.

  Stefan turned around to face me and I could see the scratches Mia had left on his face. She'd put up a fight and it didn't take long to piece everything together. He turned back to her and started to move quickly.

  BANG!

  Stefan dropped to his knees on the floor.

  Rushing over to her, I looked to Mia who sat on the floor, clutching a gun in her hands so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. Stefan had his hands at his chest where the sticky, liquid coated them and started to bubble at his mouth.

  "Mia..." Stefan rasped.

  She looked at Stefan on the floor.

  "Mia..." he called out again.

  The red mist took over me completely. My brother had come here with a clear goal in mind, forcing Mia's hand. Of all the things I had imagined Stefan to be capable of, this was never one of them, but there was no denying what his intent was. There was no forgiveness, only retribution. He had placed himself into the same league as Marco with the stunt he had attempted.

  I took aim and delivered a shot directly to Stefan's head. The fallout from the assault hitting both myself and Mia.

  "Oh, God," she whispered horrified. Mia dropped the gun and scrambled backwards unti
l she hit the wall in the room. I hastily put my gun away and walked towards her.

  "Luc!" Dante called.

  Mia looked up at me, eyes full of panic. I shrugged off my jacket and covered her up. Dante came into the living room and surveyed the scene with wide eyes before a calm settled over him.

  "Okay, what do you need me to do?" Dante asked all business.

  "Get Dom," I told him. "Get this cleaned up."

  Dante gave me a nod. He took his phone out of his pocket to get in touch with Dom and I turned back to Mia.

  "Can you stand?" I asked her.

  After a few moments, she nodded her head and I helped her onto her feet. She shook like a leaf and I picked her up into my arms before taking her to our bedroom. I walked straight into the bathroom and sat her on the counter before I turned on the shower.

  "Did he do anything to you?" I asked as I came back to her. I slipped my jacket from her and realized that I too was shaking but it wasn't from the loss of my brother. I shook from anger that this could have happened under my roof. Mia's shirt had been torn and her bun was lopsided and messy from where it had been pulled at.

  "No," she whispered. "He tried."

  I closed my eyes for a moment and felt Mia's hands on his chest.

  "I killed him." Her voice barely carried over the sound of the shower.

  "No." My eyes snapped open. I took Mia's face in my hands and tried again with a softer approach. Losing my shit in front of her would not help right now. She had experienced and witnessed more than I wanted her to in a lifetime. "No. You defended yourself, Mia. You did what you needed to protect yourself. I killed him. I took that final shot."

  Every ounce of me wished I had buried more bullets in my brother for placing us in that situation.

  "This is my fault," Mia told me. She launched herself from the counter and pushed past me before heaving into the toilet and emptying the contents of her stomach. When she was done, I pulled her back to her feet. Even after years, my stomach still churned after every kill. You learned to separate yourself from the deed or you would never be able to continue with life.