by Piper Stone
There’d always been some tension between us, but tonight it seemed palpable.
“Come inside. I’ll tell you what I know,” he said as he opened the door wider.
“Yeah, you will, including every detail of what the fuck happened when Vendetti went after Pops and more important, why. You once spouted off that whatever had occurred was enough to make you hate our father, unable to ever forgive him. You’ve carried that burden for a year. It’s time to confess. If it’s Vendetti, then he should have been taken care of when you had the chance.”
I was surprised he didn’t bristle or make a single sound. He simply moved into the kitchen, his actions perfunctory as he made coffee without bothering to ask if I’d like any.
I stood as patiently as possible as I stared out the window, the remaining night’s darkness just a reminder that this was another day in a life of dangerous tactics.
Sighing, Cristiano pushed a second mug across the island then grabbed cream out of the refrigerator. It was easy to tell what I’d asked troubled him.
“I’m going to give you a piece of advice, brother,” he said quietly. “Don’t ask if you don’t want to know.”
“How about this. I demand to know. This bullshit has to stop now. Our father called our criminal organization a kingdom, so powerful that we should be exalted as if we were royalty. We’re nothing but a fucked-up family, every single member required to look over our shoulders at all times. Hell, we have enough weapons stored in our houses to start a damn war, including keeping at least two by our beds at night. What the hell does our money and power matter if we can’t enjoy our lives?”
His laugh pissed me off.
“What the hell is so funny? You know it’s true.”
“I’m laughing because it’s almost the exactly same speech I gave our father a year ago.”
“Then you should understand why I’m pissed off,” I snapped.
“Yeah, I get it.”
He took a sip of coffee and it was all I could do not to smash the cup out of his hand.
“Fine. Is Vendetti still in prison? Was he ever in prison?” Snarling, I shoved the mug away.
“Enrico Vendetti was transferred to the Polunsky Unit in Livingston.”
“A supermax. In Texas. That’s far too coincidental, don’t you think?” The shithole of a prison was considered one of the worst in the country, housing truly violent criminals.
Cristiano walked toward the window. “Everything I told you is true. He’s been in solitary confinement for attacking a guard.”
“And you know that means shit. If there’s a will, there’s a way.”
“Except he’d need someone on the outside to coordinate the level of attacks that have occurred.”
Hissing, I realized he was right. “Is he still behind bars?”
“According to Griffin Williams, he is.”
“When did you talk to him?”
“A couple days ago.”
“I was right,” I snapped. “You had a suspicion the day on the fucking boat. Why didn’t you say anything?”
He jerked around to face me. “Because I needed to make certain one way or the other whether he’s responsible for this shit we’re in. If he is, then you’re absolutely right to blame me. I should have killed the motherfucker when I had the chance.”
“Why didn’t you?”
A slight chuckle pushed past his lips. “Because I have a loving woman who attempted to convince me that I was a different man.”
Probably for the first time in my life, I truly understood what he meant. “Then you did the right thing.”
“Not if you almost lost the woman you’ve fallen in love with.” He offered a slight smile. “Remember what I told you. Don’t lie to yourself. There would be nothing worse than for you to deny what you’re truly feeling because of something our father felt he was forced to do.”
“Which was?”
“Follow in our grandfather’s footsteps in an attempt to completely destroy the Vendetti family. He was successful in killing the majority of the family with the exception of two members.”
Sighing, at least now I knew. “Enrico.”
“Yes.”
“And the other?” As my brother began to smile, a crazy series of memories rushed into my mind. “Our mother.” My throat was suddenly tight.
“Yes. Now, maybe you can understand why I kept what I’d learned to myself. Our mother doesn’t deserve a reminder of the horror she lived through.”
“Understood.” I wasn’t as shocked as I should have been. It all made sense.
“But you don’t agree,” he said quietly.
“Secrets. Lies. Family feuds. One day that will be the death of all of us.”
“Perhaps, but not today. It’s time to try and get a step ahead of this. You’re right in that we can’t tolerate any additional games.”
The sound of the doorbell was jarring. He tilted his head, shoving the mug onto the counter. “Stay here. We’re not finished.”
I pulled my coffee closer, realizing at some point the adrenaline rush was going to crash. When I heard two sets of footsteps, I bristled, turning to face the door. What the fuck was the prosecutor doing here?
Griffin gave me a hard look as he walked into the kitchen. “Vincenzo.”
“It would seem Mr. Williams has some information for us.” Cristiano held a smirk on his face.
Griffin pulled an envelope from his pocket. “I don’t actually know why I should be providing you with a copy. In truth, this could get me disbarred.”
“But you figure an eye for an eye,” I said, half laughing.
“Let’s just say that one day I hope you’ll return the favor.” He handed the envelope to Cristiano. “I assure you that Mr. Vendetti is still in prison where he’s going to remain for a long time. However, it is entirely possible that he’s been able to make contact with the outside.”
“That’s not any news, Griffin,” I stated. “That happens all the time no matter the level of security. The best kept secret from law enforcement.”
“Yeah, well, that much even we stupid prosecutors have figured out, but Mr. Vendetti was clever. He got himself tossed into solitary on purpose. At least that’s my guess. Notes were passed back and forth on the fucking food service tray. It would seem his connections continued to hold strong. One of them was intercepted last night.”
Cristiano read it over then handed it to me, anger splashing across his face.
You know what you need to do, son. One by one from the top.
What. The. Fuck.
“I took the liberty of doing some checking. It took me some time, but I found out that Vendetti has, or I should say had a son.” Griffin remained stiff, glancing between us.
“A son?” I huffed, noticing the smug look remained on my brother’s face.
“Yes, and he lives near the prison where his father is housed,” Griffin answered. “As far as Mr. Vendetti, he was shanked in the shower last night, bleeding out before help could arrive. You wouldn’t have any idea what happened to him. Would you?”
Revenge.
There was always a time and a place for the necessity. While it was best served in person, there was a reason for keeping loyal soldiers happy, including the ones housed in prison. I wasn’t angry with my brother. He’d been given a new life, the ability to share joy with someone he loved. For that, he’d forsaken his true identity for a short period of time.
His requirement to protect his family had prevented him from ignoring the need to handle an enemy swiftly for a second time. In fact, his actions required respect.
Now we’d finish what had been started decades before.
Fools and Kings.
They say there are times when a king has to remind fools why he is king. That was an absolute necessity for the remaining Vendetti family. I’d learned as much as I needed to know as Cristiano and I converged on our father’s estate. The note had been telling, the final act within the game of chess being played out even
after the patriarch’s death.
Only this time, we were controlling the chess board.
My father had been warned, the soldiers driven to the outskirts of the property. We’d been alerted as soon as the security system had been sabotaged. While it was risky, there was no doubt in our minds that Enrico’s son would attempt to finish what his father had started long before.
“There’s someone at the house,” Cristiano stated after receiving a call from one of his soldiers. Dante had arrived at Cristiano’s house with strict orders to protect Cristiano’s wife, our other brothers as well as Angelique remaining locked in their homes under protection. There was no way of knowing whether or not there’d been other assassins hired to continue Enrico’s legacy.
We entered the house quietly, moving toward our father’s office. From what Cristiano told me, it was the same location as Enrico’s prior attack. How fitting. By the time we neared the door, we heard voices.
“You killed my father just like you murdered the rest of the family. Didn’t you?” The voice was young, riddled with rage.
“Son, I have no idea who you are, but you need to get the hell out of my house,” my father demanded.
The two voices were to be expected, but not the third.
My God. Our mother.
“And you will not destroy my family. I won’t allow it.”
As we entered the room, the gunman shifted his attention in our direction. He had both hands on a weapon, but I could tell he was uncertain of what to do.
“I don’t think you want to do that, Enzo,” I stated casually as I walked closer.
Seeing our mother in the room with a gun in her hands couldn’t have been any more shocking. To my knowledge, she’d never held a gun, loathed the violence her family had been required to use. She’d protected herself from our world, if for no other reason than her horrible memories of losing almost everyone in her family.
“Mom. You can leave this to us,” Cristiano said, keeping his voice even.
“I don’t think so, son. This should have been finished months ago. I’m no fool. I know exactly what’s happened.” She refused to back down. The look on her face was one I’d never seen before. Defiance.
Enzo tilted his head. “You’re just as much to blame, dear aunt, as this disgusting piece of trash sitting in front of me.”
“Blame? You talk to me about blame when your father murdered my little girl? My. Baby. Girl,” my mother hissed, remaining completely calm.
Enzo seemed taken aback. It was obvious Enrico hadn’t told him all the horrible details. “Well, your husband finished his dirty deed, murdering my father last night.”
If the asshole thought she was going to back down or appear as if she was shocked, he was wrong.
“My husband did what was required in order to protect our family. You tried to have my son murdered. For that, there is no forgiveness. None.”
There was no doubt what Enzo was about to do. He’d been indoctrinated by his father, lured into believing that his life meant nothing without fulfilling Enrico’s need for vengeance. As I’d experienced before, a moment of time shifted, the world no longer turning.
When Enzo shifted his weapon toward my father, my mother did the unthinkable.
She fired a gun for the first time in her life.
Chapter 16
Acadia
“Behind every strong woman is a story that gave her no other choice.”
Nakeia Homer
The power of a woman.
My mother had been the strongest woman I’d ever known. She’d also been courageous, keeping her head held high when other women would have crumbled. I would always admire her resolve. Maybe I’d tried too hard to be just like her. And just maybe I’d failed.
I’d never known romantic love in my life until Vincenzo. While I was certain I was the only one who felt that way, it gave me some sort of comfort. While he’d issued the words of love, I honestly didn’t think he could understand the word entirely. Yes, he’d saved my life as well as protected me more than once from evil deeds, but that didn’t equate to love. Did it?
At least he’d opened up about what had occurred, the enemy from his family’s past. What had surprised me was hearing that their mother had been able to kill her own nephew. Granted, she believed she’d had no choice given the man’s intentions on killing her husband, but the circumstances were something I had difficulty processing.
Arranged marriages.
Family feuds lasting for decades.
Blood so thick that murder meant nothing if it was for the good of the family.
I’d remained confused since being released from the hospital, doted on as if I had a horrible disease. I was thankful for having such a lovely home to recuperate in, but the fact that Vincenzo had given me a wide berth over the past two weeks had taken a toll.
It was time for me to move on, if the powerful man would allow me to. I hadn’t asked. Hell, we’d barely talked other than occasionally at dinner. Yet he’d stood over me almost every night, as if the boogeyman would return. There was such sadness inside of him that I wasn’t certain what to do with it.
At least the alone time had allowed me to think about what to do next with my life. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any answers. I couldn’t imagine a life without him. But how could I live in his world?
As I sat by the pool, kicking my feet in the water, I felt more relaxed than I had in a few days. There were no outward threats, no assassins coming to target us. At least so I’d heard.
When I felt a presence behind me, I took a deep breath. The wonderful scent of his cologne sent the same rush directly to my pussy. He was the most intoxicating, infuriating man I’d ever met. I casually removed my sunglasses, peering up at him. “What the hell?”
Standing in what appeared to be a casual printed shirt that reminded me remotely of Hawaiian in style, I would have fallen to the ground had I not been sitting.
“What? You don’t like it?” he asked, trying to keep a grin off his face.
“Who is this man? What have you done with Vincenzo King?”
“Trust me, little rebel. He’s right here. I just changed for dinner.”
“Where are you going, a luau?”
“It’s where we are going, and you need to hurry or we’ll be late.”
“Dinner?” He hadn’t asked me to dinner since I’d returned to his house.
He held out his hand, giving me a look when I hesitated before grasping it. “Remember what happens if you disobey me.”
The words actually made my heart flutter. I allowed him to help me to my feet. When he yanked me against him, I couldn’t stop a whimper from escaping. “I wasn’t certain…”
“What? Finish.”
“You’ve just been so distant.” I placed my palm against his chest, allowing my fingers to dig into his muscles. His heat enveloped every inch of my body, giving me the warm and fuzzies.
“I’m sorry. There was some business to attend to, but you have my full attention.” He rubbed his hand down my back, cupping my buttocks. “But it’s time to get back to your normal punishments since you’ve fully recuperated.”
“That’s not fair. I’ve been very good.”
“Need I remind you that life isn’t always fair?” There was a twinkle in his eyes as he made the statement. “You have plenty of infractions that require discipline.”
“You are such a mean man,” I managed as he lowered his head. I was almost drunk from his scent alone, my nipples aching as they shifted back and forth across my dress.
He fisted my hair, growling under his breath. “You are my little rebel, my beautiful toy.”
“Just a toy.”
“Oh, you’re so much more, lady. You have no idea.”
As he crushed his mouth over mine, I swooned, my heart racing. The fire was reignited all over again, his touch searing every nerve ending. I was immediately lightheaded, desire building to the point I was ready to ask him to skip going to dinner. The kind of
deliciousness I was looking for wasn’t found on any menu.
The taste of him was tangy, the incredible combination of peppermint and bourbon surprisingly refreshing. He dominated my tongue, drinking from the very depths of my being, the kiss more passionate than any he’d given me. When he finally pulled away, he dragged his tongue around my mouth with a series of husky growls.
“Are you ready for a fine dining experience?”
“If you insist,” I said, giving him a pouting look.
Laughing, he took my hand, leading me into the house. “Shoes?”
“Can’t I go barefoot? Don’t nice restaurants allow that kind of thing?”
“Uh-huh. I can tell I have my hands full. You better hurry. I have a couple of surprises in store. I’ll meet you out front. I’m driving.”
At least we weren’t going to be carted around by his soldiers in the big SUV. That was an improvement. I grabbed my shoes, splashing some of the perfume he loved so much then realized I was skipping toward the front door. Before I opened it, I laughed. What was I doing? This still wasn’t a fairytale. This was real life. Sighing, I decided to allow tonight to be special.
Then maybe I could figure out what to do in the morning.
When I opened the door, I smacked my hands on my hips. The red convertible was gorgeous and obviously new. “What is this?”
“I traded in the Lamborghini. I thought it was a bit much.” He had a mischievous grin on his face as he opened the passenger door.
I’d never seen him like this before.
Happy.
“And this isn’t?” When I settled onto the comfy leather seat, I bit back a smile. Surprises. The man himself was enough of a surprise. I studied him as he walked around the front of the car, his step light. When he got inside, he let off a single growl.
“Buckle up, baby. We’re going for a ride.” He donned his sunglasses and grinned before starting the engine.
When he said going for a ride, he meant it. As he sped through the streets, he took the car out for a spin, swerving around traffic, shifting around curves as if the car ran on rails. I couldn’t stop laughing almost the entire time. While I had no idea where he was taking me, I honestly didn’t care.
