Code of Silence

by Tessier, Shantel

  “If you would have known the truth, you would have acted. Thought irrationally. I just needed some time. I knew where you went. You hadn’t run off with another woman. You were just trying to protect your sister. And I knew once I had the info I needed, you’d come running back to her.”

  How does my mother know about Mia? I thought she was kept a secret. How … my chest aches. I hurt Nite. I was never friends with the guy, but he was used as bait because of me. They were all tricked because of me.

  “I’m sorry.” I stand, looking at Nite with tears running down my face. “I’m so sorry, Nite. I don’t expect you to forgive me. But I hate that I hurt you. I hate that Rossi used you.” My voice breaks. “I’m so, so sorry.”

  His eyes cut to Luca, and he nods once.

  “We’ll leave you two alone for a second.” My mother looks like she’s about to argue, but Luca grabs her arm and drags her back into our bedroom, closing the sliding glass door behind them.

  “I’m so sorry. I wish I would have known. I would have …”

  “I forgive you.”

  My eyes widen, and my lips part on a gasp. I stare up at him in shock as he kneels in front of me. Placing his hands on my shaking knees, he repeats, “I forgive you, Haven. Do you understand? It wasn’t your fault.” His voice is deep and rough but in a soothing way.

  My wide eyes go back and forth between his. “You spoke,” I choke out.

  He nods.

  “Say something,” I demand, placing my hands on his broad shoulder, gripping them tightly, wanting to hear it again. I didn’t imagine it.

  “I said I forgive you.”

  “But … but, they cut your tongue out.” I can’t help but blurt out. “Because of me. Because.” My bottom lip quivers.

  He gives me a cocky smile that lights up his face. Oliver Nite never smiles. Not even before …

  He sticks his tongue out, and my eyes widen even more if possible. “There’s a difference in being unable to talk and choosing not to.”

  “But … what … how?” my brain can’t comprehend what I’m hearing. All this time? Why is he pretending to be a mute? And what is he gaining from it?

  “Another time,” he says, standing. Grabbing my hands, he pulls me to my feet. “Just know that I never blamed Mia. And I’m not going to blame you either. We all make our own choices, Haven. And I’m living with mine just fine.” Then he turns and walks back into the bedroom as well.

  I go barging in to find all three of them standing in the middle of our bedroom. My mother and Luca are still arguing. Nite stands there with his arms crossed over his chest, looking like he didn’t just speak to me. He didn’t have to tell me to keep what just took place between us. A part of me knows that Luca knew exactly what was going to happen, and that’s why he ushered my mother from the balcony. But whatever that was between me and Nite is now over. He’s back to Silent Nite. And I will keep his secret.

  “My …” I clear my throat. “Jimmy?” I ask. “How do we know he won’t double-cross us again?” I ask. I’ve received so much info in such little time. I need to prioritize it and figure out my biggest threat. He’s far up on the list.

  Their bickering comes to a halt, and they all turn to look at me.

  “You don’t have to worry about that,” Luca assures me.

  “He killed him,” my mother answers.

  “What?” My wide eyes go to Luca.

  His jaw sharpens as he glares down at my mom.

  “I won’t tell her another lie.” She glares back up at him. “Or hide anything from her. He’s dead. The end.”

  “I … did he hurt you?” I ask Luca.

  He comes over to me and grips my hands in his. “No. He was going to sit back and let your life be ruined for fucking cash in his pocket. He deserved death.”

  “So …” I swallow nervously and remove the clip from my wet hair. It falls down over my shoulders, instantly soaking the shirt I’m wearing. “What do we do?” I ask, trying to figure out how I’m going to use all this information.

  The man I’ve called my father all my life is dead. My biological father can’t be beat, or he would already be dead. I’m not sure how this can end well for any of us.

  “We go to Kingdom. Pack a bag,” Luca orders.

  “It’s almost two a.m.” I say wondering why in the hell we’re going there.

  LUCA

  Removing my suit jacket, I lay it across the back of the couch in our hotel suite on the thirtieth floor at Kingdom. Her mom goes over to the sliding glass door, opens it, and steps outside for fresh air. Haven follows her.

  I turn to Bones and Titan. “Thank you.”

  Bones nods. “You know you are welcome here anytime.”

  Titan crosses his arms over his chest and adjusts his stance, widening his legs. “We’ve got two guards standing outside of your room and snipers on the roof …”

  “Why do we need snipers?” Haven asks, re-entering the suite.

  “Safety,” I answer.

  “Luca. What are you not telling me?” She looks around the room. “Why are we here at Kingdom and not at home?”

  I want to feel happy that she referred to my house as our home, but I don’t have the time. I run a hand through my hair. “He doesn’t plan to let you live.” Her eyes widen. “Rossi is planning on taking more out than just me and the Kings at the ceremony.”

  “What? No. He told me—”

  “He lied,” I interrupt her. “You think he’d protect you? He never wanted you. He hates us.” I point at my chest. “You’re marrying the enemy. Either you die as collateral damage or are killed on purpose. I’m not taking that chance. There is better protection here. The numbers are bigger.” Plus, Rossi won’t step foot near Kingdom. He may want the Dark Kings dead as well, but he wouldn’t do it on their territory. He’s too much of a coward. He knows he’s outnumbered here. We just took out more of his men, so he will have to regroup and think of a new plan. And we’ll already be executing ours.

  She bows her head, running her hand through her hair. “What if …?” She bites her lip in thought. “What if we get married now? Go to the courthouse and get it over with as soon as they open? Will that make a difference? Isn’t there some unwritten rule about going after a Mafia wife?” She rolls her sleepy eyes at that. “Not saying it’s still not done, but he may think twice if he knows the consequences are worse.”

  Her mother steps into the room and five sets of eyes stare at her. “What?” she asks, looking around at all of us.

  I step forward. “We’re already married.”

  “Luca, this isn’t the time to …” Her words trail off, and her eyes go big. “What?” she whispers. Recognition dawns on her face, and she places her hand on her head. “The contract … it was a marriage license?” Her eyes narrow on me. “I didn’t sign anything.”

  I take another step. “Your name is on it. Whether you signed it is not the point.” On paper, she is my wife.

  She tilts her head to the side, tears building in her eyes. “You tricked me.”

  I say nothing.

  She looks around the room. “And you all knew.”

  Again, no one speaks because they all did. Even her mother.

  “Mom?” She turns to face her. “You knew this?”

  She nods softly. “I had to …”

  “How could you?” Her voice cracks.

  “I told you at the clubhouse. You needed to be a Bianchi—”

  “No,” she interrupts her. “You could have told me. You could have …”

  “I couldn’t say anything. It would have cost you your life!” she shouts, getting angry. “Why can’t you get this through your head? You know what kind of weight has been on my shoulders ever since I got pregnant with you?” she screams. “Haven.” She lowers her voice and walks over to her. Grabbing her hands, she continues. “I prayed every day that he wouldn’t want you. Even after he allowed your father to adopt you, I still feared he’d come for you.” Her eyes go to mine before returni
ng to her daughter. “I needed Luca to save you. He was the only one who could. So I did what was best for you.”

  She rips her hands from her mother’s and turns to face me. “So, what? The wedding was just going to be a formality?”

  “Yes,” I say simply.

  She looks at Bones then at Titan, but they stay quiet. This isn’t their fight. They may have known my plans, but their loyalty is to me. Not her.

  Her brows pull together in deep thought, and then her brown eyes fill with fresh tears as she looks up at me. “Did you know he was my father?” I open my mouth, but she continues. “Is this why you did this? Picked me?”

  “Haven …?”

  “Your family has been fighting with Rossi for years. This would be the ultimate fuck you. Marrying his daughter and posting it for the world to see. Rubbing it in his face.”

  I take the three steps to close the small distance. Placing both of my hands on her tear-streaked face, I cup her cheeks. “No. You know this.” She’s already asked me this once. “I’ve always loved you, Haven. You are a Bianchi now. And I will protect you until I die. If that means lying to you, then that’s what I will do.”

  She pulls away from me, and my hands fall to my sides. Then without another word, she turns and enters the master suite.

  “Haven …” her mother calls out, following her.

  She slams the door in her face, and the sound of the lock follows.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  HAVEN

  I PACE BACK and forth in the bedroom. My arms crossed over my chest and tears in my eyes.

  I’m married.

  I’m fucking married.

  No matter how many times I repeat it, I can’t believe it.

  He tricked me. That part isn’t so hard to comprehend. That’s a Bianchi for you. I knew he was keeping something from me.

  “Fucking liar,” I growl, fisting my hands.

  Was he ever going to tell me? I don’t remember the contract mentioning marriage exactly. Just children. I need to read it. What else is on there?

  Storming out of the bedroom, I come to a stop when I see it’s empty. I look around the open living room and kitchen. There’s a door on the other side of the living room, but it’s open. It must be to another bedroom. “Mom?” I call out. Nothing. “Luca?” I demand. Nothing.

  I walk across the living room and pass the bar, entering the kitchen. I yank open the fridge and grab a bottle of water. Turning around, I jump when I see Nite standing in the living room with his arms crossed over his chest. “Jesus.” I hiss. “Where the hell did Luca go?”

  He doesn’t answer.

  My teeth grind. “So, we’re back to this?”

  Still he says nothing. I want to be mad at him, but I can’t. I hate what I did to him. What Rossi did to him. “I’m sorry,” I say softly. He showed me something very personal, and I don’t want him to think he owes me. If anything, I owe him.

  “Did Luca leave with Bones and Titan?”

  He nods, which means they’re in the hotel somewhere. Probably meeting with the others to go over their plan.

  “Did my mother get her own room?” I ask.

  He nods again.

  I figured she would. Leaving him standing in the living room, I re-enter the bedroom and unzip my Louis Vuitton suitcase and remove my phone. I call Em. Even after everything that has been going on with me, I think of her all the time. When it rings, my heart soars, thinking that this may be the time I get to hear her voice. I miss her so much. I could really use her right now. But it drops when I get her voicemail after the third ring. “Hey, you’ve reached Emilee. I’m not available at this time …”

  I hang up and flop onto the bed. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath as a tear runs down the side of my cheek. I open them up, roll over to my stomach, and hit call on the next number.

  “What up, sexy?” Jasmine asks on the first ring. I can always count on her.

  “Are you busy?” I ask, trying not to lose my shit. I want to cry. I want to scream. I just want to not feel trapped. I should be afraid of Rossi, but I’m madder at Luca than anything. And I know that’s not fair. He’s just trying to protect me, even if he’s doing it wrong.

  “Nope. What’s up?”

  “Wanna meet me at Kingdom?” I ask, wiping the tears from my face and sit up.

  “Sure. In the mood to gamble?”

  “No. I wanna drink.”

  _______________

  Kingdom is more than a casino. It’s a small city all on its own. You can walk into the buildings and never leave. It has over ten restaurants. Three night clubs. Twenty sports bars. A tattoo shop. A shopping mall that connects all four towers. Golf course, bowling alley, wedding chapel, five pools, and its own theater with ten screens. They play movies twenty-four seven. And not to mention the largest convention center. It sponsors anything from UFC fights to sold-out concerts. There’s talk that next year’s CMAs will be held there.

  You want it, Kingdom supplies it. The Dark Kings made sure to offer their gamblers anything and everything. All you gotta do is have the money, and it’s yours. They want you to come and never have to leave.

  My favorite place is Crown, one of their nightclubs.

  Jasmine looks over her shoulder. “I’m serious, Nite. That offer still stands.” She licks her lips.

  I roll my eyes and turn her back to watch where she’s going. I wanted to drink in our suite. It was stocked with a full bar and has plenty of liquid to get us both wasted, but she wanted to go out. It didn’t take much for me to give in. But of course, Nite had to follow. He’s back on babysitting duty since his return. Especially now that Rossi is after Luca.

  “Is he going to follow us all night?” Jasmine yells in my ear, looking at him over her shoulder.

  “Most likely,” I answer, walking up to the bar and sitting on a stool. Jasmine plops down beside me. Looking over the shelf of alcohol behind it, she smiles when she decides what she wants. “Two shots of Patrón,” she calls out to no one in particular. Two bartenders scurry around to make drinks but neither one has waited on us yet.

  “Porn Star Dancing” by My Darkest Day blares in the club.

  I look over at her, arching a brow.

  “You never got a bachelorette party, so this is it.”

  I had told her about my marriage while in the elevator. She didn’t seem to care as much as I did that I’m already married. Or that my father was dead and my biological father plans on killing me. I had a lot to get out in a short amount of time. It was like vomit. A sickness that I needed to purge even though I don’t feel any better. Of course, she wants us to party. Em would try to talk it out, to help me understand it all and see the bright side of where my life is headed, but Jasmine just wants to pour alcohol down my throat. And as I sit here at the bar under the neon flashing lights and pounding music, I realize she’s right. I need to drown it out. Bury it. There’s nothing I can do about the situation. I’m a wife. A Mafia wife. Till death do us part.

  A mob boss who just so happens to be my father wants me dead. There’s a target on my husband’s head. How much has Rossi offered to have him killed?

  And it makes me feel stupid. He could have killed me when I met with him. The only reason he didn’t was because he wants Luca. He thinks he can use me. Every man in my life thinks I’m just a pawn in their game. Well, fuck them.

  Just then I spot a man who walks through the club and steps behind the bar. He leans down and tells the female bartender something. She nods a few times. As he goes to exit from behind the bar, I call out to him. “Grave?”

  He turns back to face the bar and smiles when his eyes meet mine. “Haven?” He walks over to us. Placing his forearms on the bar, he leans over it. “What are you doing here?” Grave has the cutest baby face. With his blue eyes and perfect smile, he’s also the most approachable of the Kings. He’s covered in just as many tats as the others and has a piercing in his brow, but he has a kind soul. But just like the others, he has his demons to fi
ght. “Where’s Luca?”

  I shrug. “Somewhere with your brother.”

  He smiles. “I see.” And then he straightens. “What can I get you lovely ladies?”

  “Two shots of Patrón.”

  LUCA

  Nite: We’re at Crown.

  I read the message that Nite sends me.

  Me: Stay with her.

  I respond before placing my phone back in my pocket.

  “Thanks,” Bones says into his cell and places it on his desk, leaning back in his chair. “My source says he’s not in Vegas.”

  “Well, he was,” Titan says, sitting in the chair next to me. “And he’ll be back.” He looks over at me. “Your wedding”—he makes air quotes— “is days away. He will want to do the job himself.”

  I rub my chin in thought. “Yeah, but we can’t let him get that close. I don’t want Haven anywhere near that situation. But I can’t call off the ceremony. That will be suspicious. Throw up too many red flags.”

  “You need to publicly make the current venue unavailable,” Bones suggests.

  Not a bad idea. “I’m listening.”

  He sits up straighter. “Force him to go where you want him to. We will be ready for him. You could even have it here if you want. We can arrange for snipers on the roof of Kingdom. They’ll be able to see him and his men a mile away. Not to mention he won’t be able to turn the opportunity down since he wants us too.”

  “He knows we’ll be at the wedding no matter where it’s held,” Titan argues.

  “Yes, but this gives him an advantage,” Bones says.

  “How?” Titan asks.

  “By letting him think he can kill us on our own turf.” He shrugs. “Rossi is a cocky son of a bitch. And to take us all out on Kingdom property …? He’ll be drooling at the chance.”

  “It could work,” I say. “But Haven …”

  “Won’t even be here,” Bones adds.

  “Where will she be?” Titan asks the same thing I’m thinking.

  “She’ll be at our compound with our security.”

  “I want Nite with her,” I say, thinking about my options.

  “Whoever you want.” Bones nods.