The Sting of Love: USA Today Bestselling Author

by Gray, Khardine

The light from the lamp post shines down on him and as I get closer I realize it’s Xiou. He’s standing near the edge with his arms behind his back. Cool and casual, like he’s chilling in his backyard. My steps slow as I approach and he smiles at me.

  “Donatello Caporetti, we meet at last,” he states. His voice holds a cultured accent that suggests he only speaks English when he needs to.

  “Where is she?” I ask.” I glance down the dimly lit path beyond him and see nothing.

  I won’t pretend I’m not scared. I’m terrified for Willow. This shit show had ‘trap’ written all over it, but coming was not up for debate.

  “Where is the stick?” he counters.

  “You tell me now where my girl is or I’m not showing you anything.”

  He laughs. “You are very brave to speak to me like that. I have to give you that as credit. I dare say I never expected my operation to be shaken by your recent presence. It hasn’t before.”

  “How long has it been?” I need to know.

  “Five years. It’s been five long years and your whole set up provided the perfect venue to host my virgin market and auction.” His smile widens and I feel like I’m going to be sick.

  Virgin market and auction? Jesus. This is the kind of shit that makes me sick.

  “You sick fuck.”

  “Maybe I am. I’m a rich sick fuck though and thankfully your people were willing to play the game for the right price. Pablo was an old fool who thought he had a handle on the empire. He didn’t have shit.”

  Oh, I already drew that conclusion. “So you took advantage where you could. Clever.”

  “I saw an opportunity and Mario was the middle man. He collected data on the right clients and did all the dirty work. I contacted him when I saw the opportunity and that greedy bastard couldn’t say no,” Xiou explains. “Anyway, small talk over. Give me the stick now, or I give the word and your girl dies.”

  I have a vague plan. It’ll work on instinct. I basically have to play whatever happens next by ear.

  “I told you, I’m not doing shit until I know where she is.” I tense my jaw.

  His face hardens and he looks furious at my insistence. “She’s further up with Mario.” He cocks his head to the side gesturing toward the dark path.

  “How the fuck do I know she’s up there?” He could be telling me shit. I’m not some dumb schumck who will just take what he’s told.

  “Guess you’re going to have to trust me. Give me the stick.”

  I can see this is going to be a shit show of him asking for the stick and me wanting to see Willow, neither of us getting what we want. It’s time to put the plan in motion. The plan being to still save Willow and not give him the stick. It’s risky but, I have to try. I have to try something.

  So here goes.

  I reach into my back pocket and pull out the stick, but I also pull out my gun.

  “Here it is,” I say and to his surprise I throw it to the side of the path, slip my gun out and fire a shot.

  He sees and dives out of the way in a flying somersault like something from a kung Fu movie.

  Fucking hell. He comes at me fiercely, sending a spinning kick to my mid-section that makes me stagger backwards but I don’t go down. I can’t fight like that with all those fancy techniques, but I come from the streets of Chicago where we leave blood running in the gutter when we encounter fuckers like this guy.

  I fight dirty and I’m a demon from hell with my guns.

  I manage another shot and shoot him in his chest but it does nothing to slow him. He comes at me with more rage and we fall to the ground. I drop my gun so I can block his punches that he lands in my face. He’s on top of me and I have to get him off.

  A round of punches lands in my face and I manage to knee him hard in his groin and hoist him over my head. I already knew this fight was going to be about tact so when I roll to the left and grab my gun, I know I have to shoot him now before he gets the chance to right himself.

  I fire a shot and the bullet lodges in his back just as he stands up. I rise to my feet and shoot him again when he turns to face me. this time I don’t make the same mistake I made with Amadeo. I shoot Xiou in his head.

  The fucker doesn’t even realize he’s dead. His eyes move from left to right in disbelief even as he falls over the side of the cliff to his end.

  Jesus... my God. I killed him. I breathe hard and turn to face the dark path ahead, praying that Mario and Willow are there and if they are I hope I can save her.

  This isn’t over yet.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Willow

  The cold night breeze picks up my hair and the tears streaming down my face are so cold.

  That’s the least of my worries. I heard what this animal said to Donny and I don’t doubt he would hesitate for one second to snap my neck and drop me at the bottom of the sea.

  We’re standing on the edge of the cliff and he’s holding me near the edge. He’s got a good grip on me with one hand and the gun in my side with the other.

  We’re waiting for Donny to come and I’m so terrified I could die from the fright.

  There was another guy earlier. A man called Xiou. He’s down at the edge of the bay waiting for Donny. It’s a trap. They won’t let me go. They plan to kill Donny and take the memory stick from him.

  I heard them talking.

  I pieced together things from what they said earlier and concluded that this must be the bigger picture of what was going on, and why Donny broke up with me in the first place. This was what he meant back at the beach house when he said there was more for him to take care of.

  Mario tightens his grip on me when I shiver as a gust of breeze lifts my skirt.

  “I truly, truly wish I could have gotten the chance to fuck you,” he husks into my ear and runs his hand over my ass.

  “Don’t you fucking touch me,” I snap elbowing him in his stomach. He responds with a laugh.

  I’m weak against him and a joke. All my attempts to save myself or stop him from touching me have been shit. Like now. He runs his free hand over my breasts, squeezes then he presses his face to my ear and licks over the lobe. His disgusting breath makes my skin want to shriek and hide.

  “Pretty, pretty. I’ll tell you what, if Donny doesn’t show, we’ll go back to my place and you can ride my cock and attempt to save yourself.”

  “Fuck you!”

  “Yes you can Bella. You can fuck me anytime.”

  I can’t bear his words. Bile rises into my throat burning as it goes up.

  He continues to grope me, but the sound of a gunshot firing stops him just as he started tugging on the edge of my panties. He looks down the dark path and listens out. Moments later, another shot echoes, and another. At that Mario tenses against me and grits his teeth.

  Donny, please… be alive. Please. I pray he’s not dead.

  “Mario!” Donny’s voice pierces the night with rage and my whole body sighs with relief. He’s not dead. He’s okay. “I’m coming for you.”

  “Shit, damn it,” Mario hisses, dragging me along the path.

  We stop when we get to the top, the end. There’s no more path to follow. The only way off here is back down the path, or …over the side of the cliff. A two hundred foot drop.

  I sense Mario’s panic as he tightens his grip on my arm so tight his fingers dig into my skin.

  “You’re hurting me.” I recoil.

  “Shut up bitch. Fucking shut up.” He’s about to continue when Donny makes his presence known.

  Donny walks up the path with two guns in his hands. The moon cast enough light on his face for us to see his fury. There’s fury and blood. It’s splattered on his face and his shirt. The sight of him is dark and vengeful.

  “Get your fucking hands off her. Now,” Donny bellows.

  Mario lets go of me yes, but he points the gun at my head. The steel barrel so cold against my temple my soul screams with fear.

  “You can stop right there, Donny. Don’t you com
e any further,” Mario warns him. “Where is Xiou?” he demands.

  “Fish food.”

  “You fucker.”

  “Me?” Donny sneers. “Want me to blow your arm off? Looks like you didn’t learn the lesson last time.”

  Mario chuckles. “There is nothing you can teach me. The bullet just grazed my arm. It hurt like a bitch but I’m fine.”

  “Fuck, what a shame.”

  “Drop the fucking gun asshole,” Mario orders.

  “The hell I will. You seriously think I’m just going to drop my gun and let you kill the two of us?” Donny challenges.

  Mario grabs my arm and shoves me toward the edge of the cliff. I scream and scream louder when rubble falls over the side. The echo of the stone surrounds us as it falls into the dark abyss. I remember what it looks like in the daylight. There’s jagged rock all the way down to the sea. I’d be dead before I hit the ground.

  “Stop it!” Donny shouts. “I’m dropping my gun, see look. Just don’t hurt her.” His voice is full of anguish. So full of pain it grips me. He puts the gun down on the ground next to him and defeat fills his eyes.

  He looks as defeated as I feel.

  I never expected tonight to end this way.

  Mario pulls me back to his chest. I’m shaking so much that bile is right in my throat and I’m sure I’ll vomit any minute now.

  “Don’t fuck with me Donny. Don’t fucking do it,” Mario warns and tightens his grip on my arm. “Let me see the memory stick. I still want it.”

  Donny scowls deeply, pulls the memory stick from his pocket and holds it up.

  “How do I know it’s not shit you’ve brought to me?” Mario challenges.

  “You have my girl. If you thought I’d chance bringing shit to you, you wouldn’t have her,” Donny answers.

  Mario chuckles wickedly. “Yes, that is true. This is what you’re going to do… set it on the ground and walk away.”

  “Give her to me. I’m not doing shit until you give her to me.”

  Mario places the gun at my head again and more tears come. “You motherfucker, you aren’t in any position to give orders. I don’t know what you think this is but you aren’t in charge here. Not in the least bit you dumb fuck. Do it or she gets it in her head. You know I won’t hesitate to blow her brains out.”

  Donny and I look at each other.

  This … this right here is what feels like goodbye. Not what we said days ago. It’s right now, in this moment. It feels final and it’s because we both know that if he drops the stick that’s it. Mario isn’t going to release me.

  “Do it!” Mario cries.

  One final look and I know Donny will take the risk if it will save me. He took the risk coming here for the same reason.

  So much has happened to me this year. Maybe this is it and I’m meant to die now. Maybe I’m not meant to live anymore.

  At least I know what it felt like to be loved and fall for a guy who made me feel like I was everything.

  Donny sets the stick on the ground and an explosion echoes through the air.

  I don’t know what it is. Neither of us do. Then I see it. Fireworks burst into the sky in a flurry of red, gold and green. It came from the beach.

  Donny takes advantage of the window of opportunity as Mario looks up to the sky. In a flash Donny grabs his gun and shoots him in his neck. Blood splatters all over me and my scream mingles with Mario’s.

  He flies back over the side of the cliff, but not before hitting me to the ground so hard I go over the side too.

  I scream so hard it feels like I’m screaming from the depths of my soul. I grab on to a protruding rock and hold on for dear life. I can’t hold on though. It’s not stable enough and my hands are beginning to slip.

  Donny rushes to the side.

  “Willow!” he cries. “Give me your hand.”

  I look up into his handsome face and those eyes of his. They look silver against the moonlight.

  “Donny,” I wince.

  “Baby please give me your hand,” he begs.

  I try to reach up and I slip. I slip right off and I go down and I swear this is it but he catches me.

  He holds on to my wrists so tight, pulling me with fierce strength. With a ruthless cry he yanks me back over to the path and we both fall backwards on the ground.

  I was already crying, but those tears turned into tears of joy as he pulled me into his arms and held me.

  “Donny.” I gasp, shuddering with both gratitude and shock that I’m still alive.

  “I love you,” he whispers into my ear as he holds me close to his heart. “I love you, Willow.”

  “I love you too.”

  * * *

  Three men I’ve never seen before come to see him at his place. He brought me back here over an hour ago. The men all had tattoos of crosses on their necks and seemed as tough as him.

  They looked like mafia. There was no question about it. When I saw them altogether I felt a little foolish that I never guessed that about Donny when we first met.

  It doesn’t matter. None of that matters. I’m still at the place in my heart I was when this night started. The place I was when I left Lurlene’s and decided I had some fight left in me to salvage my relationship.

  I’m still here despite what happened and I think that says a lot.

  I’m in the living room waiting for Donny, trying to listen out too to hear what’s happening. It doesn’t feel like it’s anything sinister. I hope whatever it is, is over, or sorted out with Mario’s death. I don’t even know the full details of what happened and honestly I don’t think I want to.

  He’s an example of the evil men Lurlene talked about. Bad and ready to kill if you do the least to push them.

  It’s funny I never got that vibe from the men who came to see Donny. The guys definitely looked scary but they had this respectful way about them that each showed when they saw me.

  The click of the front door closing makes me straighten up on the sofa. Then the living room door opens and Donny comes in. He’s taken off his shirt and is now wearing a vest. His hair is ruffled and worry still clouds his eyes.

  He comes over and sits down next to me, reaching out to touch my cheek.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask.

  “Yeah… it is now. The main threat is over. How are you feeling?”

  “I’m okay.”

  He presses his lips together and draws in a deep breath. “So… looks like I nearly got you killed again. It was a very close call, Willow.”

  “It wasn’t your fault,” I tell him.

  “It’s hard to not blame myself Bella Bellissima.”

  “It isn’t though. Thank you for saving me.”

  “You don’t have to thank me for that.” He touches my cheek and gives me a small smile. “You came back to me tonight, why?”

  “I came to …” My voice trails off and I think about what I want to say. “I came to tell you that I can’t just allow you to decide what’s right for the both of us and not when I feel the way I do about you.”

  He eyes me with the air of seduction, a sign that he wants this too.

  “I’m going to be living in Italy. I have a lot to sort out and sometimes it can get dangerous,” he says.

  “Are you a dangerous man?” I ask.

  “Yes… I won’t lie to you about that.”

  “You said you love me.”

  “I do.”

  “Then I’m not going anywhere.”

  He picks me up and sits me down on his lap. I slip my arms around his neck and hold him too.

  “Well, that works because I’m never letting you go. Ever. I would rather spend the rest of my days keeping you safe than being without you.”

  I smile. “I like that. How about I keep you safe too? That way we take care of each other.”

  “I like that.” He nods.

  I lower to kiss him. When our lips touch I finally feel like I found what was missing from my life.

  Him.

  Ep
ilogue

  Donny

  Three years later…

  I lean against the door frame and watch them in the distance by the seashore, playing in the sand. My wife and my baby. Willow and Dominic.

  Every now and again I do this. I just stand back and look at them and reflect on how far I’ve come. Where I’ve come from and where I am now in life.

  No matter what goal I set, or what I accomplish, these two beings top the list.

  I watch Willow as her beautiful raven hair flows out into the wind and Dominic lifts his little hands up to her, smiling. He’s nearly a year old now so he has a few teeth and his smile still looks gummy and cute.

  He stumbles over when he tries to walk around the sand castle. They both laugh when she picks him up.

  Dominic looks so much like her. He has her eyes. But I see myself in him when I look at him. It’s hard to explain, but that’s what I see.

  Willow and I have been married for two years now. Things moved quickly after that night we decided we were going to be together. We’ve belonged to each other now for three years and it’s been the best time of my life. Everything I’ve ever wanted came to me when I met her, and it all felt complete the day she gave birth to our son.

  I made my mark here on the business and managed to clean up and shake up everything exactly the way I wanted. Like Claudius in Chicago, I rule with a heavy hand and I don’t stand for shit. After that whole fiasco with Amadeo and Mario I made sure we didn’t repeat past mistakes, or allow anything to slip through the net.

  I’m proud of what I’ve done here and happy I came back home.

  While Willow and I both work in the city, we decided the beach house in Marsala would be our base. The place we called home. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made because I’m as happy here as I was when I used to visit as a boy with my family. Sometimes in the breath between night and day I imagine my mother walking on the beach the way she used to.

  She loved it, and Willow, Dominic, and I love it here too.

  Today is our anniversary party. We’re a few months out from the date but we wanted to celebrate when we could get everyone here together. We managed to pull it off gathering all the people who are special to us. We’ve got family here from both sides and friends. They’re on the main part of the beach.