by Bella J
He placed a wrapped box with a big red bow on the bed. “I brought you something.”
“I don’t want it.”
Coolly he placed his hands in his pockets and took a deep breath never taking his eyes off me. Then he reached for the box and untied the ribbon. In horror I watched as he opened the box and pulled out a pearl embroidered, white knee-length dress.
“What is that?”
He held it up. “It’s your wedding dress.”
My stomach turned and I placed my hands flush against the wall behind me, clawing my nails into the wallpaper. “I’m not wearing that.”
He shrugged, completely unaffected by my refusal. “Well, it’s either the dress or you get married naked. Either way is fine by me. Although I’d prefer you naked since that would make it so much easier afterward,” he taunted.
“Make what easier?” I have no idea why I asked that stupid question since I already knew the goddamn answer.
A smug grin appeared on his face. “Well, we consummate our marriage of course.”
My knees went weak and my body started to tremble as panic flared up inside me like a disease. The thought of him touching me again, claiming me, moving inside me made me sick to my stomach. There was no way I’d survive it.
“Enzio, please don’t do this,” I pleaded as a tear slipped down my cheek. “I’m begging you.”
With sheer determination beaming from his dark eyes he walked toward me, and with every step he takes I feel a piece of my soul wither away.
When he stops there’s nothing but a few inches of distance between us. He slanted his head to the side studying my face, staring at me like I’m his most prized possession.
“It’s already done, little lamb. It’s all arranged. We’ll be married within the hour.”
I gasped and started to cry as my entire world crashed down around me. An hour? A fucking hour?
He wiped a tear from my face with his thumb, and I watch in horror as he places his finger in his mouth sucking off the moisture, like he’s relishing my pain.
“Now get dressed. And you better make sure you look pretty for your future husband.”
He turned around and headed toward the door, but not before glancing over his shoulder. “Just think about it, we’ll be one again before the clock strikes midnight. I look forward to it.”
The second he closed the door and I heard the lock I crumpled down to the floor and wept. Fear was now my only companion, the only emotion I’ll feel for the rest of my life.
Images of Lorik bombard my mind taking my pain, morphing it into an excruciating ache that I felt deep within every bone. He came like a hurricane and swept me off my feet, making it impossible for me to ignore the extreme impact he had on my soul. But that’s all over now. Never again would I experience the intense fire by a simple touch. Never again would I know how it felt to be made love to. It’s all over for me. Happiness was no longer written in my destiny. I chose Enzio years ago, wanted to be with only him. Now I guess I’m getting what I wanted…in the most sordid, twisted way.
There’s a knock on the door, and I lifted my head off the floor.
“You have ten minutes,” Enzio said, and then I heard his footsteps as he walked down the hall. How is that even possible? It felt like I had been on the floor for no longer than five minutes.
Pulling together all the strength I had left inside me, I pushed myself off the floor and pulled my hands through my tangled hair staring at the white dress waiting for me on the bed. It was nothing spectacular. It’s nothing more than a white cocktail dress. Obviously it was a last minute purchase, but I couldn’t care less. In fact, if it had been an extravagant gown it would have made this entire situation even more ridiculous—a fucking joke.
As I reached down and felt the embroidered fabric, gliding my fingers over the soft pearls, I realized that the only way I could get through this was by compartmentalizing. I have to sort through my emotions, suppress the pain and feed the hatred. The only way I would be able to survive, was to harden myself—to not feel anything.
I slowly removed the dress I’m wearing, dropping it to the floor. Images of that same dress lying on Lorik’s living room floor flash before me, but immediately I pushed them back. Compartmentalize.
Like a robot I slipped the white dress on and pull the zip up on the side. I’m not surprised that it fits perfectly. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Enzio.
Turning around I caught my reflection in the mirror. It’s amazing how within the span of a few hours I’ve become nothing but a shadow of my true self. I guess that’s what reality did to a person, when you realized that you have no future. It ripped everything good out of you within the blink of an eye. My hair was a mess, my face red and tear stained. My tears have washed off every trace of make-up, the bags under my eyes proof of the heartache I’ll be carrying for the rest of my life.
Compartmentalize.
Well, he wanted me to wear the damn dress, and that’s what I’m doing. But I won’t fix my hair, and I won’t fix my goddamn face. This is what he turned me into, so this is what he will have to live with.
The click of the lock resounded through the bedroom, vibrating down my spine. The door opened and I turned to face who I knew will be standing on the other side of that door.
“Enzio,” I whispered when I noticed him staring at me with a smug, victorious grin on his face.
“I was kind of hoping you would go with being naked. But no matter, I’ll have more fun ripping that dress off that perfect body of yours.”
I don’t respond. There’s nothing left in me to respond with. On the inside I’m dying, wasting away, and by tomorrow this time I’ll be nothing but an empty vessel.
His gaze slithered down my body, and back up to my face. “You couldn’t fix your hair? Your face?”
I shrugged, trying my best to keep my shoulders straight. “I figured you should get used to this image since this is what you’ll have to look at for the rest of your life.”
He held out his arm like a fucking gentleman. “Oh, do not fool yourself, Karina. You’ll look your best whenever it’s required, and you will act exactly like what would be expected from the wife of a very powerful, wealthy man.”
I suppressed a snort, a laugh, a sarcastic remark that would tell him exactly what I think about this powerful, wealthy man image he portrays. He was nothing more than a pure excuse of a man.
I caught him glancing at my bare feet. “Yeah, you forgot the shoes,” I sneered.
“No, actually I didn’t. I want you to get used to your new role as my wife.”
“So what, I’ll be your barefoot wife?”
He peered down at me, his eyes beaming with satisfaction. “Barefoot…and pregnant.”
Chapter 23
LORIK
Dante was driving and speeding like a maniac. Antonio had been typing on his phone, glancing at it every five seconds. Me, I’ve been going out of my goddamn mind sitting in the backseat of Dante’s car unable to do anything but wait for us to get wherever the fuck we’re going. After Dante stormed out of the house and jumped into his car, he kept on talking about a beach house and that since Enzio was one twisted motherfucker, it only made sense that he would take her back to where it all began.
The second he pulled up into an unfamiliar driveway, I was out the door and running up the stairs.
“Lorik, wait!” Dante called after me. “You can’t just rush in there unprotected.”
I grabbed my gun and pull it from my holster. “You thought I’d come here without a gun? I plan on killing this motherfucker…tonight.”
Antonio and Dante rushed up the stairs behind me, and I pushed down the door handle. Locked. Fuck.
I scanned the house and spot a window to the right. Without thinking twice I tore a piece of fabric off my shirt, wrapped it around my fist, and smashed it through the glass.
“Someone would have heard that,” Antonio says behind me, but I ignore him, smashing more glass so that we can
climb through the window without getting carved into pieces.
I go first holding my gun at the ready, ready to shoot any fucker who got between me and my mission of saving Karina from this goddamn psychopath.
With precision and stealth I moved down the halls without making a goddamn sound, Antonio and Dante close on my heels. Soft lights on the back porch caught my eye and I slowly moved to the back, the sound of voices getting clearer and louder the closer I get. I no longer have a heartbeat. What I do have is a fucking jackhammer in my chest. Every part of me that ever longed to believe in a God was praying Dante was right about this, that they’re here…and that we’re not too late.
A few soundless steps brought me to the edge of the hall, right in front of an open sliding door…and that’s when I see her standing at the edge of the porch with that son of a bitch next to her. Their backs were turned to us and I could see the head of a third person peeking out from in front of them. Only then did I notice the white dress she’s wearing, and the daunting thought that we might already be too late fueled my reckless behavior. I can’t wait a second longer.
I launched forward and aimed my gun.
“Let her go!”
Karina and Enzio both jerked around, and when I saw Karina’s face contorted in pain, her eyes red and weeping, every ounce of air escaped me. It made me want to skin the bastard next to her alive…and fucking slowly.
“Lorik.” She breathed my name like it was a prayer on her lips, and my heart broke into a million fucking pieces.
“Detective Stone,” Enzio started. “Did you come to join the festivities? To congratulate us?”
“Fuck you.” I held my hand out to her, still aiming the gun directly at Enzio. “Come here, princess.”
Just as she started toward me, Enzio steps forward. “Karina, should I remind you what’s at stake here?”
She froze, closed her eyes and more tears move down her cheeks.
Oh no, I’m losing her. I’m fucking losing her…I can see it.
“Karina, don’t listen to him. Come here. I’ve got you.”
She didn’t move, and a cold chill slowly spread through my body, the hair on the back of my neck standing up. “Karina?”
“I can’t,” she whispered while she remained still, a doleful expression on her face. My pulse was echoing inside my head, panic twisting my gut into a vice.
“Karina, you can. Just trust me.”
Dante and Antonio moved up behind me, but they remained silent while I kept my eyes locked on Karina. “Don’t let him do this. So you made a mistake, everyone makes mistakes.”
“But mine will destroy my father.”
“No, it won’t.”
Immediately everyone’s attention turned toward the strong, heavy voice. Lorenzo Valenti.
“Daddy?” Karina said softly.
“I know, bambina. I know everything.”
What the fuck was he doing here?
I glanced at Antonio and immediately knew that it was him. That’s why he was on his phone on our way over here, informing the big Boss about everything that was about to go down.
“Daddy, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know—”
“Shhh.” Lorenzo slowly walked toward her. “I understand. What I don’t understand is how you could even think that I would rather you marry this bastard than have the truth out there for the world to see.”
All I could do was watch while Karina cried, her sorrow weeping out of her soul.
“I want to see you happy, bambina. And I’m sorry if I ever made you feel like my pride and our values are more important than your happiness.”
“Daddy—”
Enzio moved, and I caught a glimpse of the gun he pulled from his back. The pull of my trigger, the boom of the shot, and the crimson that seeped through his chest happened within the blink of an eye.
Lorenzo grabbed Karina and pulled her down to the ground covering her with his body while Antonio and Dante both aim their weapons. But it was over just like that. Enzio was already on the ground, his blood pooling around him. My ears were ringing, my heart pounding, and the only thought that ran through my mind was…she’s safe.
I was frozen on the spot, everything around me on mute. It’s when I felt two arms wrap around my neck, and a warm, soft body against mine that I was able to shake the haze.
“Lorik.” Karina’s sweet voice filled my ears and relief flowed through me like the stream of fucking living water. Dear God, she was safe. She was safe and that was all that fucking mattered.
I dropped my gun, and wrapped my arms around her waist pressing her harder against me. My fingers weave through her dark curls, and I inhaled wanting her sweet vanilla and honey scent to consume me.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she whispered with a shaky voice.
I pulled away and looked at her. “Did he hurt you? Touch you in any way?”
“No. I’m fine.” She wiped away a tear with the back of her hand.
Again I pull her against me and bury my face in her neck, kissing her soft skin. Relief has never felt so good, so liberating.
“It’s over, princess,” I whispered.
“Why am I not surprised to find you here where all the shit is going down?”
I looked up to see Anderson standing by the sliding door with his hands on his hips.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I asked, surprised to see him.
He walked closer and glanced at Lorenzo. “I had a friend call in a favor.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You? You’re—”
He nods. “Yes. I’ve been working with the Valentis for twenty years.”
“Which is why you were so sure they weren’t behind the drugs and kidnappings,” I said with my arm still tightly wrapped around Karina’s waist.
Anderson stepped in next to Lorenzo. “This man here gave me what our justice system couldn’t. Justice.”
Holy shit, my head was spinning in a thousand different directions. “What are you talking about?”
“Twenty years ago my sister’s seven year old daughter went missing. Her lifeless body was found a few days later in a dumpster. There was no trace or evidence of what happened to her, or who did it, until an anonymous tip came through that little Alison had been seen at the house of a local police officer. Naturally the investigation went nowhere. The precinct didn’t need that kind of scandal. After months of pleas, and numerous attempts to have this man at least questioned, I had no choice but to ask for help.” Anderson swallowed hard, and by the grim expression on his face it was obvious that he was having a hard time reliving the memory. “Lorenzo here agreed to investigate. And as it turned out, the anonymous tip was right, only everyone refused to believe it. No one wanted to believe that a cop, sworn to uphold the law and to make the residents of Boston feel safe, was actually a child murderer. Unable to live with the thought of knowing that this man would never pay for his crime I asked the Valentis to give Alison the justice she deserved by letting this man pay with his life. And in turn, I would be in their debt until my last breath.” He turned toward Lorenzo. “A debt I would gladly pay over, and over, and over again.”
I always knew there were demons that haunted Anderson, I just never knew how strong those demons were. But now I do.
“You see, Stone. No one is perfect, but some bad guys are worth more free, than behind bars.” He turned toward Enzio’s lifeless body, and the priest crouched down and shaking. “I’ll take care of this.”
Karina ran toward her dad and jumped into his arms. “I love you, Daddy.”
“And I love you too, bambina.”
Now me? My head was still fucking spinning. Anderson has been working for the Valentis all this time? Motherfucker.
“Detective Stone.”
“Yeah.” I shake my head lightly and look at none other than the big chief himself, Lorenzo.
“Thank you for helping my sons find my daughter.”
“Oh, um…Dante was the one who figured it out.�
�
Dante came up from behind and slapped me on my shoulder. “Nah, don’t pass the credit, man. If you hadn’t come to warn us in the first place, we wouldn’t even have known.”
Lorenzo extended his hand, and I take it. “I am in your debt, Detective. If you ever need the debt repaid, you know where to find me.”
I glanced at Karina who was silently standing next to her dad. The poor woman looked like she had been through hell. All I wanted to do was take her home, wrap my arms around her and hold her for as long as she would allow me.
“Mr. Valenti,” I started, but Karina stepped up.
“Dad—”
Lorenzo held up his hand. “I know what you want to tell me.” He glanced at Antonio, and I knew the little snitch told daddy dearest everything. Not that I’m complaining. The man arrived here just in time.
“Karina,” Lorenzo started, “I can’t condone it. You know our rules.”
My heart twisted inside my chest, and it felt like I was about to choke on my own goddamn stomach.
But then Karina does the unexpected. She steps away from her dad’s side to mine, takes my hand in hers and fixes her gaze on her dad’s.
“I’m sorry, Dad, but this time I’m following my heart and not your rules.” She looked up at me and my heart swelled inside my chest. I felt like a goddamn peacock about to show everyone here who had the prettiest fucking tail feathers.
“I love him, Dad. I love him, and I want to be with him.”
God almighty, those words almost knocked me the fuck out. I don’t know whether I was relieved and fucking happy beyond comprehension, or just plain suicidal—but I reached out, pulled her against me and kissed her like my life depended on it. I didn’t even care that I probably had like six guns pointed at my head right at the moment. All I cared about was that this woman loved me and that she had chosen me. Now what man would not be instantly pussy whipped by that?
I feel Karina slightly nudging against my chest, silently conveying the message that if I wanted to live a long life I should keep my dick under control since I was surrounded by three trigger happy Mafia men.
