It's Not Over

by Grahame Claire

  “I’ll be ready.”

  “You already are.”

  I grabbed the helmet off the seat of my motorcycle. He leaned against the side of his Cadillac parked next to me.

  “Are you begging for someone to steal that?” His gaze zeroed in on the helmet.

  “At least I wear one.” It was nothing for me to drive without a license, yet I wouldn’t break the law about protective gear.

  “You need a license. We’ll see to it when we get back.” I shrugged as if indifferent. “Do you have the ticket to get out of the garage?”

  I dug in my pocket and produced the green stub with a glare. Shoving it back in, I threw my leg over the seat and straddled the bike with an annoyed huff.

  “I don’t want you to ever think of him again. Do you understand me?”

  I jerked my head to look at him, my face twisting in confusion. How could I stop? If I could just turn it off, I would.

  “You won’t see him again. When you need something you come to me.” There was no room for argument in his tone. I wouldn’t anyway. He didn’t need to tell me not to see that bastard again. If I ever laid eyes on him again, one of us wouldn’t come out alive.

  “Yes, sir,” I said, but I silently swore to myself that once I learned everything Donato could teach me, I wouldn’t need anyone but myself.

  When I refused to look at him, he stepped closer. “Today was the worst. Tomorrow will be better.”

  I glared at Donato as I booted the kickstand and revved the engine to life with all my aggression. What the hell did he know anyway? Today was by far one of the worst, but it would take a miracle to get better from here.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Daniel

  Present

  “It’s Vinny. I know it is.”

  I’d replayed the events of the last few weeks over and over in my head. The culminating events at my apartment cemented what I knew in my gut. That’s why I was at Donato’s in the middle of the night instead of with Vivian. To get this shit resolved.

  Donato leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. I’d had my suspicions Vinny was the one who wanted Donato sidelined, but I’d been hesitant to say so to Donato without proof. The two men might not always see eye to eye, but they were brothers. In their family that counted for something. At least on Donato’s part.

  Though I still didn’t have concrete evidence, I couldn’t wait any longer to speak up. Secrets had nearly cost me Vivian, and I knew that working together with Donato was the best chance of finding a way out of this mess.

  “I’m going on pure instinct,” I continued, drumming my fingers against the arm of the chair. “I want to be wrong, but all the pieces lead to only one place.”

  Donato’s breathing was even, the features of his face neutral, but I knew he was listening. I tapped my foot against the carpet, determined to wait him out.

  “Alvarez finally did his job and confirmed your suspicions just before you arrived.” He opened his eyes and folded his hands on his desk. I stopped tapping my foot and stared at him, amazed and relieved that it was that simple.

  When he spoke again, the sadness was palpable. “What is it about family that blinds us? I’m well aware of everything Vinny’s done to undermine us over the years, yet I still find it hard to believe he would actually turn me in for murder.” Donato sounded disgusted with himself.

  “I struggled to believe it myself. You’ve been to him what family should be.” Vinny had no idea just how lucky he was, yet he tossed his brother aside as if he were nothing. “All the undermining and backstabbing, part of me thought he was just being juvenile. Now, it’s obvious he wants to be head of the family without waiting his turn.” Why hadn’t I pushed this issue sooner? Maybe deep down, I’d feared Donato would side with Vinny, blood thicker than water and all that. And yet, over and over Donato had proven his loyalty to me. I should’ve trusted that. If I had, we might not be in this hell of a mess.

  “Vinny will never be head of this family. When I’m gone, it’s over.” I’d rarely heard Donato sound more resolute.

  I clutched the armrests of the chair and leaned forward to look right in his eyes. “I know this might be hard to accept, but after what happened tonight, we can’t let it go any longer. This ends. Now.”

  “He’s waiting to find out the cost of what he did to Vivian and Muriella, amongst other things.”

  “I know about some of it. What the hell else has he done?” My irritation soared as my mind turned over the possibilities.

  “Aside from being generally incompetent, he’s been skimming money for years from the deals I’ve sent him to do on his own.” Donato finally met my gaze. His was impassive, though there was an edge in his tone.

  This news was no surprise. “Speaking of screwing up deals, do you have anything on what he did with the jaune?”

  “It’s in your apartment.”

  The fucker. Vinny was setting me up, just as we suspected. “It’s lovely to have options,” I said wryly. “Door one, I go to federal prison for a minimum of twenty years. Door two, I’m assassinated for stealing a diamond. Even when the owner finds out it was a setup, she’ll kill me just to prove a point.”

  I shoved my hands in my pockets and walked toward the fireplace.

  “Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t disagree.”

  I made myself at home, flicking the switch on the wall, a whoosh sounding before flames appeared. “And these are abnormal?” I asked as I stepped closer to the fire to heat my chilled bones.

  “I had my guys hack into her security system and sent her video that very clearly proves you did not lift her precious diamond. I’ve spoken with her, and we’ve settled the misunderstanding.” I spun and stared at him expectantly. “Vinny was truthful with you for once. He stole the diamond.”

  “I have no idea why that doesn’t make me feel any better.”

  Donato’s lip twisted up, but it didn’t really resemble a smile. “Actually, he’s been truthful with you twice.”

  I narrowed my gaze. “What do you mean?”

  “He does know something about your father’s murder and my connection to it,” he said, far too calmly.

  “I don’t care to hear it.” I turned away. I’d known the truth the second Vivian told me about that autopsy.

  “Vinny was there.”

  “He killed him?” That made no sense. Unless he’d been ordered to do it.

  “No,” Donato scoffed. “He was with me when you called that day. I had one thing on my mind, and that was ending your suffering. Vinny sat in the car while I took care of the problem.”

  I collapsed in the chair behind me and stared up at the ceiling. I’d heard enough. “What now?”

  He inhaled deeply. “You’re still in a heap of shit. There’s not much evidence left, so it’s going to be hard to exonerate you. For now, your confession will have to stand.”

  “I’ll figure it out.”

  “We will.” He slapped the wood surface of the desk and stood. “Shall we go see to my dear brother?”

  The promise of retribution lit like fire in my veins. “I’m surprised you haven’t seen to him already.”

  Donato shrugged on his jacket. “I couldn’t deny him time to stew as he considers all the possible ways I could make him pay for his transgressions.” He checked his watch. “It’s been long enough.”

  * * *

  Half an hour later as the sun rose higher in the sky, Donato pulled up to the curb down the street from my warehouse. I shot him a sideways look as he shifted the SUV into park.

  “Should I have asked permission?” he asked, a wry smile on his lips.

  I had carte blanche to use anything he had—vehicles, property, connections. It was only fair he had at least some access to my things.

  “No.” I shoved open the car door and stepped out on the decaying sidewalk.

  Donato easily moved in beside me. “You’re here to get your answers. To hear his account. Once he’s done talking, you’ll leave.
”

  I slowed my steps and glanced at him. “Is it difficult?” He would kill his brother, and maybe it was a stupid question, but Donato made everything look so damn easy.

  “Sometimes, yes. Many times, no.” He checked his watch and shoved his hand in his pocket. “If I don’t take care of this, the problem will only grow. We’re in this current predicament because I’ve hesitated.”

  “What if he wasn’t your brother?”

  Donato’s gaze went cold. “I’d put a bullet between his eyes while eating a ham sandwich.”

  I stopped and looked down at the sidewalk, taking a moment to collect my thoughts before I lifted my eyes to his. “Do you need me in there?” I nodded toward the warehouse.

  “No. I only want you to have your peace of mind.”

  I nodded and kicked at a chunk of loose concrete. “Then I’m going to go. I don’t need a rehashing of the things he’s done. And as much as I want to kill him myself, I won’t.”

  He clapped my shoulder. “Your mother would be so proud of the man you’ve become.” He blinked at me a few times. “I’m proud.”

  “I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without you,” I admitted.

  “Neither would I.” My eyes rounded, and he gave me a sharp squeeze. “Can I trust you won’t play hero again, at least until I get this taken care of?” Underneath his tease, there was gratitude.

  “I think I’ll just focus for now on how to keep us both free.”

  He smiled before his expression turned serious. “No one has ever done for me what you did.”

  “It’s the right thing,” I said solemnly.

  “No. It’s not. But I appreciate it.” He pointed his chin down the street. “Go. Get out of here. Valentina will have supper ready at seven this evening. There’s always a place set for you.”

  My throat clogged. I didn’t know the open invitation meant that his wife always expected me at their table.

  “You know where to find me if you need me.”

  He gripped my shoulder one more time and took off toward the warehouse. I moved in the opposite direction without waiting to watch him go inside. Vinny was a major thorn in my side, but I had bigger problems to deal with now. Namely, if there was any way to avoid prison without sending Donato in my place.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Vivian

  Present

  After Daniel left, I sat on the bathroom counter for a long time. I was finally home, but it wasn’t the victory I’d expected. Daniel was going to prison. Prison .

  I could hardly come to grips with the sacrifice he’d made, yet I wasn’t surprised at all. The man loved harder than anyone I knew, though he’d had a strange way of showing it lately.

  I shoved off the counter. Muriella was expecting us. I had no idea how long Daniel would be, and I didn’t want to be alone anyway.

  I staggered down the steps of the stairwell with the weight of his confession, making it to the landing between Daniel’s and Muriella’s floors before my legs gave way. I slid down the wall, and once I was on the ground, I hugged my knees to my chest. My eyes felt like I’d been swimming with them open in salt water, and I blinked as rapidly as I could to stop the tears from falling.

  I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry.

  If I started now, I wouldn’t ever stop. I rocked back and forth, like that would squelch the ache inside me, but it didn’t help.

  Prison.

  Prison.

  Prison.

  What if it was for life? How would he handle it? When would I see him? How could I live without him?

  Would he be hurt? He was strong, could take care of himself, but what if conditions in there were more than even he could handle? Oh God, what if these people he was associated with sent someone in to—I swallowed thickly, unable to finish the thought. This time apart had nearly killed me. How would we survive years of separation?

  I rarely let anything knock me out. I was like one of those blow-up things you could punch—it would almost hit the ground and then bounce right back up. But for the first time in my life, I didn’t feel like getting back up. I wanted to rot in this stairwell—no, that wasn’t true. I wanted to crawl back upstairs into my bed and rot there.

  Muriella found me.

  The second I saw her, I came unglued. She sat beside me, holding me. It was an ugly cry, but she stayed there throughout, crying with me.

  Unconditional support. Unconditional love. That’s what she gave me when I needed it most.

  The last few weeks had finally caught up to me. I’d sputtered and finally run out of gas.

  * * *

  Waking up with someone was unusual. And though I loved the one with me, it wasn’t who I wanted. It took a moment to get my eyes to open—they were fused shut from endless hours of crying—but when I did, Muriella’s kind face greeted me.

  “Hey,” I said, my voice hoarse.

  “Hey.” She kissed my forehead and stroked my hair.

  “I don’t remember going to sleep here, and I know you didn’t carry me.”

  M’s face was pained. “Stone carried you.”

  “He’s stronger than I thought,” I joked, but it came out pathetic. “Please don’t look at me like that,” I pleaded softly.

  “I don’t know what to do, V.”

  “Well, we’re going to get you ready for that big date.” I hadn’t had the heart to tell her what Daniel was facing, and I certainly wasn’t going to do anything to interfere with her plans with Stone.

  “Stone postponed, and you’re not going anywhere.” M would make the best mom. I’d never told her that because I didn’t want to upset her, but she would. There was no way I was letting her put off this date. They’d waited long enough.

  “You’re going.”

  “We will. Just not today. I need to be with you. It was his suggestion anyway. Not that he needed to make it,” she clarified.

  “Where is he?” I demanded, and she looked at me warily.

  “Back at his hotel.”

  I sighed. “Give me your phone.”

  “Vivian, please…”

  “I don’t know where mine is. Now give me the phone, Muriella.”

  She reached behind her to the nightstand, producing her iPhone. I unlocked the screen and fired off a text to Stone.

  Get your ass over here to pick up my girl.

  Three dots blinked at me for less than a minute.

  Not today, Vivian.

  Now, cowboy. She deserves this.

  I’m a patient man.

  That’s a terrible characteristic under the circumstances. I’ll be pissed if you’re not here in less than an hour.

  You’ll be okay?

  Not if the two of you miss your date because of me.

  See you in an hour.

  I smiled, sensing his eagerness for the date.

  “I won’t be able to relax and enjoy myself,” Muriella protested as I dragged her out of bed and into her bathroom. “Everything’s falling apart.”

  I spun her to face me, grasping her arms. This I could give her. “We’re together.”

  “I know, but Daniel just won’t listen to reason—”

  “I mean me and Daniel.”

  Her eyes rounded. “I thought—last night—you were so upset. And where is he now?”

  “Said he had to get answers.” I shrugged.

  “What the hell is going on?” She narrowed her eyes and let out a long breath.

  “We’ll talk about it after your date.”

  “Now you’re shutting me out.”

  I stroked her hair. “No. Everything is going to be fine.” She started to talk again, but I cut her off. “Stone will be here in an hour, so we’d better hurry. Straight hair or sexy curls?”

  She sighed and followed me out of bed. “I won’t let you avoid me forever.”

  “Just until after the date.”

  I went over to the vanity, opened the cabinet, and pulled out a flat iron and rollers.

  “Fine,”
she said as she stepped into the shower. “Straight,” she called from inside. I plugged in the straightener and dug around her perfectly organized bathroom for the appropriate products. She was the beauty expert, but I’d learned a thing or two from her over the years.

  In the bedroom, I picked up her phone and made a quick call.

  “Muriella? Everything okay?” Stone asked.

  “It’s Vivian.”

  “Have you taken over her phone?”

  “For now. Where are you taking her?”

  “No way. You’ll tell her.”

  I lifted my eyes to the ceiling. “What are you wearing?”

  “I know we had a moment last night, but—”

  “What are you wearing on the date ?” I said in frustration, and he had the audacity to laugh. Didn’t he know we were under a time constraint?

  “Want me to text you my options? I’ve laid out a couple of different things on the bed, but I just can’t decide,” he kidded.

  “You are absolutely no help,” I muttered.

  “Casual is fine, Vivian.”

  “Thanks. Was that so hard?”

  “Yeah, kinda.”

  I groaned. “When did you get so frustrating?”

  “I think it happened while I was in the shower.”

  “I have to go,” I said, stifling another groan. He fit in with our family so well.

  “Me too. If my hair dries the wrong way, I’ll have to do it all over again,” he deadpanned.

  “Well, we wouldn’t want that. If you’re late, M will start deducting points.”

  “Points?” he asked, sounding confused and not so amused anymore.

  “Okay, I’ll be keeping score. Either way—”