by Soraya Naomi
Slipping through the entrance, I pass a small kitchen and creep toward a staircase on the far side, continuing up to the second floor. The first bedroom door is ajar and my target is lying on his king-size bed with a lady next to him. I slink inside without making a noise, hunching down beside him, and snatch my gun from my slacks and aim the barrel at the tip of his nose to simply stare at him.
His eyes open languidly at first, trying to focus, and then widen.
That second, I smother his mouth with my palm and whisper, “Come with me, or she dies now.”
He nods, so I stand up slowly with my pistol targeted at his forehead as he climbs off the bed, wearing only white boxers, with his hands in the air. I gesture with the gun for him to proceed in front of me, and with my weapon poking in his back, I guide him downstairs to sit in a chair at his kitchen table while I make a half circle and stop behind him. Since I can’t waste any time, I take a knife from the wooden block on the counter behind me and cup his chin to slit his throat. I don’t slice too deep, just enough for the blood to seep out and burn his skin.
I release him to step in front of him as he spits blood in shock. “It hurts doesn’t it, motherfucker.”
Leaning sideways, I grab a towel from the sink, cut the corners of his mouth, and smother his cry with the towel while he howls in agony, struggling in the chair.
“I’m going to let you slowly bleed to death because you took my grandmother’s life.”
Again, I cut his throat. This time deeper so he can’t make excessive noise as blood gushes out, and he sags to the floor into a fetal position. I wipe the layer of sweat mixed with his blood from my upper lip, and taking the towel and knife with me, I stride out toward my car the same way I came in.
There’s only one place where I’ll be safe, so I return to CIA headquarters because I’m probably a hunted Syndicate man. Thinking quickly, I concentrate on damage control and send a message to Adriano.
Logan: I did not kill Mykhail. When you want to talk, contact me at this number. I’ll only talk to you. No underboss or Consigliere.
On the twentieth floor of headquarters, there are tons of rooms for agents to occupy. I check into one room that’s decorated with simple walnut furniture and miserably sink down onto the edge of the mattress, dropping my head in my hands and finally letting the anguish come. The first tears I’ve shed since I lost my son seep into the carpet. I can’t even turn to the one I need most. The last time someone I loved died, I didn’t feel so alone.
Somehow, I have to give Rosa the second secured phone that will enable us to communicate. I can’t contact her or visit her right now since I don’t know what’s going on at that damn mansion in Lincoln Park.
CHAPTER 42
Rosalia
The gate is wide open when I reach my house. After Logan left his grandmother, I went after him again but lost him within minutes, so I decided to drive home.
I brake suddenly when I notice that one living room window is broken and then I hear engines approaching. Several cars pull up the driveway, and Adriano busts out of his silver convertible.
I throw open my door as he rushes over to me, his dark eyes betraying not a flicker of emotion.
“What’s going on?” I ask frantically.
“Alarm went off,” he says and places his hand on my shoulder so that I don’t stand up, watching his men disappear through the heavy entrance door. “Wait here. I’ll be back for you when I know it’s safe.” He runs up the flight of stairs and inside the house.
While extreme panic blazes through me, I wait and piece together the turn of events. My father somehow found out about Logan and me, and he threatened Logan to end our relationship. I believe Logan when he told me that my father killed Mykhail, and apparently, he also killed Logan’s grandmother. Now I’m not sure where either man is.
Impatiently, I get out of the car and tiptoe inside the ravaged house. A trail of blood is smeared on the grey-tiled floor in the foyer, and my stomach curdles in distaste as I follow it through the kitchen and back door to a corpse lying on the trimmed lawn. My stare lands on the edge of the pool where Adriano’s instructing two men to pull a person out of the water, and I recognize my dad’s silver-grey hair.
“Oh, my God, Dad?” I yell. Dread overwhelms me, and I dash forward to the men pulling his body out.
Everyone’s gaze shoots to me, and Adriano stops me halfway, folding his arms around me and lifting me off the ground. He turns us around until I’m facing the house before he sets me on my feet again, but he keeps his hold. Uselessly, I try to tug free, but he’s too strong and rests his hand on the back of my head.
“No, Rosalia, you don’t want to see,” he tells me.
“Is he...dead?” I clutch his tux jacket.
“Yes, I’m sorry.” He strokes my hair affectionately.
A sob escapes me and tears streak down my cheeks. What did my father do?
Another shriek rings out, and I make out my mother’s voice.
I look up as Adriano commands, “Goddammit, someone lock up the gate and seal the perimeter of this mansion. Now!”
“James!” my mom cries, flying past Adriano and me toward the edge of the pool where a guard is covering him up with a white sheet. My mom pushes the guard aside and sags to her knees, clutching my father’s lifeless shoulders. “James? No!”
There’s a commotion in the kitchen, and then Cam, Luca, and Fallon step out too. Cam’s palm flies to her swollen belly and the other to her mouth before she eats the distance between us, and Adriano flings one arm around her, kissing her temple tenderly.
We’re all still in our formal attire, surrounded by a sinister crime scene. I need to collect my thoughts while I’m mourning so much loss.
My mother’s mumbling, shaking her head riotously. Yet her lips skew in annoyance as she swings upward and screams, “What did you and Logan do?”
Adriano’s brows furrow, and he releases both Cam and me to block my mother as she comes at me.
Apparently, my mother also knew about Logan and me and the plan my father was executing!
“Calm down, Alessa,” Adriano instructs, holding up his palm in a simple, yet effective, commanding gesture as everyone’s stunned by mother’s vehemence and the blood.
She halts instantly. “Rosalia, what happened?”
“I don’t know,” I defend. “Adriano came in before me.”
“Someone explain to me why James is dead along with one of our guards?” Adriano points his finger between the two of us as he entwines hands with Cam, who’s observing me in an odd manner.
I comb my hair from my face and brace my neck with both hands.
“Rosalia?” Cam prompts softly, crying for our father. “Tell us what you know.”
Adriano adds, “I just received a message that Mykhail Medlov has been found dead. Seems like Logan disobeyed my orders and killed him.”
It’s time to come clean. I lower my arms and take an encouraging breath, letting the words tumble out, “I don’t know what happened here, but Logan and I have been in a relationship for months.”
Cam’s mouth drops open while she wipes away her tears.
“And I’d been helping Mykhail hide since November, but Logan didn’t know. Somehow, my father discovered it.” Solemnly, I catch my mother’s angry stare. “Dad killed Mykhail, and he made me believe that Logan did it and forced Logan to lie to me for a week.”
“How do you know this is true?” my mother counters, furiously tucking her black hair behind her ears when the wind rustles through the strands.
I send my mother a disappointed look. “I also think you knew; why else would you suspect Logan and me now?”
“Rosalia, shut up,” she chides. “You have no idea what’s going on.”
“I think I’m the only one here who knows most of the story. Stop treating me like a kid. What did you and Dad do?”
“Rosalia, finish your story,” Adriano interrupts. “And since when has Mykhail been dead?”
&nbs
p; “Since last week, Saturday. Logan broke up with me all of a sudden on that day, and we talked for the first time tonight, but when dad caught us, he bolted out of the venue. Logan and I left right afterward, to hurry to his grandmother who’s been killed too, by Dad or his guard, I think.”
“And then?” Adriano prompts, his lips in a hard, thin line as he learns the full truth about his head Capo and me.
“I left Logan there to come here,” I lie. My heart belongs to Logan, and my first instinct is to protect him.
My mother’s hands whirl in incredulity. “He killed your father, Rosalia.”
“How do you know that?” I practically stomp my foot, being the only one to defend Logan. “There’s a dead guard; who knows what happened?” I point out. Even though a sliver of doubt is planted inside. There is a possibility that Logan ended Dad, but I don’t voice it.
Adriano scrutinizes me with a watchful expression as I edge closer to my mother. Her sorrow breaks my soul, and I understand her resentment in this moment. Cautiously, I wrap my arms around her back and she embraces me like only a mom can.
“Someone call Logan,” Adriano orders.
“He’s been an ass all week,” Fallon murmurs to Luca from behind me, but I catch her words.
“He’s MIA,” another guard replies.
I pull back from my mom to check Adriano’s face, which is radiating irritation.
“Find him. He’s a wanted man now.” He cocks his head at me. “Is there anything else you need to tell me, Rosalia?”
“About Logan? No. I don’t know where he is right now.”
My mom’s overcome with despair as she shakes my shoulders. “Rosalia, if you know where Logan is, then you need to tell us. He killed your father. And your father didn’t kill Mykhail.”
My mother holds my eyes and hesitation pulls at me. Everything’s moving too fast for my mind to keep up.
“I don’t believe Logan killed Dad, or Mykhail,” I admit.
“I don’t believe that either,” says Fallon.
My mother lets out a frustrated breath. “Don’t turn your back on your father for some man who left you. He did everything for you.”
“I know that! I’m grieving here too, Mom. But we can’t jump to conclusions.” I look to Cam for help.
“Rosalia’s right,” Cam comments, trying to keep her composure while she’s mourning as well. “Alessa, you’re distraught. Let’s focus here. Do you want Adriano and Luca to handle James’s body?”
Mom peers over at Dad and cries loudly. “Yes. Please treat him with respect.”
Adriano nods as my mom announces to me, “We’ll go stay with your aunt, okay?”
I can’t leave the Loop. Adam’s with Mary, and I need to pick him up. Also, what if Logan tries to contact me? I want answers, or else I’ll never be able to cope with all of this.
“I have Adam in my care.”
All eyes redirect to me, and Adriano demands, “Adam Medlov? Why?”
“I told you. Either Dad or the guard killed Mykhail. But Mykhail had hidden Adam, and then I found him. He’s been with me ever since.”
“What!” my mother screams, staring at me in astonishment with red-rimmed eyes. “What have you been doing lately?”
“I can ask the same to you,” I retort, drained.
“What’s your plan with the boy then?” Mom’s irately stuck in her grief, so I stand down.
“Alessa, calm down,” Cam speaks and tosses her arm around me, showing me she’ll always be there to support me.
“Where’s Adam now?” Adriano asks.
I’m not outing Mary, so I reply, “With a friend from school until the morning.”
“Are you taking care of this boy full-time?” my mother asks, dumbfounded.
“Yes,” I confess just before overlapping shouting starts.
“How?”
“Where?”
“Shut up, please, everyone. You’re driving me crazy. Yes, I have Adam, and I’ll take care of him as long as I don’t have a solution. Beyond that, I don’t know. But I have a responsibility toward that little boy.”
“You’re coming with me,” my mother declares.
“No,” I object in public for the first time and state firmly, “I won’t go with you. I’m sorry. I’d prefer for us to be together too, but we’re both angry now. I’m getting Adam and staying here in the Loop.”
Everyone gapes at me in surprise. I’ve never used this steady tone before, and it’s time they learn I’m a grown woman, all of them. Logan has imparted that wisdom on me – take the power you want.
My mother throws up her hands in exasperation and accuses, “I don’t even recognize you anymore.”
The statement evokes a painful sensation in my chest, but I withstand the blow because she’s not herself.
“Don’t say more things you might regret, Mom,” I advise and hug her, which she returns. “I’m going to get Adam, and I’ll call you in the morning.”
Despondent, my mother goes inside with Fallon to pack her bags. Sensing the brittle disquiet in the atmosphere as more Syndicate men start to clean up, I decide to leave as well.
“Rosalia, if Logan contacts you, you call me,” Adriano orders.
I nod, shivering now that I notice the breeze brushing my bare shoulders.
“You’ll be guarded, Rosalia,” Adriano adds in a soft tone.
“I know,” I confirm forlornly and walk back to my car before he can fire more questions at me.
Of course, Adriano’s ordered a guard to track me, but I shake him off.
***
In a state of ruin, I arrive at Mary’s apartment, which is located in a glass skyscraper of the downtown Loop.
She opens the door on the first knock, and a frown sweeps across her forehead when she notes my anguished appearance. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head as she pulls me inside the hall, shutting the door.
“My father was found dead at our house. Adriano and Cam are there now.”
“Oh, my God!” She loops her arms around me, and my thick teardrops fall on her shoulders. “How? And when? We were just together a few hours ago.”
I send her a pleading look to please stop her inquiry. “I’ll explain everything in the morning. I just need to hold Adam.”
“Okay.” Quietly, Mary opens the door behind her to the bedroom where Adam is nestled under the floral covers. “I’ll sleep on the couch,” she whispers and squeezes my hand in support.
“Thank you, Mary.”
“Any time, Rosalia.” She closes the door.
I kick off my flats and lift the sheet to settle in behind Adam when he stirs and turns, throwing his arm around my neck with a sweet smile on his face as he sleeps peacefully. Kissing his blond curls, I close my eyes.
I’ll never understand why Dad chose to take such radical actions to keep Logan and me apart. Nonetheless, he was my father, so my pain is profoundly intense – even though he probably killed my best friend. Scalding tears pour down my cheeks while I remember my dad when I was three years old, teaching me how to ride a bike, and other times throughout my life before he was so wrapped up in the mafia. Then I remember him at my high school graduation, realizing that he won’t be there to see me receive my college diploma.
If I had known back then what I do now, I would’ve handled everything differently. Still, I remain hopeful that Logan will call me as soon as he can and keep my phone beside my pillow as the memories of my chaotic life during the last five months haunt me deep into the night.
CHAPTER 43
Logan
I’m not a good man anymore. What was left of my conscience died the second I ended James. The power the Syndicate instills in their members is potent. It’s addictive, and it changes you. It hardens you to the point where feelings of remorse are phased out. It’s given me exactly what I wanted in that regard; it’s destroyed my demons of regret.
I’m going crazy not being able to communicate with Rosa. I have and will risk everything
to make things right. So the Sunday after James’s death, I’m single-mindedly working on it. I’ve lost everyone, but I won’t lose her or my position as head Capo.
As soon as the sun sets, I break into the apartment of the one man who can help me. The man who I also consider my friend and most loyal member in this organization. It’s difficult to get inside his apartment without disabling his security system first, yet I manage and am waiting for him on the couch in his living room when the front door creaks open.
Footsteps bound from down the hall and then Henry appears. His eyes round behind his black-rimmed glasses, and he snatches his gun from the back of his jeans, leveling it at me.
I don’t flinch.
“Jesus, fuck! Man, you scared me.” He lowers his aim. “Where have you been?”
“Laying low until I gather my evidence.”
“Did you kill James?” he asks with a lifted brow.
“No,” I answer with a straight face.
To ensure a lie is never exposed, a person needs to keep it to himself forever. Once a few people know, the truth will always come out. But if only I know, I control the truth, and I will bend it to my will to get Rosa back. Besides, the longer we’re apart, the more uncertainty the Syndicate will fill her head with.
Henry sets his gun on the coffee table and sinks down onto the sofa. “And Mykhail?”
“I didn’t kill him either.”
“But,” Henry prompts, expecting me to explain further.
I relay only the simple facts he needs to be aware of, “But I know who did. James murdered Mykhail and my grandmother. James, the guard, and I fought at his mansion. The guard and James shot each other.”
“Your leaving is suspect. They’re hunting you. Your rank has been stripped, but I think Adriano knows James had ulterior motives. You might have an ally in him. What can I do to help you?”
For now, Adriano hasn’t replied to my text, so I’ll have to wait and see. “You can do two things for me, actually.”
“What?”
“Can you get Mykhail’s body before they burn it at the warehouse? I need him buried at another address.”
His grey eyes narrow in confusion.
