by Olivia Deici
My head warned me to stop but my body begged me to keep going.
I felt him at my entrance and all thought vanished from my head.
Chapter 43
Roman
“The fuck, Marco.”
“Tony got it good from the Russian.”
I groaned. We were in Pop’s office. I hated doing this to Pop. He was already feeling tired from the radiation begun two weeks ago.
I looked at Carlos and Diego for help. Diego was doing well, so far. He had over a month of sobriety under his belt. The OD scared him shitless, thank God.
“We need a 100% confirmation that the Zaitsevs ordered the hit. Without it, no go, Marco.”
His face morphed into a nasty sneer.
“You wouldn't be fucking saying that in your calm demeanor as you casually drink your scotch if it had been Izzy hacked down in your living room with your baby crying her lungs out for her mother in the next room, who was bleeding out of her dismembered body.”
I didn’t know if it was the fierce look on his face, the tone of his voice, or the vivid use of his words that had me stop breathing. I pictured my beautiful Izzy as we’d found Jenny, and I fucking wanted to kill everything living in my path. I relaxed my fists when I realized I'd been clenching them.
“Then to see your baby smeared in the blood of her mother, and take that for the threat that it was for a reason you don't know.”
I will never be able to forget how we found Marco and Jenny when I’d answered his frantic phone call. I closed my eyes, my body chilling at the memory. My brothers, Pop and I had walked in and found Jenny’s dismembered body, with a bloody Marco howling over her rocking his baby girl, who had blood all over her face and body.
The eyes of my brother that night were not ones I'd ever forget. They were hollow and soulless. Crazed.
We’d lost him that night, who he used to be. He was different now, in so many ways.
The room was quiet as we all remembered. I hung my head and wiped my eyes.
“I'm sorry, Bro.”
I walked to him and hugged him. Fuck man, I was being an insensitive shit.
“I'm sorry.” I repeated. I was apologizing for so much more than my insensitivity, though. If I could do anything to bring Jenny back, I would.
“It's ok, Rome.”
His voice was hoarse.
“Get it on tape. We don't go to the other families before, as protocol dictates for retribution. Get it on tape, and we’ll wipe them out. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”
“Consequences, Pop.”
Carlos spoke from a leather chair on the left side of the room.
“I'm not worried about them, if that happens, and that's a big if. If we have it on tape, that's sufficient proof. If anyone has a problem with that and the retaliation, they can take it up with us. We’re the largest family here. We’re on top.” Pop made a gun with his hand. “Fuck it.”
“Thanks, Pop.” Marco looked relieved.
Carlos and I shared a look. He shrugged.
“I don't fucking like this. Tony has been setting something off in me for a while now. Marco, I know you're wanting to kill them all, but I can't help but feel something's not right.”
“You think he's setting us up? He's been with the family for ten years, Rome.” Diego got up and refilled his glass. Just soda. Even though he has a drug abuse problem, he had never abused alcohol. He still abstained, though. He was doing well with his recovery.
“Yea. I do.”
They were quiet. I'd finally voiced my suspicions to them. I hadn't wanted to do that to Tony, so I hadn't mentioned it before now. This shit’s been eating at me though.
“Put Nestor on it. We have to act normally with Tony. Nestor’s never liked Tony anyway, and he's as loyal as blood.”
Carlos nodded at Pop. “I'll get on it.”
Marco’s cheeks puffed with an angry breath. “I don't want this shit lasting another year.”
“I got it, Marco. It'll get done, ASAP.”
“You better, Los, or I'll act without anyone’s consent.”
My fucking blood chilled as I heard his words and watched him look at Pop in the eyes. “Even without Pop’s.”
He walked out of the room leaving us behind with the warning hanging in the air.
Chapter 44
Izzy
“Do you want me to open the lines of communication between you and Marcelo? I can do it for you, baby.”
My head was cradling my cell phone against my shoulder as I wrote out a prescription.
“Not yet, Roman. I just need more time. It will be soon, promise.”
“Don't do it for me, Izzy. I offer that to you because you told me you were close to him.”
“Thank you, my love.” I sighed. “I guess I'm scared he'll take sides and won't believe me, even after all this time.”
I was an avoider. I didn't want to face the past or him right now.
“I understand. No pressure. If he loves as much as you loved him, then maybe he would believe you, but you tell him in your own time.”
“I appreciate that.”
“You sound busy so I'll let you go.”
I smiled. He was perceptive, this one.
“Was I that obvious?”
His laugh was deliciously velvety.
“I know my little doc better than she thinks I know her. What time should I pick you up later?”
“Dinner is at six but my last patient is at five. If Cari goes, she said she'd give me a ride so we can go together. If she decides not to, I'll just drive. No worries.”
“Ok. I have a meeting at the office, so as long as I know you have a ride, I don't have to look at the clock that closely.”
I laughed. He was babying me.
“You know, you don't have to worry if I have a ride. I'm an adult and problem-solver, too. I have a car, and I can always Uber.”
He snorted. “The hooptie? Listen, babe, I'm five seconds from buying you a new car.”
I smiled and I knew he could hear it in my voice. “Don't speak like that about Lola. She's been in my life longer than you have. If one of you has to go-”
“What? If one of us has to go, what?”
I heard the jest in his voice, too.
“Let's just say you don't want me to finish that sentence,” I teased. “She's been with me a long time.”
“Babe, is it so wrong that I want the woman that I love to have a dependable car that will give me peace of mind because I know it's not gonna die on her at the worst possible moment?”
I smooched a kiss to him. We'd had his conversation several times. He was so persistent.
“Love you, babe. Gotta go.”
“Izzy! Think about it. I'll just buy a damn new car for you and leave the other one somewhere it'll be stolen.” He laughed and added, “Actually, no one would steal that POS.”
“Roman! Enough insults about Lola! Now, I can't wait to see you later. What's your mom making?”
“Your favorite, as if you don't know. You have that woman strutting around happily for the first time in a long time. Apparently, I was the one she was most worried would never settle down.”
My laughter was bubbly. I couldn't help it. This all made me feel giddy and loved, him and his family.
“I love you, Roman.”
My voice was serious because this overwhelming feeling of joy, love, and euphoria entered my soul at that exact moment. I loved this man and it was truly a feeling I'd never ever felt before him.
“You ok, baby?”
There was a catch in his voice, like he was worried.
“Oh, very. I'm doing great. Better than ok. I'm in Heaven, Roman, and I didn't even have to die to get there.” My voice choked a bit.
“Izzy...”
I could tell he was still worried because of my serious tone.
“My love, everything is perfect. I promise. My life is perfect. And it's all because of you.” I paused again. “I just got overwhelmed with ha
ppiness now and my tone became too serious. I just want you to know how much I love you. You've become the sun in my life, Roman. I love you, tesoro.”
He chuckled. “I love you, bella, con todo mi corazón. See you later.”
“I can't wait.”
And I couldn't. I looked forward to seeing him every minute of every day.
I was so head over heels in love with this man, I didn't know how I was able to remain standing when I was around him.
I was one lucky woman.
Chapter 45
Izzy
“No prob, Care. I'll meet you there. Look at me, I’m rhyming. Yea, yea, Roman number two. I know he doesn't want me driving my car. Fine, fine! I'll have Roman pick me up. We’re all running late, imagine that. Don't worry. Roman said that even though his mother said dinner’s at six, it wouldn't be until seven or eight. Yes, after all these many years with you, I know about Cuban time. You run on Cuban time, too. Yea. Ok. See ya there.”
I showered and dressed myself, choosing a light violet airy dress that Roman said brought out my eyes. I left my hair in loose wavy curls, only securing small strands from my temples at the back crown of my head. Dangling silver and purple chandelier earrings danced below my earlobes. After applying some light makeup, I took a selfie in front of the mirror and sent it to Roman.
See you later, handsome.
I wasn't a selfie-taking type of person, but he always asked me to send him pics of me during the day. He said he wanted to make sure his bella was having a good day, and that he could tell by my eyes.
Can't wait to see you, bella.
Smiling, I placed my phone in my purse.
“Ready to take a quick walk, Dez?”
He picked up his head, got up, and started to dance in excitement.
“Come on. Let me leash you and we’ll take a pee-pee walk.”
I patted his head and attached the leash to his harness. We went down the stairs and I let him do his business. It was darker earlier this time of year, so I was grateful when he finished quickly. Ten minutes later, I was going up the stairs following an unleashed Dez. I was just going to go in, grab my purse, and run back downstairs to the car. No matter what I told Cari, I wasn't going to call Roman to chauffeur me to his family’s house. I'm a big girl and I can drive myself.
I didn't hear the door close behind me. It was one of those that self-closed by a top large hinge, like other commercial buildings and stores had. Before I could turn around to look, I was grabbed around the middle and hauled back. A strangled gasp escaped and Dezi was at the top of the steps, barking. Within seconds he was growling and running down the stairs.
“Call him off, or I'll kill him.”
The accented words said in the darkest voice I'd ever heard caused a sharp cry to emit from my throat, which I instantly regretted. His strong left arm held me to his body like an iron bar, while his right arm snapped out with a gun.
“No, no, please. Just hurry back and close the door. He can't come after you then. Don't harm him.” I focused on Dezi despite my thoughts being everywhere at once.
“Down, Dezi! Down!” I tried to sound angry and he whimpered. I choked the words out of my mouth, fearing for Dezi’s life.
“I'll go. I won't give you a hard time.” Tears were clouding my vision. This man was cruel- I knew first hand. He would kill Dezi just to make me hurt and cry.
His laugh brought back a host of terrible memories that took me years of therapy to stop haunting me, with the knowledge that I would never be able to truly forget them.
Tears fell down my cheeks as my body violently shook. I felt his lips at my ear as he sneered.
“You are coming with me regardless, Izabella. I don't need your cooperation.” He paused. “Fight me. I would love to wrestle you.”
I closed my eyes trying to regulate my breathing. I was becoming lightheaded. I needed to calm myself if I was going to defend myself.
Dezi was growling and barring his fangs. When we retreated further down the stairs, Dezi leapt off the top steps coming towards us when the shot rang.
“Nooo!”
Dezi whimpered as he landed hard, and was frighteningly still.
“Dezi!!!”
I reached out but I didn't have a chance to see anymore as I was hauled back again and pushed through the outside door.
I turned to where I knew Ralph was, and made to run.
“Ralph!!”
“Is dead.”
The chilling words stopped me cold and caused goosebumps across my skin as my soul ached. I was responsible for his death.
“Try and run again, Izabella, and I'll make sure you pay for it ten times over.”
I turned to face the monster of my nightmares, the one man I’d hoped I'd run from and would never have to see again.
“And I'll torture your fucking lover before I kill him, too.”
My eyes widened.
“You didn't think I knew about him.” His face twisted. “Who the fuck do you think has been leaving you letters!”
He squeezed my cheeks so painfully, I moaned. “I've been keeping an eye on you. Took me a decade and a half, but I found you, puttana. You fucking ran from me after you were promised to me. I don't forgive slights, Izabella. I looked like a fucking stronzo and idiota in front of the New York families. You owe me, and you're going to pay me in body and in blood.”
It was the last thing I remember him saying before my head snapped to the side painfully. I felt the cold metal across my check before everything faded to black.
Chapter 46
Roman
I was running late. To make matters worse, in my haste leaving the office, I left my goddamned phone there. I hadn't wanted to waste time turning around. I'll go get it after dinner.
I just wanted to see Izzy.
The pic she sent me of her in that dress- wow. It was one of my favorites. She looked like an angel in that picture.
Walking into my parent’s home, everyone was lounging in the living room, making small conversation. I noticed Carlos staring at the other side of the room where Pop, Mom, and Cari sat. Mom was bouncing Arianna on her knee.
So my hunch was right. Carlos has a thing for the doctor. Izzy wouldn't fess up what she knew about the situation, invoking the girl honor code as her defense.
“Great, Rome’s here. Time to eat,” Diego droned as he got up. All he ever wanted was to eat, so I wasn't offended by his tone.
I walked up to Mom and pecked her cheek, and then I slapped Pop’s back.
“Hey, Cari.” I kissed her check in our customary greeting. I looked around. “So where's Izzy? She go to the bathroom or something?”
Cari’s eyebrows rose. “She said she would call you to pick her up.”
“Last I heard, you were picking her up.”
“We were both running late so I called her to tell her I didn't have time. She said she'd drive herself before I reminded her that you didn't want her driving her hooptie. She said she'd call you.”
“Fuck.”
“Romano!”
I looked at Mom. “Sorry, Mamá. I left my phone at the office. I don't know if she called me after I left.”
“Take my cell. Call her.”
I grabbed the phone from Carlos. It rang several times before going to voicemail.
“No answer?”
I shook my head. “Depending on which way she's coming, she goes in and out of service. Let's just wait another few minutes.”
Everyone nodded. Diego popped some nuts and chewed on appetizers in the meanwhile.
The few minutes turned into twenty.
A knot was starting to form in my gut.
“I wish I had my fucking phone. I could log onto the app and check the security cameras and see if her car was still home.”
“You don't have to only rely on the app, Rome. Just log in on the web. Go to Pop’s computer.”
“Smart, Diego. I'll be a minute.”
I went to Pop’s office and went to the website fo
r Izzy’s cameras and logged on. I slapped the top of her desk when I saw her car still next to the outside door. The other cameras weren't working.
What happened that she is so late to dinner? Was she sick?
She only had her cell and no landline for the apartment. I left Pop’s office and returned to the group.
“Did you see her car?”
I looked at Carlos. “Yes.”
“She probably had a last-minute walk-in, and knowing Iza, she couldn't turn the patient away.”
Despite knowing that what Cari said was a possibility, I couldn't shake a bad feeling.
“Carlos, give me your phone again. I'll try the Find iPhone app.”
I logged on with her credentials, and sure enough, her phone was home.
She was still there.
I was calm until Raul, my dad’s head of security, hurried in. It wasn't something he usually did- interrupting family time. As he came over, he looked at me and my gut churned.
“There’s a phone call through the back channels.” We all looked at one another. Aside from family, no one knew those numbers, and we were all here.
“A man, Shadow, demands to speak to Romano.”
My fists clenched. “Pass him through. Immediately.”
Raul handed me a phone.
“This is Roman.”
“What the fuck, Roman!” I heard street background noise and heavy breathing. “Do you not fucking answer phones? I've been calling you.”
He hadn't said anything alarming yet, but a ball of fear was churning in my stomach already, and rage was being born in my blood.
Something had happened to Izzy. I just knew it.
“I left my goddamn phone at the office.”
“Whatever.” I heard a horn honk and tires squeal. “I had just parked and was going to speak to Ralph, when I saw a car speed away. Ralph was down. I followed my hunch, ran back to my car, and I'm currently chasing the vehicle.”
“Was Izzy kidnapped?”
Everyone in the room sat up straighter. Cari walked to me, fear on her face.
“I don't know. I only see one person in the car and that's the driver. I didn't have time to check if she was in the building. I could be following some random guy. You need to go check and see if she's there. If not, then the car I'm chasing is a good lead.”
