Brando

by Marita A. Hansen

  He entered the main house, not finding Dominic in the lounge or dining room. He checked the gym and sparring rooms, both of them empty of people. He went to the kitchen next, finding Brando melting chocolate on the stove top, humming a tune. Brando looked up as the double-doors banged behind Vinnie, his smile disappearing in an instant.

  “What’s wrong?” Brando asked, turning off the stove.

  Vinnie held up his phone. “I’ve found out who’s been calling me.”

  Curiosity lit up Brando’s face. “Who?”

  “Gemma Balak.”

  Brando swore. “That fucking little puttana.”

  “Don’t call her that!”

  “She is one; that tramp broke your heart.”

  “That was my fault, not hers. I should never have let her walk away.” He looked down at his phone, wondering whether she still wanted him.

  Brando walked over and placed his hands on Vinnie’s shoulders. “I know what you’re thinking and you can stop it now, because Gemma isn’t worth it. Not only is she married, but she’s been harassing you for over a year with those phone calls. And what about those other calls you’ve gotten in the past, they were probably her too.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. Gemma is nothing but trouble, and worse, her husband’s crazy. He’ll come after you if you do anything with his wife.”

  “She was mine first.”

  “Ten fucking years ago! For fuck’s sake, just get over her, she’s not worth it.”

  “She is worth it. I loved Gemma, still do.” He held his phone up. “And this might be my chance to be with her again.”

  The sound of a door opening pulled his attention away from Brando. He glanced over his shoulder, jolting at the sight of D. She was holding one of the double-doors open, her hazel eyes looking hurt. Before he could say a word, she took off, the double-doors banging in her wake.

  Vinnie brought his hands to his head. “Merda. I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

  “Then go after her,” Brando said. “That’s the woman you should be chasing, not that gypsy puttana.”

  “Gemma’s not a whore!”

  “You’re right; she’s not, because a whore fucks for money, while Gemma drops her cum-stained panties for free.”

  Vinnie shoved Brando hard, knocking him into the food island. “Shut the fuck up before I make you!”

  Brando pointed a finger at him. “No, you need to know the truth about her. She’s a cheat—”

  “She never cheated on me!”

  “She did.”

  “You fucking liar—”

  “I’m not lying! I swear it on my life, and if you don’t think that’s important enough, on our mother’s life.”

  Vinnie went quiet, knowing Brando wouldn’t say something like that if it wasn’t true.

  Brando continued, “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to tell you, but I can’t stand by and let her fuck you over again.”

  “How do you know she cheated?”

  Brando grimaced. “I—”

  “Was it with Milan? He always gave me the evils when I picked her up.”

  “No, but it looks like she wants to cheat on him too, just with you this time. Ignore her, Vinnie; she’ll only cause you more pain. Go grovel to D, she’s a good woman.”

  Vinnie remained still, not sure what to do. He wanted to smooth things over with D ... but he’d only just gotten to know her, while Gemma ... he’d never stopped loving her, but if Brando was right about her cheating—

  No! Gemma hadn’t cheated. Brando was a habitual liar who constantly made things up to suit his needs ... but he’d sworn on their mother’s life. Merda, he didn’t know what to think, plus Gemma was married, though she could be separated. Maybe that was why she was contacting him.

  “Okay, I’ll go grovel to D,” Vinnie said, lying to appease Brando.

  Brando breathed out, looking relieved. “You’re making the right decision.”

  Vinnie nodded and headed out the back exit, but instead of going to the studio he turned left, needing to find out why Gemma was calling him.

  He spotted Miko disappearing around the corner of the main house and ran after him. The soldier came to a stop in front of his friend, who was leaning against a work vehicle, smoking a cigarette.

  “Miko and Gianni, can you take me somewhere?” Vinnie asked.

  They turned to him, Miko answering, “Sì, boss. Where do you want to go?”

  Vinnie grabbed the back door of the sedan. “The gypsy village.”

  “No problem.”

  Miko walked around to the driver’s side, while Gianni stomped out his cigarette and hopped into the front passenger seat. Vinnie climbed into the back and clicked on his seatbelt. Miko started the engine and headed down the long driveway, stopping at the gate. One of the guards opened it for them, allowing the car through.

  Miko glanced in the rearview mirror. “Are you after pussy or do you want to gamble?”

  “I want to see my ex.”

  “Gemma Balak?”

  “Sì.”

  “That’s not a good idea, her husband’s a psycho. He’ll attack you if you go near her. I went there the other day for figa and saw her. She had bruises on her neck.”

  Vinnie’s eyes widened. “She what?”

  “My guess is that crazy-ass husband of hers did it.”

  Vinnie reached under the seat and pulled out a box. “That fucker’s dead,” he growled, removing a gun from it. After checking the chamber was full, he slipped the gun into his waistband and removed his phone, ringing Gemma back. He’d rung the number numerous times, leaving messages to tell her to stop calling him, but that was before he knew it was her.

  The phone clicked over to voicemail. No one asked him to leave a message, only the beep indicating for him to speak. He started talking, telling Gemma he was coming to get her.

  ***

  Ten years had passed since Vinnie had been to the gypsy village—where he’d broken off his engagement to Gemma, the biggest mistake he’d ever made. He’d listened to his mother, capitulating like a weak bitch with no balls. He’d been nineteen at the time and tied to the family, knowing nothing but them. But Gemma had changed all of that. With vivid clarity, he remembered the first time he saw her. She’d been flying through the air, performing a trapeze act. He’d held his breath every time she was thrown between the two men, even more so since there’d been no safety net.

  After that performance, he’d returned many times to the circus, completely besotted with her. On his fifth visit, she’d bowed to the audience, looking directly at him as she’d lifted her head. They’d locked eyes, Gemma giving him a smile and the confidence to ask her out. He’d waited for her out the back of the tent, inviting her to dinner. They’d dated for four months before he proposed, which was when everything started to go wrong. Gemma’s father had been delighted and had rung Vinnie’s mother, telling her he would be honored to welcome Vinnie into his family. It had been news to her, since she hadn’t even known he was seeing Gemma. As a result, she forbade the marriage and told him to break up with Gemma. He’d yelled at her, declaring that he would still marry Gemma. However, a few days later Gemma started acting strangely around him, postponing dates and making excuses why she couldn’t see him. Two weeks later he confronted her, asking why she was avoiding him. She’d replied that she didn’t think marrying him was a good idea. He’d talked her around, but she continued to act strangely, declaring her love one minute, then pushing him away the next.

  Things came to a head when his mother found out he was still seeing Gemma. She threatened to separate him from his twin if he went through with the wedding, and with the way Gemma was acting, he decided to break it off with her. Still, if she had begged him to stay with her, he was certain he would’ve, but all she’d said was, “Okay,” as though he’d meant nothing to her. Then she’d walked away, leaving him broken...

  ...because he still loved her.

  Miko pulled into the gypsy village, cutting of
f Vinnie’s line of thought. Vinnie jumped out of the car, snapping at the soldiers to follow him. Gypsies scrambled out of their way, realizing they weren’t there for pleasure. A small boy took off, yelling, “Mafija, mafija!”

  Ignoring him, Vinnie grabbed a male gypsy by the arm, demanding, “Where’s Gemma Balak?”

  The middle-aged man pointed at a green caravan with a trembling hand. Vinnie let go of him and stormed towards it, stopping as four men emerged from an alleyway with the small boy. Vinnie recognized the Balak brothers, the oldest a lion tamer. He was holding a gun, the barrel aimed at Vinnie.

  “Leave now, Vincenzo,” Drago said, his voice commanding like his presence. He was an exotic-looking man with dark eyes and wavy black hair.

  Vinnie stopped a few feet from him. “Not until I see Gemma,” he said, placing his hand on his own gun.

  “First Brando, now you, your kind are not welcome here.”

  Vinnie furrowed his brow. “Brando was here?”

  “Yes. He harassed Gemma, too.”

  “I’m not here to harass her, and why would Brando concern himself with my ex?” Vinnie asked, Drago’s words making him feel uneasy.

  “Ask your brother that question.” Drago spun around as the door to the green caravan burst open.

  Milan Balak jumped out, looking furious. “Why can’t you Santini bastards leave my wife alone?!” he yelled, heading for Vinnie.

  Drago stepped in front of his brother. “Don’t touch him, his soldiers will shoot you.”

  Milan pointed at Vinnie. “He’s been phoning my wife!”

  “She called me,” Vinnie snapped.

  “Liar! She told me you phoned her earlier.”

  “She probably lied because she’s scared of you.”

  “She has no reason to be scared of me.”

  “You’ve been beating her!”

  “I have not! I would never hit Gemma.”

  “My soldato saw bruises on her neck.”

  “Brando did that, not me.”

  “You fucking liar, my brother wouldn’t touch her.”

  “He did, Gemma confirmed it. He ran across her while following your soldier Miko. He assaulted her, then when we confronted him he spewed vile lies, insulting her virtue.”

  Vinnie looked over his shoulder at Miko. “Did Brando tail you?” he asked, already knowing the answer, the uneasy feeling in his stomach deepening.

  Miko nodded.

  Vinnie returned his gaze to Milan. “Bring Gemma out; I need her to tell me everything.”

  Milan glared at him. “You’re not permitted to see her. You haven’t been a part of her life in ten years, I have. I’m her husband, not you.”

  “If you count the calls she’s been making to me, she has been a part of my life. She’s been calling me for over a year, not answering when I ask who it is. I only found out it was her when I heard your voice over the line today.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “It’s true. I thought her calls were from a creepy fan until I heard you say her name.”

  “She wouldn’t do that to me.”

  “Well, she did; so if you want to hear the truth, bring her out here, because I think we’ve both been lied to.”

  Milan closed his eyes for a moment, looking like he was trying to get himself under control, then he reopened them, his expression pained. “You have three minutes, no more.” He turned and headed back inside his caravan, reemerging with Gemma.

  Vinnie inhaled sharply at the sight of her, the woman even more beautiful than in her youth. Her sad green eyes fell on him, looking like she’d been crying. Her black hair was a mess, while her clothes were ruffled, but she still looked perfect to him. His eyes lowered to her neck, searching for the bruising. It was faint, but still there.

  He pointed at her neck. “Who did that to you, Gemma?”

  She remained silent.

  “Gemma?”

  “Brando,” she said softly.

  “Why would my brother hurt you?”

  She dropped her gaze, tears now rolling down her cheeks.

  “Answer him, woman!” Drago snapped.

  Milan spun around, leveling his brother with a glare. “Watch how you speak to my wife!”

  “I will speak to her however I damn well please,” Drago spat, looking furious. “I warned you not to marry her, but you refused to listen.” He pointed at Gemma. “Look at her; there’s shame on her face. She’s been lusting after the Santini men for years, not caring about her vows to you.”

  “She has not!”

  “Stop being a blind fool! She used you and you let her. Now she’s making a cuckold out of you and you’re still defending the whore.”

  Milan swung a fist at his brother, who ducked and shoved him to the ground. Milan pushed to his feet, yelling, “It doesn’t matter! Gemma hates Brando; she would never sleep with him again.”

  “What?!” Vinnie gasped.

  Milan’s eyes snapped to him, surprise coloring his dark irises. “You didn’t know?”

  Stunned, Vinnie shook his head, not believing what he was hearing.

  “I thought that was why you left her—”

  “The dhampir seduced me!” Gemma shouted, cutting her husband off. Rushing past him, she came to a stop in front of Vinnie, her eyes beseeching him. “Please forgive me, Vincenzo. I was a foolish girl who fell for your brother’s magic. If I could, I would turn back time and reject him, because I love you more than anything in this world.”

  “How could you say that?” Milan interrupted, looking devastated. “I’ve looked after you even when you gave birth to another man’s child. I brought her up as my own daughter. I’ve treated you and her like princesses, yet you declare your love for him?”

  Gemma turned to face Milan. “I’m deeply sorry, but I should be married to Vincenzo, not you, and I would be if his brother hadn’t seduced me.”

  “Then why did you tell me you loved me? Why did you marry me?”

  “I lied. I was pregnant, scared, then you proposed and I saw my only solution. Don’t get me wrong, I do care for you. You’re a good husband and father to my child, but Vincenzo is the only man I’ve ever loved. I can’t change that, no matter how hard I try.”

  “How could you love him if you slept with his brother?”

  Vinnie stepped away from her. “Brando told me you were a cheat, he just didn’t tell me it was him you cheated with.”

  Gemma spun around. “Your mother arranged it! She ordered him to seduce me so I would leave you. I didn’t want to leave, I wanted to marry you.”

  “My mother?” Vinnie said, staring at her in shock.

  “Da! She ruined my life just as much as Brando did. I hate them both! I had one moment of weakness and Brando exploited it. He enthralled me with his unnatural beauty, luring me into bed. I didn’t want to, but he was persistent.”

  “Brando raped you?”

  Gemma nodded.

  “Don’t lie, whore,” Drago spat. “Brando didn’t rape you; I saw what you did through the window. You were more than willing.”

  “I wasn’t!” she yelled. “He bewitched me with his magic.”

  “Liar! You were touching and kissing him, calling him beautiful. You gave yourself over to him freely. You got what you deserved; I just wished you didn’t sucker Milan into marrying you and taking care of Marija.” Drago’s eyes moved to Vinnie. “You want proof that your brother slept with Gemma, I’ll give you it.” He turned back to Gemma. “Bring out Marija.”

  “No!” she yelled.

  “Bring her out or you’re banished from this village!”

  She refocused on Vinnie, her eyes glossy with tears. “I love you so much.”

  “Gemma!” Drago snapped. “Last warning, get Marija, now!”

  Looking pained, she turned to the caravan, going still as a little girl poked her head out of the bright green door. She looked about nine and had pitch black hair, golden eyes, and dark olive skin—a young, female version of Brando.

 
Vinnie brought his hands to his head and yelled out, Brando’s and Gemma’s betrayal physically hurting him.

  Gemma spun around. “I will give up everything for you, Vincenzo,” she sobbed, “even my daughter. Milan can look after her.”

  Vinnie dropped his hands, Gemma hitting him with one shock after another. “How can you say that? She’s your child.”

  “Every time I look at her I see Brando. I want to see you in my children, not your evil brother. And I know you still want to be with me. That song you sung at H20 about your love for me was beautiful.”

  “You’ve been watching me?”

  “I had to see you, if only from a distance.”

  Vinnie screwed up his face. “You’re no different from my stalker.”

  “Don’t say that! I did it out of love.”

  “You can’t love me, not after what you did.”

  “It was one mistake—”

  “—with my brother! My mother was right about you, so was Brando.”

  “No, they weren’t!”

  “Yes, they were! You wouldn’t even sleep with me, yet you gave Brando your virginity straight away.”

  “He cast a spell over me.”

  “Stop saying that! Brando has no magic. He’s a bastardo who does whatever the hell he likes. He doesn’t give a merda about anyone but himself,” Vinnie spat out.

  “Your mother—”

  “—is the same. All of you betrayed me.”

  “No! You have to believe me.” Gemma went for him, holding her arms out.

  Vinnie stumbled back, yelling, “Don’t touch me!”

  She dropped to her knees in front of him. “Please ... don’t do this,” she sobbed, “just give me one more chance and I promise I’ll make you happy.”

  “I can’t. I was a fool for loving you. I was also a fool for not allowing myself another relationship, all because I stupidly thought we had something. I’ve dreamed of you for so long, but it was just your face, not your soul. You’re just like my mother—selfish and a liar.” He spun around, wanting to get away from her—from everything.

  Still on her knees, Gemma grabbed his ankle.

  Vinnie pulled free. “I told you not to touch me! I don’t ever want to see you again.”

  Ignoring her wails for him, he took off, yelling at his soldiers to follow. He was going home to tell Brando and his mother exactly what he thought about them, then he was going to make Dominic move out with him, because he needed no one but his twin.