by Amy Starling
“I'm in no mood to socialize. Maybe you're not aware, but my father was killed yesterday – and some of your men were involved.”
He fiddled with his glass. “Yes, I heard. Very unfortunate. I can assure you, however, that they were acting as rogues. I'm certainly not foolish enough to send my men after yours in such a manner.”
“I didn't come to mess with you. You have one of my guys hiding here. Lucas.”
He laughed, albeit nervously, and held open the door for us.
“Why don't you fellas come in for a bit? How rude it is of me to leave you out in the rain.”
Fine by me. Closer we got to Lucas, the better. Trouble was, this place was huge. It'd be easy for him to slip out from anywhere, just like the greasy cockroach he was.
The interior looked like nothing special. It was a giant room filled with boxes and wooden crates of all sizes. Forklifts and other small vehicles shuttled the containers from the floor out to a waiting truck. An odd chemical smell permeated the air.
The guys stood behind me, watching my back as I followed Tommy. They were smart men. I, too, got the uncanny feeling we were walking into some kind of trap.
“I know Lucas has betrayed us. He's been working with the Giseppis. Providing you with some kind of medicine.”
“Yes, I won't deny it. I have a horrible genetic condition, you see.” He gestured to the peeling skin on his hands. “It's extremely rare. In essence, it causes random organs and body parts to fail without warning. The only reason I've still lived to this point is thanks to deep pockets and copious transplants.”
The men and I exchanged looks. What the hell kind of freaky disease was that supposed to be? Could such a crazy thing really exist?
“Due to the condition's rarity, drug companies were never interested in producing a cure. However, not very long ago, I got wind of a research lab which produced a chemical that could help me. Top-secret government stuff, of course, and so not easy for the likes of me to get my hands on it.”
“Maybe, except then you decided to blackmail one of the scientists into stealing it for you.”
He smiled and poured himself another shot. “With Lucas's help, yes. This man had been coming to your family's loan office for quite some time. I figured that such a partnership would work beautifully, and it did – until he was let go.”
“Excuse me,” said Nico, raising his hand, “but how are you gonna get that drug without him there? Plus, now they know someone's been jacking it. I imagine getting more out will be very difficult.”
“I appreciate your concern, my boy, but don't worry yourself over me. I do not plan on dying anytime soon.”
Our discussion had drawn the attention of a number of workers, most of them who looked as if they'd seen a few fights before. They watched us intently, never looking away, like a pack of vultures about to swoop.
“Look, I'm sorry for your problems, but all we want is Lucas. He committed a horrible crime and per the family law, he must be brought to justice.”
Tommy clucked his tongue. “I'm afraid I can't let you have him just yet. You see, he has a new lead on a fresh supply of Agent X.”
“Bullshit,” Sam blurted. “Where do you think a moron like Lucas could find something like that? If it's all rare and top-secret, there ain't no way.”
“Yeah,” Larry added. “The guy can barely follow directions on the GPS. How he'd track down some experimental drug, I don't know.”
Tommy sipped his drink. “Perhaps you're right, but it's a chance I must take. My life is on the line – as is my daughter's.”
I had no clue he even had a kid. Well, sucked for her, but I wasn't letting Lucas out of here alive.
“Then where are the men who took part in the shooting yesterday? Give them to me instead.”
“Well, I wouldn't know. I wasn't there, after all, and I certainly didn't order them to do it. I cannot be held responsible for the actions of rogues.”
A couple of men sprinted through the door, breathing like they'd run a marathon. Tommy, annoyed, sighed and tried to shoo them away.
“Can't you fools see I'm entertaining guests? Go do your jobs.”
“B-but Mr. Giseppi,” one said. “It's that Lucas – he's jacking your cargo boat!”
Tommy's yellowish face turned beet red. He squeezed his glass so hard that it shattered, ignoring the blood that dribbled down his hand onto the floor.
“He's... What?”
“The ship that we just loaded up with product,” said the other guy. “Lucas said he was going outside for a smoke. But when we turned our backs, he'd climbed on the boat just as it was departing.”
“Where's this boat now?” I yelled at the kid. “Damn it, hurry up and show me!”
He pointed out the door with a shaking finger. “Just out there, but you'll never make it.”
Tommy bared his teeth. “To hell with that. You don't screw over the Giseppis and live to talk about it.”
He ran for the docks, where a little red speedboat was parked. I reacted too, sprinting for it faster than he could hope to run due to age and his illness.
“Boss!” Nico called to me.
“Stay here. I'm going to take care of this.”
“Like hell you are,” Tommy snarled. “This little shit thinks he can steal my boat, my product? I'll destroy him.”
Except I wasn't gonna give him the satisfaction. Lucas murdered my father. This was going to be my kill. I'd make sure of that.
The sound of gunshots and bullets ricocheting off the walls stopped me, though. Tommy's men were watching over him from the balcony, and no thanks to them, he reached the boat first.
Not too far ahead was the cargo ship. It was quite big and would take a while to get up to speed. That meant I still had a chance.
Tommy jumped into the boat and revved the engine. I couldn't let him get away; without that boat I had no way of catching up to Lucas.
So, despite the bullets whizzing past me, I jumped.
I grabbed hold of the back of the boat just as Tommy hit the gas. The craft shook up and down violently as we raced through the water. Waves from the storm rocked us, threatening to tip the little boat over at any moment.
“Get off of me,” Tommy howled.
He sped up even more, cursing and yelling at me over the roar of the wind and rain. When we got close enough to the cargo boat, I knew this was my only chance.
I leaped from one vessel to another, barely managing to grab the boat's railing before plummeting into the inky water. The workers on the deck gaped at me, horrified.
“Where is he?” I cried as I threw myself over the rail. “Where's the fat, balding guy with the gun?”
All three of them wordlessly pointed in the right direction, toward the cabin. I took off, fueled by rage and a craving for revenge like none I'd ever felt. Oh, killing Lucas was going to be so very sweet.
When I reached the control room, I slowed my pace. Lucas's booming voice could be heard even over the noise of machinery.
“Don't this thing go any faster?”
“I'm sorry, sir, but it's going as quick as it can. Full speed will take several more minutes.”
I couldn't just bust the door down; what if he took the captain as a hostage? Last thing I wanted was an innocent person's death on my hands.
Meanwhile, Tommy had abandoned his boat and was struggling to climb on board the ship. He made it, huffing and puffing as he collapsed on deck like a fish out of water.
“Lucas!”
So much for not blowing my cover.
Lucas didn't come out to greet us, as expected. Instead, the engine room became dead silent. No more talking, nothing to indicate he was in there.
But he was no ninja, and he couldn't hide those heavy, plodding footsteps for long.
From around the corner he came, his gun pointed at Tommy's chest. The old man paled and backed up into the railing, pleading for his life.
“You had some balls following me all this way,” Lucas snarled. “So
rry I led you on, but I ain't sticking around back there waiting to die.”
“B-but the drugs,” Tommy cried. “You said you knew where to get more Agent X.”
He scoffed. “Because I knew the Ciarellos were coming for me. Of course I told you what you wanted to gain protection from them.”
He had Tommy pinned, but didn't seem to notice me yet. Quietly as I could, I scaled the cabin to the roof and made my way across. Slowly, steadily, I pulled my gun from my pocket.
“You can't kill me,” Tommy said. “You do, and the whole family will come for your head.”
“That's why I'm taking this ship of yours and getting the hell out of here.”
Just before I could take aim, a huge wave crashed into the side of the ship. The gun slipped from my hand and flew into the water. The splash of it drew Lucas's attention.
Oh, shit.
“What the –”
I pounced on Lucas before he could react. He was a big man, but I had more than enough strength to knock him out.
He wailed as I punched him over and over again, so hard that he spit out teeth and blood gushed from his nose.
Maybe it made me a sick, heartless monster, but I wanted him to suffer just as much as he'd made my father and Ceci suffer.
“Get off me, you little...”
Lucas found enough strength to throw me off him. Just as he did, though, a bullet cracked through the air and sliced open his arm. Tommy fired a few more, one lodging into his chest and the other his leg.
Lucas howled in pain and tried to hobble away, leaving a trail of blood behind him. I tackled him against the railing and grabbed him by the throat.
“Did you think you'd get away from me?” I growled. “You almost killed Ceci. You murdered my dad. And you seriously thought I'd let that go?”
“Ya know what, Alec? Leo loved me more than he ever loved you.” He laughed to himself. “I was gonna be the boss. Finally, I was going to be something special.”
The gunshots had weakened him, but he still made a clumsy effort to strike. He lunged, fist raised, but slipped on the drenched deck and toppled overboard.
His howl of anger was the last thing I heard before he sank beneath the waves and went underneath the boat. Then came a horrible noise, and a cloud of crimson blossomed in the water.
Tommy lowered his gun. There was a blank, almost sad look on his face. He seemed not to notice me there anymore.
I didn't care about him now. All that mattered was that I'd won. Lucas was dead. I'd avenged dad. Ceci was safe now. Nobody would hurt her anymore.
The storm was worsening, the waves getting bigger. A massive wall of seawater collided with the boat and rocked it violently; my foot slipped and I flew backward. My skull connected hard with the wood...
Warm lips pressed against mine. I knew that taste, that smell. Ceci.
Hands pushed down hard on my chest. My lungs burned and I bolted upright, spitting out what felt like gallons of water.
“He's okay,” she said. “Thank God I got here in time.”
It took me a minute of puking up seawater before I could speak again. I rubbed the salt from my eyes and found her sitting over me, the rest of my men huddled around.
“Ceci? I thought I told you to stay put.”
“And I thought you knew me better by now.” She held my head in her lap and sighed. “I got here just in time to see you fall overboard.”
“You're a lucky man, boss, to have a woman like her looking out for ya,” Nico said.
“I know I am.” I stood and looked out over the sea. “At least it's over. Lucas isn't going to bother us anymore.”
“So what are you gonna do now? You are the boss, after all.”
What was I going to do?
For once, the right thing.
Chapter 25 - Ceci
“Thank you all for coming. Please, have a seat. I've something important to discuss.”
I sat in the front row, next to mom and dad, with a handful of Alec's best men behind us.
Funny, these people used to terrify me. Now, they looked out for me like a bunch of big brothers.
Alec shuffled some papers on his desk while my parents eyed each other nervously. Not even I knew why he'd called this meeting.
“Mr. and Mrs. Trenton,” he began. “Your family has amassed a rather large debt to the Ciarellos.”
Dad hung his head. “I know. Just because your father's gone doesn't mean a thing.”
He held up his hand. “He refused to cancel the debt. However, I am the new boss and what I say goes.”
There was a sheet indicating how much money dad had borrowed. Alec picked it up.
“I'm absolving you of all responsibility to this debt. It's forgiven. There won't be another word said about it.”
With that, he tore the paper into pieces.
We were speechless. Dad had tears in his eyes. Mom looked at Alec as if he were a saint.
“Oh, thank you! You don't know how much this means to us.”
Alec's gaze shifted to me. “But there's one thing I ask in return: your blessing to marry Ceci.”
Dad cocked his head. “Honey, are you sure that's what you really want?”
“I can't imagine ever being with anyone else. I love him, dad.”
“Then you have my permission.”
The men cheered as Alec came to me and sank down on one knee. From his pocket he pulled the most beautiful diamond ring I'd ever seen.
“I didn't really do this right the first time.”
He slipped the ring onto my finger, and it felt like it'd belonged there all along.
“But there's one more thing,” he said. “It's big, and I'm sure many of you aren't going to like it.”
He returned to his desk and ran his hand over the wood grain.
“My father wanted me to take over this family, but I came to a decision that I'm not able to do that. Not when I've got a family of my own to take care of.”
Oh God. Was he saying...?
“Boss, you're not serious.” Sam protested. “You can't just give up on the gang.”
“As of this moment, my priority is Ceci and the baby.” He set his gun down on the desk. “I'll always look out for this family, but I'm not the leader you need. If I ever put them in danger again, I would never forgive myself.”
I threw myself into his arms. He was giving up his mob, the only way of life he knew, for me.
“Thank you so much,” I whispered. “But what will you do now without all of this?”
“Oh, I dunno. Focus on running the club. Maybe buy a nice little house for us in the suburbs. And I'm sure preparing for a baby is going to be lots of work.”
At long last, the nightmare we'd been in was over. This was more than just a happy ending. Our real story, I knew, was only beginning.
Epilogue - Alec
“Gah! He pissed on me!”
Nico handed little Adam back to me. There was a big yellow spot on his expensive dress shirt, and I had to laugh.
“Boys will be boys, right?”
I cradled Adam in my arms while Nico bitched about his dry-cleaning bill. The kiddo had peed on me plenty of times too, but I was too in love with him to care.
Adam squealed to be put down. I set him in the grass and watched him crawl after a grasshopper with fascination in his eyes.
“He looks just like you,” Nico remarked. “Five months old and he's already got a full head of black hair.”
“Yeah, but he's definitely got Ceci's eyes.”
Nico stared at my house for a while. It was a modest two-story in a nice, quiet neighborhood, the type of place where the residents said hello to each other and it was still safe to let kids walk alone.
Such a far cry from my old way of living. No more shootings, no more death. No worrying someone was going to drive around the corner and blast me or my family.
I'd never been happier.
“How you been doing, seriously? After all you've done for the family, this kind of existe
nce seems... I dunno, a bit boring for you.”
“No way. I've got the club, and Ceci keeps me busy with lots to do around the house. Plus, life's never dull with a baby in it.”
“Still, it does suck to lose the gang's best hitman.”
“I'm sure you'll find a replacement soon enough.”
Ceci's car rolled up the drive. She was back after a long shift at her practice. Even now, after more than a year married, my heart still skipped a beat when I saw her.
“Hey, seriously, how's everything going?” I asked Nico quietly. “No funny problems popping up?”
“Nope. I got it all under control.” He grinned. “That's why you picked me to lead, ain't it?”
Ceci greeted Nico, gave me a quick kiss, then hurried to pluck her son off the grass.
“Has daddy been taking good care of you, hmm?
Adam cooed in response. Seeing them together always made me melt inside.
Later, when Ceci put the baby to bed, I crept up behind her and kissed her neck. She moaned softly and relaxed in my arms.
“Those kids at your office must be running you ragged,” I murmured. “Bet I know a few ways to take your mind off work.”
“That... would be much appreciated.”
She laughed as I scooped her up, tossed her into bed, and stripped her totally bare. Oh, Lord. Even now, after giving birth to a ten-pound baby, her body was as gorgeous as it'd ever been.
“What are you staring at? My stretch marks?”
“You're perfect and you know it.”
I kissed her belly, and she sighed. It was a sound that made my cock hard as steel.
“Hey, are you happy with me? I just wonder sometimes.”
“You bet I am. In fact, let me show you just how happy you make me, hmm?”
For generations, it had always been a tradition for a Ciarello to run the gang. Maybe I'd broken the chain, but I didn't care. This was my family now, and nothing could ever matter more than that.
For Ceci, Adam, and me, it was finally time to start some traditions of our own.
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