Ruthless: A Dark Mafia Romance

by Piper Stone

  Maybe he was.

  Then what did that make me?

  Damn him. Damn his father.

  Oddly enough, there was a sense of calm running through me as I stood in the room Giovanni considered mine. Dawn was finally peeking over the horizon, strings of the most incredible colors lifting straight toward the heavens. I stood at the window, palming the cool glass and pretending this was just another day.

  Maybe in La-La Land.

  I was exhausted, my thoughts muddled but I had a terrible feeling I’d been right about the course of my life altering forever. Even if I did go back to Columbus, nothing would ever be the same. There were too many memories, colored like stained glass that would forever jade my decisions, limiting any concept of trust.

  The house was still so quiet, no sign of activity anywhere. After a chill swept over me, I finally decided it was time to get dressed. Was I hoping that I’d actually see headlights shining in the distance? Yes, but I was also jittery. I didn’t know why the thought of seeing him again made me nervous, but maybe it was the effort in needing to find the right way of saying goodbye. What I couldn’t take was the back and forth any longer. Loving a man like Gio was draining.

  I’d always heard there was a fine line between love and hate.

  I shrank away, heading to the closet. Red, crimson, scarlet, and more red. A laugh bubbled up from my lips. Today’s selection of clothing? A red dress. Why the hell not? The slinky material hugged every curve, fitting to perfection. I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down the material. Everything had to be perfect. The thought forced a strangled laugh. I leaned against the edge of the dresser, taking several deep breaths.

  Nothing was perfect.

  A ping of the security system pulled me back to reality. Antonio checking on me as required. Everyone obeyed Giovanni. I brushed my hair, adding some makeup then left the room. Everything was just as quiet. There were no footsteps, no noise at all. “Antonio?”

  My voice echoed or maybe I was still in some kind of vacuum. There was also no answer. I eased down a portion of the stairs, unable to see anything out of order. There was almost no light, only a warm glow coming from the living room. My eyes adjusted as I crept further down, my sixth sense kicking in. I didn’t like this at all. Fear slipped into my mind. There was someone in the house. I almost bolted back upstairs when I heard voices coming from the kitchen. There were two of them. Fantastic.

  Frustration fueled me as I stepped off the landing. Maybe I’d pepper Antonio with additional questions. A slight creak drew my attention, the noise coming from the foyer. I didn’t need to take two steps to notice that that front door was cracked, which meant the entire security system was still disengaged. A red flag shot to full staff and I immediately began to back up the stairs, keeping my footsteps even.

  Another creak was followed by a slow swinging of the front door. I could tell by the hint of light that Antonio was walking inside. Fuck. This was crazy. “You scared me. Is everything all right?”

  He took two steps, one hand shooting to his throat and the other firmly wrapped around his gun.

  “What’s going on?” Advancing, I swept the room before trying to look around him. “Are you all right?”

  His arm shot out, wrapping around mine, his mouth twisted and a wheezing sound coming from his throat. While his grip wasn’t firm, it was covered with a sticky liquid yet enough to yank me off the stairs. Oh, my God. The man had been shot.

  The sound was explosive, ringing in my ears. I didn’t need to have another light to tell that Antonio had been shot for a second time, the bullet catching him between the eyes. “No!” Oh, God. Oh, God! I tumbled to the floor with him, falling on top, a putrid stench filling my nostrils. Light from the living room filtered in just enough.

  Blood.

  The man was covered in blood.

  “No. No!” Everything was in slow motion as I scrambled to get to my feet, swinging around in time to see another shadowed form in the hallway, his arm raised.

  “Come here, little girl. I’m not going to hurt you. We’re going to have some fun.”

  Gio. Where in the hell was Gio?

  The voice was a deep baritone and I could swear I recognized it.

  “No one’s coming to save you,” he stated in a commanding tone. “It’s just you and me. Imagine my luck finding out who you truly are. Did you think you were going to waltz into Gio’s life, taking a portion of his fortune?”

  There was no time to panic but my legs seemed frozen until the attacker lunged, fingers tapping my arm. I bolted, gasping for air and racing into the living room. I had no idea what the asshole was getting at.

  The intruder was right behind, heavy feet lumbering.

  I dashed through the room and heard his dark laugh.

  “Stop right there. I’m through with the bullshit. I deserve more than the crap Gio has given me.”

  Was this about greed? There was no mistaking the clicking of a weapon. The only recourse I had was getting to Gio’s bedroom. Thank God I’d snooped into Gio’s things. Refusing to stop, I rounded the corner, sprinting toward the kitchen. My hand was wrapped around a butcher knife when I was dragged backward, an arm thrown around my neck.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he said, laughing. “You’ve always been one of us, Veridi. You tried to hide your upbringing, your heritage.”

  What the fuck was he talking about?

  I blinked several times, staring into his cold eyes. As his grip tightened, I was thrown into the past, visions rushing to the surface.

  No. No! This wasn’t me. This wasn’t my life. The television was on, the volume high. I was still hearing the television. Wasn’t I?

  “Fuck you! I’m not a part of your world.” Who was this? I struggled to understand what he was saying as images in black and white rolled across my field of vision.

  Snickering, he yanked me closer, whispering in my ear. “That’s where you’re wrong, sweetheart. Did you forget about your mommy and daddy?”

  His words were crazy.

  “I know your type. Gio is one fucking idiot. I’ll be basking in money and power after I get through with you.”

  Marco. What? I blinked, trying to focus, my nails digging into his skin. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. The asshole was trying to kill me. He squeezed, cutting off my air supply. White. Black.

  Gray.

  Mother?

  “What is she doing here?”

  “She’s my daughter, Mr. Calduchi.”

  “You know the rules,” he snarled.

  I slid behind my mother, peeking out to see the man standing on the stairs. He was terrifying, such hatred on his face.

  “Mama?” I asked, trying not to whine.

  “It’s all right, baby.” My mother shielded me, but I could tell her entire body was shaking. The horrible man’s face was pinched, enraged and for what reason? She’d worked here for years, taking care of him and his family. Why?

  “Get her out of here, Mrs. Rossi,” he screamed. “Children don’t belong here. I’ve told you that.”

  “You don’t have any right to talk to me that way! Her nanny is sick. What was I supposed to do?”

  “I don’t give a shit.”

  I shuddered and closed my eyes, trying to tune him out. My mother had never brought me to this horrible place. She’d promised never to bring me here. I tried to move into my happy space, praying we could leave. Where was my father? Why were we here? Tears sprang to my eyes. I was too old to cry.

  Then a sound.

  Music.

  I opened my eyes, easing around my mother as they continued to argue, walking down the winding set of stairs. I was terrified, but the music was so beautiful. I could hear them arguing and slapped my hands over my ears, trying to drown them out, now only hearing my heart beating.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  Still frightened, I had no control over my feet as I shuffled toward the sound. A piano. My mo
ther had taught me how to play. The beautiful music was soothing, cutting out everything else. I took cautious steps into the room.

  I’d seen him before, but only through the window of my father’s car. A handsome boy. The music was...

  I kicked out, breaking the vision. No. This couldn’t be happening.

  “You’ve come back home, sweetheart,” Marco hissed.

  Swirling light pulsed around me, dimming as he continued to squeeze. I couldn’t die here. I wouldn’t die by his hands.

  The horror of knowing this was the man who’d betrayed Gio ignited the fire burning from deep within. How dare the mother fucker! Twisting, I was able to jab him in the stomach with my elbow, breaking the hold. Coughing and wheezing, I stumbled forward, my hip skimming the edge of the counter. The pain was blinding and I almost stumbled. Keep going. Keep going!

  Nothing seemed real.

  “You fucking bitch. You and I are going to have a little fun before you die. Then I’m going to hunt down your mother and father and finish what Montego Calduchi started.”

  Everything made sense. The reason my mother and father left in the middle of the night. The reason I’d changed my name. Rossi. My name was Veridi Rossi. I’d refused to succumb to the bullshit and tyranny my mother and father were forced to do, leaving them alone. What had I done?

  I lunged toward him, catching him completely off guard, my foot slamming against his groin. Rage unlike anything I’d ever known flowed into every vein. This asshole would never beat me.

  “Argh!” He doubled over, almost dropping the gun.

  I kicked him again then issued a hard punch to his face. I could make a break for it.

  But Marco was too strong and far too trained, his hand wrapping around my ankle. I was pitched backwards, my head hitting the island. Stunned and stars floating in front of my eyes, I was unable to focus.

  He dragged me across the floor, growling the entire time. “You thought you could hide?”

  I slapped my hands against the tile, doing everything I could to twist and turn. Able to free one leg, I kicked with every ounce of strength I had left, connecting with his face. I managed to make it to a crawling position before I was tossed again. The pain was explosive, breathing difficult. I struggled, just able to move to a sitting position.

  “You shouldn’t have done that, you little bitch.” Marco lumbered to his feet, wiping his mouth with his arm then swaggering toward me.

  All the resolve I’d ever had, the desperate need to live kicked the adrenaline into overdrive and I jerked to a standing position. There wasn’t going to be another chance. I screamed in rage, terror trying to paralyze my muscles. There was such delight in his eyes, the kind of carnivorous hunger that came from a true madman. I had few options left and no time to waste. The minute he stormed toward me, I yanked the knife from the block, tossing without bothering to aim.

  “Fuck!” he screamed, slamming against the island, the knife protruding from his abdomen.

  I scuttled backwards, calculating the few seconds I’d have left to escape, but he was on me, grabbing me around the neck. The asshole wouldn’t go down. He took several deep breaths before crooking his arm, the barrel pointed at my head.

  “No!” The booming roar was the cry of a warrior.

  The man standing in the doorway was larger than life, a man who’d promised to protect me, no matter the consequences.

  Light and darkness.

  Good and evil.

  Life and death.

  At that moment, I knew what I wanted, and I no longer cared about entering the dark side. Kill the mother fucker. I wanted him dead.

  Even though Marco twisted his head, I was able to see the look of utter satisfaction on his face. He was taking everything that Gio held dear.

  Boom!

  Chapter Fifteen

  Giovanni

  “Thank you, Officers. I will beef up the security system as suggested.” I stood in the great room, surrounded by six of Chicago’s finest, including Captain Talifero. The two Federal agents hovering around every conversation had already searched the house, unable to find anything of use. At this point, the official police report would read a home invasion with intent on theft and I’d caught them in the act, using what was allowed by law to annihilate the enemy.

  The enemy.

  I had more than I realized.

  The Feds would continue digging, but they’d find nothing other than full corroboration of the story crafted.

  While there were soldiers posted outside, the only man from my family by my side was Michael, serving both as my attorney and as my friend. He’d also kept me sane during the last few hours.

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” Tony said mostly under his breath, patting me on the shoulder. “You did the right thing.”

  Someone would have to tell me what the right thing was any longer.

  “It could have been worse,” I said more out of contempt than anything. I flexed my fingers, still able to see the bloodstains on the foyer floor even from where I was standing. For most men, they’d be in shock. For me? Another day in paradise. I snickered at the thought. Maybe Veridi had been right about starting over. I could follow Jagger’s lead, purchasing a home on some tropical and very isolated island.

  “I think Mr. Calduchi needs some time to process. If you have any additional questions, please have them come through my office. We’re happy to cooperate in any manner.” Michael’s authoritative voice was not to be ignored or denied.

  I was thankful he was here.

  And he’d almost died by my hands.

  Michael had been onto Marco for a solid month, trying to convince my father of the capo’s betrayal. My father had no doubt lost his life because of his arrogance.

  “Let’s go, boys. We can finish our investigation later,” Captain Talifero directed, motioning toward the door.

  The lead FBI agent walked closer, waiting until the police officers were on their way to the door. “Mr. Calduchi, we will need to have to come into the field office and answer some questions, including aspects about your father’s murder. Since you’re alive, I’m certain you will have a statement to make.”

  A statement. I resisted rolling my eyes in front of them. What I had to say they would never hear.

  “At a later time, gentlemen,” Michael snapped. “This man has been through a terrible ordeal.” He flicked a business card from his jacket, shoving it in the agent’s hand. “You have my number. Call me when you have something... important.”

  The FBI agent sneered but yanked it from him, giving me another harsh look. “We’re not finished, Mr. Calduchi, not by a long shot.”

  “I understand and will be happy to help in any way that I can. I want to catch the asshole who murdered my father just as much as you do.” I heard the triteness in my voice, my acting skills being tested. Fuck them.

  The two dark-suited assholes glanced at each other before walking toward the door. I didn’t bother seeing them out. They certainly knew their way, having been in my house in several occasions. When the door slammed shut with a hard thud, I closed my eyes.

  A shiver trickled down my spine.

  “Everything is going to be all right,” Michael said in a soothing manner. “You did what you had to do.”

  “How in the hell can anything be all right, Michael? My best friend was a traitor, almost creating a war. He killed several of my best men in the process, as well as...” I couldn’t even utter the words. I walked straight to the bar, refusing to give a shit that it was only noon. I didn’t bother asking if Michael wanted a drink, pouring us both a double scotch. Hell, we both deserved it after the shit day we’d experienced.

  “You took care of the situation. That’s what your father would have done.”

  “I don’t want to hear a Goddamn thing about my fucking father.” The vehemence created a wave of electricity shooting into every cell. I was still in a murderous mood.

  “No disrespect intended, Gio. You know that.”

&nbs
p; Everything seemed like a direct insult right now, every comment and statement made. As far as disrespect? Hell, he had to take a number. Huffing, I pictured my father in my mind, his ranting and raving. He would have already hunted down everyone else responsible, refusing to second guess his instinct. I was being cautious. Christ. I handed Michael a drink, darting my eyes toward the pool. “I could have handled everything much better. If I’d stopped acting like an asshole, I would have seen the signs.”

  “You had no way of knowing about Marco. I wasn’t certain until yesterday. I was in the right place at the right time in order to get the photograph I showed you. What a cocksucker.”

  I nodded, trying to collect my thoughts, allowing a full minute to pass as I gathered my thoughts. “Look, what you told me in the car, about Veridi and her family, I don’t want to do anything with the information. Not now.” Maybe not ever.

  “But her parents betrayed your family all those years ago.”

  I laughed bitterly. Why was Michael still pretending my father was some poster child of love and caring? “You and I both know that my father was difficult to work with and working for him? I honestly don’t know how they survived that long. This is something that will remain between you and me. Do you understand?”

  “All right. I’ll honor your wishes.”

  “Not all right, Michael. I need confirmation that you won’t do a damn thing with the information you have. Am I clear about this?” I shot him an authoritative look. I might have been injured both physically and psychologically during the attack, but I damn sure wasn’t going to let anyone rule my world ever again.

  “You’re the boss.” Michael lifted his glass, lowering his gaze. I loathed the way the man had been beaten. Things were going to change. “I’m really sorry about everything.”

  “And I’m sorry I doubted you.”

  “Well, under the circumstances...” He allowed the words to trail off then took a sip of the whiskey.

  “There’s a lot of work to be done.” There was a significant amount of damage control to proffer and that would happen on my terms.