CHAPTER 6
VICTORIA
Victoria giggled as Tracy crept out of the ladies’ room, minutes after Francis. Tracy must have thought of her and everyone else in the room as stupid. Who wouldn't notice that the ladies’ room was being guarded by two giant Sicilians? Francis must have enlisted Luca for his mission.
Tracy fumbled with her outfit a few times as she walked over to the table where Victoria sat. “Hey,” she said when she reached the table.
She was overly upbeat, which made Victoria laugh out loud.
“Hey?” Victoria asked, still laughing.
“What?” Tracy asked, feigning ignorance.
“Slut, I saw Francis come out of the bathroom. Quit tryin’ to play dumb. You fucked him!”
The look on Tracy’s face almost made Victoria pass out from laughter. Tracy looked around to see if anyone else heard Victoria’s accusation.
“Shut up, bitch!” she cursed in a hushed tone.
“Oh no, Chica, I’m telling Tasha and Tammy,” Victoria said through laughter.
Tracy rolled her eyes. “I hate you.”
“Mm hm. How was it?”
Tracy’s eyes narrowed, and Victoria wondered if she would answer. But she leaned in and whispered, “It was fucking life altering,”
Victoria’s eyes went buck. “Whaaaat?! I knew it! I’ve always imagined that Francis would be a good lay.”
“You’ve been imagining Francis in bed, tramp?”
Tracy’s hostility was cute. Her possessiveness of Francis was peeking out.
“I’m not the only one who’s pictured that fine ass man in bed. Ask Tasha. And don't judge me, you whore. I’m not the one who just got fucked in a toilet.”
Tracy’s head fell in her hands, but she was laughing.
“I got rodded out in the toilet,” she admitted through laughter. “I’m a super-whore.”
“Yes, Tracy, you are,” Victoria teased with no sympathy for Tracy’s embarrassment.
Victoria was fully enjoying herself at Tracy’s expense until she looked up and saw a school of cops walking in her direction. She knew immediately why they were there.
“What?” Tracy asked, noticing Victoria’s change in mood.
Victoria didn't answer. She stood up, knowing that they had come for her. Surely, Katlin had filed a complaint. Tracy turned and followed Victoria’s line of sight.
“Vic, what’s going on?”
“I’m about to be arrested.”
“What?! What did you do?”
Victoria ignored Tracy’s question and looked around the room for Jack. She didn't see him.
“Victoria Storm?” One of the officers asked as he approached.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“You're under arrest for aggravated battery. Please turn around and put your hands behind your back.”
“What? No! There’s been some kind of mistake. Victoria don't move! I’m going to get Jack.”
Despite Tracy’s protests, Victoria placed her clutch on the table and did as told. The officer approached and placed cold handcuffs on her wrists. Victoria didn't protest because she didn't have a leg to stand on. She had beat the shit out of Katlin. So much so that she’d had to go to the hospital. And she’d happily go to jail to show any other bitch that there would be consequences for fucking with her man. She would die for Jack, so jail would be easy. Victoria was fully prepared to answer for her crime.
“Get that shit off of my wife!”
Victoria turned at the sound of Jack’s booming voice.
“Sir, stand back!” The officer shouted in warning.
“Fuck you!” Jack shouted as he pulled Victoria away.
“Jack, baby, please calm down,” Victoria pled when other officers began to move in.
But as they moved, so did Luca’s men. When the officers noticed the armed men in dark suits, one radioed for backup. If Victoria didn't calm the situation, it would become a bloodbath.
“Jackson!” she shouted, demanding his attention. “It’ll be okay. I got this. I promise.”
“Fuck that!” Jack protested.
He turned to Mary even though she was no longer his PA. Hell, he didn't have a PA.
“Get Mayor Rountree on the phone!” He shouted.
Mary nodded and pulled her cellular phone out of her purse.
When two of the officers moved in to regain custody of Victoria, Jack pulled her behind him. “If you touch my wife, that will be your end.”
“Jack, baby,” Victoria whispered calmly.
“Shut up!” he fired at her.
“Sir, did you just threaten a police officer?” one of the officers asked with narrowed eyes.
“You're goddamned right I did!”
“Jackson, that’s enough!” Katherine yelled.
Victoria let out a sigh of relief. She was so grateful that Jack’s mom had stepped in.
Katherine placed her hand on his shoulder. “Sweetheart, you know better than anyone that Victoria can take care of herself.
“I know, Mom. But I will be damned if my wife spends one night in jail. She’s been through enough.
“Jack,” Victoria intervened. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”
Jack turned to Victoria, his worried expression crushing her. “Victoria, didn't I tell you to shut up?” he repeated through gritted teeth.
Victoria was very familiar with the tone. She’d heard it a few times. Jack meant business, and her words would only anger him more. So she didn't utter another word.
“Jack, the mayor is handling the situation,” Mary told him.
In less than two minutes, a supervisor was ascending the staircase. He walked over to the small crowd that had gathered around Victoria.
“Cut her loose,” he ordered.
“What?!” the officer yelled.
Victoria could almost smell his anger.
“Am I speaking fucking Portuguese? I said cut her loose!”
The officer grunted his frustration and reached for his cuff key. But when he approached Victoria to take off the cuffs, Jack held out his hand.
“Don’t touch my wife,” he warned. He turned to Natasha. “Tasha, do you have a cuff key?”
“Not on me,” she responded.
“I do,” came from Taylor Montgomery.
Taylor was Victoria and Natasha’s friend from the police department. She was also engaged to Victor Creed, the governor of Illinois. She maneuvered her way through the officers and turned Victoria around to free her wrists from the handcuffs.
“Thanks, Tay,” Victoria muttered. She was embarrassed that their friends and family had witnessed her near incarceration. She had thoroughly embarrassed her man and her family.
“It’s all good, Vic,” Taylor said as she handed the officer his cuffs.
The field lieutenant led the disgruntled officers out of the VIP area. Jack grabbed Victoria’s wrists and massaged the area where they had placed the cuffs.
“Baby, are you okay?” he asked her.
Victoria dropped her head, not wanting to look him in the eye. “I’m so sorry, baby,” she mumbled.
Jack released her wrists and grabbed her face. He forced her to look at him. “Sweetheart, you have nothing to apologize for. If I had walked in on what you walked in on, I would be on death row. Baby, you could burn down the fucking moon, and I’d still have your back. That’s how much I love you.”
“And I love you. And know that I’d willingly do time before I let someone take you away from me. You're mine.”
“And you're mine. Always,” Jack confirmed before placing his lips on hers, reminding Victoria exactly what it was she was fighting for.
CHAPTER 7
TAMMY
Luca descended the stairs and handed Tammy her clutch. The incident involving Victoria had put an end to the party which was just fine with Tammy. She was suffering from jetlag. She just wanted to lie in the arms of her big strong man.
Luca placed his hand on the small of her back and led her out of
the restaurant. Lorenzo opened the back door of the SUV. Luca, cautious as ever, held Tammy close to him as he looked in every direction. She didn't mind a bit. She loved to be close to him, inhaling his scent. It was clean, strong, and male—all Luca.
“Tamara!” a feminine voice shouted from the sidewalk.
Tammy turned, but she couldn't see where the voice was coming from. Luca turned as well, but he didn't stop moving toward the truck.
“Tamara!” the voice shouted again.
Luca ushered Tammy into the SUV and closed the door. Tammy was trying to watch Luca until Lorenzo stood in front of the door, blocking her view. Since she couldn't see, Tammy sat back and closed her eyes. Running her own fashion house was fulfilling, but exhausting.
Tammy was fantasizing about spooning with Luca in a comfortable bed when the door opened. Luca stuck his head inside, but he didn't speak. Tammy studied his demeanor, but she couldn't read him. Normally, Luca was never at a loss for words.
“What’s wrong, baby?” she asked.
“There's a woman…”
“And?” Tammy prodded.
“She says…bella, she says that she’s your mother.”
“What?” Tammy chuckled. “Luca, let’s go, baby. I’m tired.”
“No, bella. She might be telling the truth. You look just like her.”
Tammy sat up. She’d heard too many times how much she looked like her mother.
“Are you serious? She said that she’s my mom?”
“Yes. Come.”
Luca held out his hand. Tammy stared at it, debating whether she wanted to meet the woman that claimed to be her mother. Reluctantly, she placed her hand in his and exited the backseat. Luca led her down the sidewalk to a woman who was standing alone. It only took one look at the woman for Tammy to determine that she was indeed Beverly Beauvais, her long lost, heroin addicted mother. But this woman didn't look like a junkie. In fact, she was beautiful. She had long, straight black hair, gorgeous dark skin, and almond colored eyes. She smiled with tears in her eyes.
“Tamara?” she said softly.
“Yes, my name is Tamara,” Tammy confirmed.
Beverly’s hands flew to her mouth as tears trickled down her cheeks. She attempted to approach but was stopped by Lorenzo. He looked to Luca, not knowing how to handle the woman. Luca looked to Tammy.
“I don't know you,” Tammy said with venom.
“You know exactly who I am. You know that I’m your mother.”
“I don't have a mother. My mother left me when I was a child.”
“Tamara, baby, I was sick. I was too sick to be your mother. But I’m better now. I swear to you. Not being with you was the worst punishment for my many sins. I just wanna—”
“Look, Beverly…” Tammy interrupted. “I don't need a mother now.”
Beverly lowered her head in defeat and Tammy almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
When she reached into her purse, Luca pulled Tammy closer and reached for his holster.
“Luca!” Tammy scolded.
Beverly looked up and startled at the sight of the weapon at Luca’s side.
“I-I just wanted to give her my card,” Beverly explained, holding up a business card. “I would never harm my own child.”
“Give it to me,” Luca insisted.
She nodded and handed the card to Luca.
“Please, Tamara, call me.”
Tammy simply turned and walked away. She was uninterested in having a conversation with the woman that had abandoned her and her dad a long time ago. Luca stayed close, but Lorenzo hurried ahead so that he could open the door for them. Tammy climbed inside and slid over, making room for Luca. She stared out of the window, not looking at anything in particular. Tammy couldn't believe she’d seen her mother after so many years of wondering if she was even alive.
“Are you okay?” Luca asked. His voice was filled with concern.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
Luca handed her the card. Tammy held it a few seconds before looking down at it:
Beverly Beauvais
Drug Counselor
Mount Olive Hospital
“Drug counselor,” Tammy muttered.
Ain't that a bitch?
During the entire twenty minute drive to Jack and Victoria’s house, Tammy was submerged in the few memories that she’d had of her mother. And since she’d worked so hard to forget the woman, she didn't have very many. She did, however, remember the loud fights between Beverly and her dad, which were usually about money that would “mysteriously” disappear. While her dad worked, her mom would often leave Tammy home alone. She was only seven, so she’d had to learn to take care of herself. Mostly, she ate bread soaked with syrup or Ramen noodles whenever she was lucky enough to have some in the house. But more often than not, Tracy went to bed hungry. When her dad would come home from work and asked if she’d eaten, Tracy would lie and say that she had in order to prevent them from fighting.
As Tracy considered her childhood, she tried hard to remember something good about Beverly. Then it occurred to her that when her parents were happy, before Beverly began to change, it was her that taught Tammy to sew. Sewing was her mother’s thing, and she was good at it. She would make her the most beautiful dresses. All the girls at school would envy Tammy’s princess-like wardrobe. Beverly’s love for sewing was the one good thing about her. It was a love that Tammy had inherited.
“Bella?” Luca called, snapping her into the present.
She turned to her handsome fiancé. Worry was etched across his face.
“We’re here.”
When Tammy looked up, they were just passing the guard shack.
“We’ll talk about your mother once we get inside.”
Tracy shook her head. “There’s nothing to talk about. She ain't worth a conversation.”
“But we will talk none the less,” Luca insisted.
Tammy rolled her eyes. Luca wasn't about to let it go. For a so-called mobster, he didn't mind discussing their feelings. It was such a contradiction to his brooding exterior. Tammy, on the other hand, had no problem sweeping shit under the rug.
The vehicle came to a stop in front of the house. They stepped out and walked to the front door. As Luca pressed the code to enter, Tammy was trying to come up with a way to avoid the conversation that Luca was determined to have. He opened the door, and they stepped into the foyer.
Tammy began walking toward the parlor. “Baby, I’m gonna go grab a quick drink. I won't be long. I’ll meet you upstairs.”
“No, cara, I’ll have a drink with you. If you don't want to talk about your mother tonight, we won't. But don't ever try to avoid your husband.”
“You're not my husband yet,” Tammy said with a smirk.
Luca stalked over to her, grabbed her firmly by the back of her neck, and pulled her close. He leaned in and whispered, “You were my wife the first time I entered that sweet pussy. This wedding thing is for you. You already belong to me, already my wife. Capisci?”
Tammy melted against his solid body and held him tight. She had never felt so loved, so blessed.
“Yes, I understand completely.”
LUCA
Luca admired Tammy’s beauty as she slept peacefully. The light from the moon entered through the bedroom window and danced on top of her smooth, black skin. His eyes roamed to the curvy silhouette beneath the sheet. Feeling the beginning of a hard-on, Luca turned and walked out of the room. He didn't have time to enjoy her body. He had business to take care of. Lorenzo had already sent a text message letting him know that he was waiting out front.
Luca left the house and climbed in the passenger seat next to Lorenzo. “How far?” he asked.
“About thirty minutes. She lives in a south suburb called Harvey. Paolo and his team are already in place.”
“Tell them to stay put.”
“Si, capo. They know.”
“Bene. Andiamo.”
Thirty-five minutes later, they arri
ved at a rundown apartment building. Luca and Lorenzo got out of the car and walked up the rundown steps. They passed a few abandoned apartments until they arrived at their destination. Instead of knocking, Luca kicked the door off the hinges. Beverly Beauvais was inserting a needle in between her toes. She was already so out of it; she didn't even bother to look up.
Luca walked over to her and grabbed the hand holding the needle. He wrapped his fingers around her thin neck. It was only then that Beverly finally took notice of his presence. Luca tightened the grip on her neck until her eyes bulged. He squeezed her hand until she dropped the needle to the floor. Luca looked the junkie directly in her eyes before tossing her like a ragdoll across the filthy room. Beverly yelped like a wounded dog when she hit the floor with a thud. Her mouth flew open as if she was going to scream. Luca pulled a switchblade from his pocket and moved toward her.
“Scream and I will remove your fucking tongue from your lying mouth,” he warned.
Beverly scurried into a corner and folded her knees to her chest. She swiped a tear from her face, but she was smart enough not to open her mouth to say a word. Luca pulled out a chair and sat, but Lorenzo remained standing.
“You come into my woman’s life after all these years and lie to her. What’s your plan? Are you here for money?”
Beverly frantically shook her head.
“No, I swear. I just wanted to be in my daughter’s life. But no matter how hard I try, I can't kick the junk. I didn't want money, but I was hoping that she would help me get clean. I ain't got no insurance, and I can't afford rehab.”
“And the business card?”
“OfficeMax,” she responded with a shrug.
Luca looked at the pathetic dope fiend and marveled at how much she looked like a slightly older version of his Tammy. In her own right, she was beautiful. But showing up, along with intentions of using Tammy, made Beverly the ugliest woman in the world.
“Get her out of here,” he ordered Lorenzo. He turned to Beverly. “Get only what you can carry. Leave everything else.”
Beverly used the nightstand to pull herself from the floor. She reached for her purse, but Lorenzo snatched it away in order to search the contents. Beverly grabbed a small box. Knowing that it would be searched, she handed it over to Luca. Luca opened the box and inspected for drugs. There weren't any. However, there were pictures of Tammy when she was a little girl. She’d even had photos of a younger Jean-Paul. Looking at pictures of a beautiful young Tammy softened his anger. She was an adorable child, and Luca began to imagine the children they would someday have.
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