by Ashley Jade
“Well, did he say where he was going?” I slam my fist on the counter top. “Did he say when he would be back?”
Jackson spoons more cereal into his mouth and continues reading the newspaper. A newspaper which isn't even dated for today. “He'll be back in time for the party tonight.”
I look at Alyssa who shrugs. “Try and relax, Lou-Lou. I'm sure everything is fine.”
“He left in the middle of the night.”
“Technically it was 9:00 pm,” Jackson says and I glare at him.
“What? You saw him before he left?”
He gets up from the table. “Yeah, he said he had to handle some business but promised he would be back for the engagement party tonight.”
“You're sure?”
“Yeah, Lou-Lou.” He puts his dish in the sink. “Look, if you want to spend your life with a mob boss, there are certain things you're gonna have to accept. Not knowing the details involving his whereabouts is one of them.”
And that's when it hits me—today's the day.
I thought it happened a few days ago when Alyssa and I made up, but him leaving last night makes perfect sense now.
I look at Alyssa and she sits upright, her grin matching mine.
That's when Jackson realizes his terrible mistake.
He points to the both of us. “No, get that thought out of your head, Frick and Frack. That situation has already been handled.”
I race for the remote, wanting to see it with my own eyes, but groan when I realize the cable's no longer working.
I spin around and throw the remote at him. “I find that hard to believe considering the cable is suddenly out.”
He rubs his chin and crosses his arms. “Internet is out too. Want to throw a hissy fit over that as well? Maybe chuck a computer at me?”
I fix my gaze on Alyssa. “How do you deal with him?”
She rubs his back. “He has his good moments—” The sound of her phone ringing cuts her off and she brings the phone to her ear. “Hi—” There's a pause. “What? Are you sure?”
There's incoherent murmuring on the other line and she looks confused. “No, it's just that I don't remember making the appointment.”
She glances at the calendar where today's date is circled in pink, along with a bride and groom sticker, marking Tyrone and Shelby's engagement party.
“Yes,” she says. “No, I know that I'm officially 7 months now and should come in for a checkup.”
She writes something down. “No, I should be able to make that appointment today no problem, it's before the engagement party.”
She blows her bangs out of her face and shoots Jackson a look. “No, it's not my engagement party, but thank you. Listen, maybe next time you can give me a card or something. I just...is it normal to be so forgetful when you reach 7 months?”
She laughs at something on the other line. “Yeah that's true. Okay, I'll see you in a few hours.”
Jackson raises an eyebrow. “You have an appointment today?
She waves a hand. “Yeah, but it's in the afternoon. We'll have plenty of time to get ready for the engagement party tonight.”
Jackson bites his thumbnail, looking nervous as hell.
“What's the matter, Jackson?” I taunt, taking a seat. “Going to the girly doctor give you the willies?”
He shoots me a dirty look before he looks at Alyssa. “On a scale of 1-10. How much would you kill me if I didn't go to this appointment with you?”
She thinks about this for a moment before replying, “5. Depending on your reason and how hungry I am.”
He drums his fingers on the counter top. “What if I promised to go out and get you food beforehand and told you it was because I made plans with Tyrone? You know, like a pre-bachelor party.”
That's when I give him a dirty look. “Then why wouldn't Ricardo be going?”
“He is,” he says through clenched teeth, looking like he wants to strangle me. “In fact, that's exactly where he is right now, setting everything up.”
I study my nails. “Pretty strange if you ask me. Ricardo's not much of a decorator. He wouldn't leave me in the middle of the night to hang up streamers.”
I lean forward and give him a smug look. “He also wouldn't be dumb enough to look at some naked girl coming out of a cake when he has me. So why don't you just tell us what's really going on?”
Alyssa tips her glass in my direction. “I'm with her. Unless you have a better reason than a lie, my number's now a level 10.”
Jackson stands up and rocks on his heels before he starts ticking things off with his fingers. “One—what kind of bachelor party has streamers? Especially a pre-bachelor party. Two—none of us would be dumb enough to look at a naked girl coming out of a cake...except for Tyrone, but only because he'd be more interested in the cake. And three—I'm not lying. I made plans to hang out with Tyrone before the engagement party, kind of like one last hurrah before it all goes downhill.”
Alyssa and I exchange a glance.
“I mean up-hill,” he amends, waving his arms. “All up-hill. Nothing but net.”
“Oh god, he's using sports analogy's,” Alyssa says, rolling her eyes. “He only does that when he's excited about something. I think he's telling the truth.”
She lifts a shoulder and takes a sip of her smoothie. “Go, I'll be fine on my own.”
I study my finger nails, silently debating the next statement out of my mouth. When I decide I've had enough and I need to know no matter what if today really is the day, I say it. “I can go with you if you want.”
Jackson opens his mouth to protest, but I've got him. “I'm assuming if Jackson's going out with Tyrone instead of watching me...it means there's no danger anymore.” I toss a fake smile in his direction. “Right, Jackson?”
His jaw tics, but I'm not finished yet. “I mean, I can always ask Tyrone about your brotherly bonding adventure this afternoon?”
“No,” Jackson says quickly. “It's a surprise, he doesn't know.”
Alyssa stirs the straw in her smoothie, looking hopeful now. “Does that mean Lou-Lou can come with me?” She bites her bottom lip and looks at me. “I mean if you want to that is...if you're okay with it.”
I give her a genuine smile. “I'm more than okay with it.”
Jackson looks back and forth between us and holds up a finger. “I-um—just let me make a phone call.”
When I open my mouth to question him about this phone call he says, “To finalize plans for this afternoon.”
Chapter 35 (Ricardo)
I ignore the beads of sweat dripping down my back and the way my heart is hammering in my chest as they silently study me.
Please take the bait. Please believe me.
Despite the pregnancy tests, Ernesto still looks unconvinced, which of course, makes everyone else follow suit.
I pull out a file and drop my briefcase on the ground, knowing I won't be picking it up again.
I've stationed various bombs throughout the council headquarters, mostly in bathrooms and inconspicuous places where no one would suspect me being.
But the big one? The one that counts? Is right here in my oversized briefcase.
Given I'm the last DeLuca standing, well for the next few hours at least, I don't have to worry about anyone seeking their revenge.
As long as I make it out of this room alive. As long as I make them believe she's pregnant with my baby and get them to order Travine to meet me at the fight club later on.
I order my hands not to shake as I hand Ernesto the fake file.
“She found out yesterday morning and I called you as soon as I saw the test results,” I say as I watch him open it.
“From our understanding and based on what you told us, she can no longer have children.” He rubs his chin. “And even if you were mistaken, how do we know this baby is a DeLuca? She's only been with you for a few weeks.”
I grin, knowing I'm running the risk of pissing him off, but if I act too nice, he'll suspect something.
The men murmur amongst themselves, until Ernesto pounds the table with his fist. “It is not possible. The curse.”
I swallow and lean in, making sure I look him in the eyes. “You never struck me as a man to believe in magic over facts, old man. But just in case I'm wrong—the legend, or rather, the curse says DeLuca men can only produce one child.”
For a moment, I let him see the pain in my eyes so he believes that every word I'm about to say is the truth. “The last pregnancy didn't produce a child, therefore, this child is the one. This child is what will save the DeLuca legacy.”
He leans back in his chair and folds his hands in his lap. “How do we know this isn't just a ploy? I'm not a stupid man. I know you came here because you want and need something from us. How do I know this isn't a desperate attempt at buying more time?”
He stands up, the force sending his chair sailing back. “I warned you not to make the same mistake your father did. I warned you not to walk down the same path—”
“I'm not,” I shout, despite all the council members standing up with him now. “Ernesto, do you think I would risk everything? And I mean everything, making the same mistake that he did? Do you think I would come here and put myself at the mercy of you and the rest of the council with some bullshit? Think about it, no matter what—you'll obviously find out the truth. If I was lying, which I'm not, but if I was— you'll know for sure when that baby is born.”
I look around the room, stopping to look at each and every one of them. “I understand why it's better not to have weaknesses now. Even though it's too late for me, I can teach my child. I can teach my son what it means to be a DeLuca. And just like I had to learn from my father's mistakes...the child that I don't even want will learn from mine.”
I ignore their shocked expressions and punch myself in the chest. “I won't ever make the council proud...but I know my child will. My child will become a DeLuca. He'll be the man I never was because it's the only way for him to survive.”
I swallow hard. “I've learned my lesson...and it will be a lesson I'll have no choice but to keep learning as I raise my child. You've won, Ernesto. The council won.”
“What do you mean you don't want this child?” Ernesto spits, outraged.
I take a step back and laugh and I swear, I feel my father's presence in the room. “Why would I want a child who will grow up to be everything I hate?”
I lift my chin and glare at him. “You're right. I did come here because I want something. I have an ultimatum of my own.”
“Which is?”
“Travine...I want him dead. Today.” Before he can argue, I continue, “I also want the honor of killing him myself.”
“No we cannot do that. I told you, he is one of our associates now. He's our ally—”
“Only because there is no one else after me and you needed to expand. You have someone now. We're no longer a dying breed.”
My entire body goes rigid and I leer at him. “Unless you don't give me what I want.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
I pull out a gps tracking device and point to the little blip on the screen. “This is where Lou-Lou is now. She's safe, probably eating a hearty breakfast since it's early morning in New York, giving our baby the nourishment it needs to grow.”
He raises an eyebrow. “What's your point?”
“At approximately 4:30 pm, she has an appointment scheduled with her doctor for a certain procedure to be done. If you don't believe me, keep watching that blip, guarantee you'll see it move.”
Panic flashes across his face and I continue, “She knows Travine is alive now. The abortion is scheduled because she refuses to let anyone take our baby away this time. She doesn't want her shitbag father to cause her to have a miscarriage and the stress of him being around will all but ensure it. She'd rather not have this baby in the first place than give him any more power over her.”
I inhale a breath and shrug. “Never underestimate a little girl's hate for the monster under her bed, Ernesto. Especially when that monster is her very own father.”
Ernesto sits back down in his seat and rubs his face, looking more nervous than I thought he would. “Your ultimatum is that you have to let me take him out. I'd also appreciate it if you'd stop putting my friends on the chopping block. They have nothing to do with the council and I will be separating myself from them permanently very soon since I'll be busy taking care of DeLuca business.”
I motion to his phone. “Call Travine and tell him to meet me at the fight club at 4:40pm, New York time. Tell him you've made a deal with me that will keep my friends alive...in exchange for me handing her over to him. Tell him I was unable to kill my friends after all and I'd rather give her up.”
I sharpen my gaze. “Tell him to come unarmed or you will be taking him out personally since he's not allowed to kill me.”
When Ernesto doesn't budge, I tell him, “ If you don't agree, Ernesto, you can keep watching that blip move...knowing it will end the only chance you have at preserving the DeLuca legacy. Or you can send your people after her right now and do it yourself.”
I open my arms wide and look around the room. “You can have everything you want, gentlemen. Lou-Lou will have our child and I will keep my position, I will do everything that is expected of me. I think it's a pretty simple decision, one that works out for all of us, but either way, the choice is all yours.”
I've never felt relief like I do when he picks up his phone.
I have to hold back my smile and stiffen my spine when he repeats everything to Travine on the other line, sounding serious as hell.
“It's done,” Ernesto says. “Make sure nothing happens to that baby.”
I take a step forward and stick out my hand. “You have my word.”
He takes my hand in his, gripping it tightly. “Your father was right, you are different. Maybe it's not such a bad thing after all.”
I break the handshake. “Maybe not.”
I refuse to let myself smile as I walk out of the room.
I refuse to let myself breathe as I leave the building.
But when I hop on a Ducati and travel approximately 1,500 feet away, press the button, and watch the place light up like the 4th of July?
I let myself do both.
Chapter 36 (Lou-Lou)
Jackson can keep denying it all he wants, but I know it's happening today.
I thought it would be easier knowing, but now every second that passes all I can think about is Ricardo.
Is he safe? What's his plan? When is he coming back?
How is he going to do it? Is the council helping him do it? Why didn't he do it earlier? What was standing in his way?
Why didn't I insist on knowing the details?
And most importantly, why the hell is it taking him so long? It's just one man, and with the council helping him, it should have been over with already.
I glance at my watch and Jackson grunts. “Stop, Lou-Lou, you're only going to work yourself up over nothing. It's not happening today.” He squeezes my shoulder blade. “The situation was already taken care of, I'm not lying to you.”
He looks so earnest, so honest, I can feel myself folding. “He'll be back soon?”
“Yes.”
I pull on my bottom lip and think about this. “And he's meeting you and Tyrone soon?”
“Yes.”
I cross my arms. “Where?”
Alyssa stands by my side before we start making our way down the stairs.
“At the fight club,” Jackson says as we walk out the front door of the apartment complex.
Before I have a chance to inquire more about this alleged pre-bachelor party, Jackson walks over to the guards outside. “You are to drive them to the doctor and right back. Do not take your eyes off of them or I will remove them from your sockets permanently.”
I nudge Alyssa's shoulder. “You sure it's not your boyfriend who's the mob boss?”
She chuckles. “Suits aren't really his thing.” She stares at him longingly and I fight the urge to puke. “Kind of love when he gets all take charge though.”
We walk over to the SUV and Jackson helps her inside. “I'll have my phone on me at all times.” He looks at the driver and the bodyguards. “Anything happens to them you'll have to answer to me and Mr. DeLuca.”
“Yes, sir,” the driver replies. “To the doctor and back.”
“Make sure they're safe,” he barks as he slams the car door and they all sit up straight.
The driver starts pulling away and I look out the window. “Alyssa can I ask you a weird question?”
“Sure.”
“When you decided to take me hostage that day...what made you do it?”
She digs around inside her purse for a snack. “I knew you were Ricardo's weak spot and the leverage I needed.” She takes a bite of her granola bar. “But mostly, I knew he was what would lead me to DeLuca.”
“Yeah, I understand all that.” I drop my voice to a whisper. “What I mean is, what made you decide to do it? No offense, but your hostage technique wasn't exactly smooth. I can only assume it was a last-minute thing.”
She laughs. “Oh it totally was. I didn't know what I was going to do until it was already happening.”
“What gave you that push? What got the ball rolling?”
She shrugs. “Easy, my intuition. I knew something was going down and I wanted to be the one to do it. I knew that no matter what was happening, Jackson was putting himself in danger by being there. But mostly? I couldn't and wouldn't allow DeLuca to take another thing from me.”
“It's happening today,” I blurt, making sure the guards can't overhear me. “I know it's happening today.”
She studies my face. “Lou-Lou, I know you're worried. I get it. But the circumstances are completely different now. For one, Ricardo is the mob boss. He doesn't have to answer to anyone. He calls the shots—”
“That's not exactly true.” When she gives me a look I give her the quick run down about the council.
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