Reckless & Ruined

by Bethany-Kris

  Alessa’s phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced down at the screen, recognizing the familiar number and disguised contact for Adriano.

  I love you, it read.

  Tommas hadn’t been the only one who couldn’t breathe.

  Alessa finally took a real breath.

  “Ew,” Alessa grumbled, letting the tapioca fall off the spoon. “Oh, my God. It looks like squishy, wiggly puke with fish eyes in it or something.”

  Abriella laughed. Her cheeks pinked with a healthy, happy glow. Alessa couldn’t help but join in with her sister’s joy. Just seeing Abriella alive and well was the best thing ever.

  It had been a little over a week since the restaurant shooting, but Alessa hadn’t been able to sleep for a single night since without dreaming about it. A single four-hour surgery had saved Abriella’s life. Barely. The first night was a touch-and-go kind of thing.

  “So, you don’t want it, either?” Abriella asked through bouts of giggles.

  Alessa pushed the tiny glass bowl away with the tip of the spoon. “No thanks. But you need to eat something. That’s why they bring you three meals a day, Ella.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Abriella waved her hand and winked. “Tommy is going to sneak me in take-out later.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yep. He smooth-talked a nurse into letting him in after visiting hours. I would be jealous, you know, if he wasn’t doing it for me.”

  “Playing with fire,” Alessa murmured in warning.

  “Worth the burns,” Abriella replied quietly. “Besides, if he didn’t get in here that way, he would find another way. At least like this, no one has to figure out an excuse for Joel to explain away Tommas right now.”

  Alessa scowled at the mention of their brother.

  “Still sour?” Abriella asked.

  “Yes.”

  Of course.

  How could Alessa not be when it came to Joel?

  The asshole had only managed to make his way into the hospital over the last week to visit with his younger sister twice. Joel even made a fuss about taking Alessa into the hospital to stay with Abriella during visiting hours. Alessa downright refused to stay anywhere near her brother for longer than necessary.

  Plus, going to see Abriella kept Alessa away from Dean. It seemed like he had been around a lot over the last week, too.

  Alessa glanced down at her hands, hoping to hide her displeasure from Abriella. The last thing her sister needed was to hear Alessa whine.

  “How are you feeling today?” Alessa asked quietly.

  Abriella shrugged. “Better. The IVs are gone and now I can take an oral dose of antibiotics. I’ll be out before the weekend.”

  That was good news.

  God knew Alessa needed some.

  “What is wrong?” Abriella asked.

  “Nothing,” Alessa replied quickly.

  “Liar, liar,” her sister teased in a sing-song fashion. “Now, quit sulking or tell me why you are, Alessa. It’s more than Joel, obviously. After all this time, we’re used to brushing his nonsense off our shoulders. Talk to me.”

  “Dean,” Alessa whispered.

  Well, he was part of it. Alessa decided giving her sister something was better than giving her nothing. Since Abriella had been in the hospital all week, she didn’t know what had happened over the last few days.

  Abriella’s distaste was written all over her face as she said, “That asshole again.”

  “Look at this garbage,” Alessa said, lifting her hand.

  A large, gaudy diamond ring sparkled in the stream of light coming in from the window. It was far too big for Alessa’s small hand, not that she cared much about the size. It was the meaning of the ring that felt like someone had tied a noose around her throat and pulled as hard as they fucking could.

  It finally happened.

  Joel finally gave the okay for an engagement.

  Dean wasted no time.

  Abriella’s gaze widened briefly before narrowing into slits. “When did that happen?”

  “Last night. He came over to talk with Joel. Somehow, it seemed like a good time to get one on me,” Alessa explained, sighing. “His words, not mine. I couldn’t refuse. Joel wouldn’t let me. I am not marrying that man, I don’t care what anyone tells me I have to do. It’s not happening.”

  “A good time to get one on you?” Abriella scoffed loudly and slapped the bed with her palms. “He’s a tool.”

  “I’m aware.”

  “But nothing new,” Abriella added quietly. “So, I get why this is annoying you, but what else is there, Alessa? What else aren’t you saying?”

  “Joel picked a date for the wedding,” Alessa informed. “November second.”

  Abriella cringed. “Three months?”

  “Yeah. And according to Joel, I need to get serious about what I want, or he’ll just hire whoever to do it for me and I won’t get a choice.”

  “Do you care?”

  Alessa snorted. “Not a damn bit.”

  “Good.”

  But it still sucked. Now, with an official engagement, a wedding date set and looming sooner than Alessa was comfortable with, she didn’t have a choice but to face reality. There was no way out of this arrangement. It didn’t matter what Alessa said, she knew the truth. She was going to be forced to marry Dean, even if that meant she would be dragged down the aisle kicking, bloodied, and screaming the whole way.

  Fuck Joel.

  His desire to have a higher position meant everyone else around him suffered.

  Abriella eyed Alessa from the side. “We’ll figure something out.”

  “You keep saying that.”

  “Yeah, well, you keep saying you won’t marry him,” Abriella replied frankly.

  “Willingly,” Alessa muttered. “I won’t marry him willingly.”

  “Then you won’t marry him at all.” Abriella gave a short nod like she was willing her words a fact. “I’ll make goddamn sure of it.” Abriella reached over and grabbed Alessa’s hand. “Has Adriano seen this yet?”

  Subconsciously, Alessa flinched away from the question.

  “I’ll take that as a no,” Abriella said slowly.

  “A huge no.”

  “Why not, Lissa?”

  Alessa frowned and tugged her hand out of Abriella’s grasp, wanting to pretend the ring wasn’t there. “Hard to show him when I haven’t seen him since the restaurant shooting.”

  It was the truth.

  Adriano had sent Alessa a few vague texts over the last week. It was enough to tell her that he was alive, safe, but Alessa missed Adriano. He was her calm in the storm.

  “Not at all?” Abriella asked.

  “None. He sent me a couple of messages, but nothing big. It’s like he dropped off the radar this week or something.”

  “Or maybe someone else did,” Abriella said.

  Alessa’s brow furrowed. “Huh?”

  “Tommy likes to talk sometimes,” her sister explained, refusing to meet Alessa’s curious gaze. “And he doesn’t trust anyone but me, so he goes off at the mouth sometimes because he needs to get it out.”

  “So?”

  “So, Riley is out, Lissa.”

  “Like out how?” Alessa asked, still confused.

  “Gone. Poof. His men have backed off this last week. They had been moving in on the Rossi and DeLuca streets here and there, gaining friends and pulling men in. Riley had worked the streets hard because he’s got loyalties there whether Joel wants to admit it or not.”

  “But this week he hasn’t,” Alessa said.

  “No, this week he’s no-fucking-where, Alessa. Completely gone.”

  The memory of the bloody sidewalk outside the restaurant filled Alessa’s mind. It had been such a morbid shade, so violent in color.

  “Someone said Riley took a couple of bullets,” Alessa said.

  Abriella’s lips drew into a thin, contemplative line. “Tommy might have mentioned that, but he couldn’t say for sure. It happened fast. Riley’s gu
ys shot back and then Laurent had men outside waiting.”

  “Are you saying Riley might be dead?” Alessa asked.

  “I’m saying nobody knows and his streets are quiet, his men aren’t talking, and if that’s the case, Joel got every damn thing he wanted.”

  Alessa felt sick.

  Everything about the situation screamed bad news to her.

  “What would that mean for Adriano?” Alessa asked.

  “If something did happen to Riley and they’re trying to keep it quiet?”

  “Yeah.”

  Abriella chewed on her inner cheek before blurting out, “Whatever Joel wanted, I guess. He would make the call on the Conti crew if they didn’t have the strength or allies to fight back.”

  “Well … damn.”

  “He’s still working on getting that Capo title, too,” Abriella added. “So, without that, he doesn’t have a whole lot of clout with leaders for the other crews. He’s just a kid to them. Adriano’s best bet would be to—”

  “Follow the herd,” Alessa interrupted.

  Abriella laughed under her breath. “Basically. I don’t think he’s the type, though.”

  Not at all.

  “Dino DeLuca’s funeral is tomorrow,” Alessa said, wanting to change the topic.

  “I heard. Are you going?”

  Alessa nodded. “With Dean, unfortunately.”

  Abriella offered a small smile. “Give Lily a hug for me. I might hate my brother, but she loved hers.”

  Dino DeLuca’s funeral was like a bad reminder of Terrance’s for Alessa. With a body so badly damaged, there was a closed casket. Soft music filled the church as bells rang and incense burned. Blessings were said, apologies given, and the day progressed with the usual heaviness of grief.

  Alessa’s black dress fit the day, like most everyone else. She’d given Dino’s sister Lily the apology and words from Abriella. Lily took it all in stride, but the girl seemed out of it. She looked tired, sad, and angry all at the same time. Her husband Damian never left her side once in the front pew.

  It all felt surreal to Alessa.

  Another funeral.

  Another day.

  More black clouds and clothes.

  More tears.

  Dean sat quietly beside Alessa. She didn’t trust him. Not with a damn inch. Dean was a lot like Joel. They were cut from the same cloth. Dean didn’t do anything that wasn’t to his benefit. He likely—stupidly—believed that if he could get closer to Alessa, she would let him in.

  That wasn’t going to happen.

  The last few guests made their way from the pews to give a final goodbye to Dino and hand their condolences over to the family before the service moved to the cemetery. A hush fell over the crowd of mourners. Confusion settled in Alessa as she glanced around, wondering what had caused the disruption.

  Alessa noticed a figure darkening the entrance to the church.

  Just like Terrance’s funeral.

  Well, in a way. At least this time, Adriano hadn’t come alone like he did to Terrance’s.

  Adriano, wearing a black suit and flanked by several men, walked down the row of pews and kept his gaze trained on the altar where a shined oak casket rested. Theo DeLuca stood from the front pew with a rage lighting up his gaze and his fists clenching into tight balls at his sides.

  Theo obviously still blamed the Contis for his brother’s death.

  Alessa knew the truth, but it did no good.

  Quietly, Lily stood with her brother, put a hand to his shoulder, and whispered something in his ear. The tension in Theo’s posture didn’t relax, but he gave his sister a tight nod and faced Adriano as the two men stood toe-to-toe.

  Hands shook.

  Soft words murmured.

  Alessa couldn’t hear a thing. She was far too interested in watching the way Adriano seemed to ooze confidence and remorse all at the same time.

  Then, Adriano turned to Joel who had come to stand on the other side of the DeLuca family. More conversation passed between Joel and Adriano, but Alessa was too far back to hear. Nonetheless, her brother’s face flickered with no emotions, not even his usual cockiness.

  What was happening?

  Walter slid in beside his son. Dean’s attention left Alessa and turned on his father.

  “I wonder where Riley is,” Walter mused.

  “Those are some big guns Adriano brought along from the Conti crew,” Dean said.

  Walter nodded. “They are.”

  Alessa took note of the half of a dozen men who had followed in behind Adriano. The men had dispersed themselves around the floor of the church and kept their eyes on the meeting at the same time.

  “He’s a bit young to be having a say with them,” Dean said.

  “Smart kid,” Walter replied. “Do not let Adriano Conti’s age fool you into a comfortable zone, son. Adriano has spent the last half of a decade under the feet of some of the most powerful men inside the Outfit. His ability to stand on his own and take what he wants should not be overlooked because of his youth. You would be an idiot not to realize how good of an ally he could be without his father making the calls.”

  Alessa couldn’t help but notice Dean’s scowl at the very suggestion of Adriano being an ally to him.

  “Eventually,” Walter continued, “the Outfit is going to be controlled by a younger generation of men, son. And if this war continues to take the older men who make the calls now, then that day might come sooner than any of us think. Once Riley Conti is gone, if he’s not already, Adriano will step up as he should. Mark my words, Dean.”

  “Unless he gets killed first,” Dean said coolly.

  “Foolish men who make foolish mistakes end up dead.”

  “Your point?”

  “Adriano has not yet made a mistake.”

  “What about his father?” Dean asked bitingly.

  “What about yours?” Walter shot back.

  “I—”

  “You follow me, son. He follows his father. As he should. That’s how it is. Even Joel understands that Adriano can’t be blamed for his father’s actions. And speaking of Joel, look at how he followed his father through life despite hating the man. We give our loyalties where they are due—to the men who raised us, Dean.”

  “You’re awfully fond of him,” Dean grumbled.

  “Oh, stop it,” Walter replied sharply.

  Alessa’s cell phone rang in her clutch. She cringed, realizing she had forgotten to turn it off before entering the church. It was rude of her. Alessa felt her cheeks heat up. She pulled the phone out and silenced it, but not before noticing it was her sister.

  “Excuse me,” Alessa said, waving her phone for Dean to see. “Abriella might need something.”

  Dean nodded, satisfied with the excuse.

  Even though she didn’t want to go further away from Adriano than was necessary, especially after not seeing him for over a week, Alessa made her way out of the main hall. She stepped into one of the private rooms that was usually used for meetings or families and called her sister back.

  Abriella picked up on the second ring. “You were still in church, weren’t you?”

  Alessa laughed. “Yes.”

  “Sorry, but I have good news. I’m getting released early tomorrow instead of the weekend. I wanted to tell you right away and Tommas, too. I know Tommy is there at the funeral, so I was hoping you could somehow pass the info along.”

  Alessa growled playfully. “Getting me to do your dirty work, now?”

  Abriella whined. “Lissa, I’m sick and I almost died, so you have to—”

  The cell phone was snatched from Alessa’s hand before her sister could finish whatever she was going to say. Turning fast on her heel, Alessa came face to face with a smirking Adriano. Somehow, he’d managed to get inside the private room and close the door without her hearing a thing.

  Adriano put the cell to his ear. “Ella?”

  Alessa’s mouth went dry as Adriano’s lips curved wickedly, and he looked her ove
r. She could hear her sister in the background of the call, but she couldn’t discern what was being said.

  “Yes, I know,” Adriano said quietly. “I’m glad to hear your voice. Get well. She’ll call you right back.”

  Adriano handed the phone to Alessa. She put it back in her clutch, unsure of what to say.

  “One of my guys mentioned which direction you took. I had to use the bathroom and took a wrong door. Imagine my luck,” Adriano said slyly.

  His guys.

  Alessa didn’t miss those choice in words. “Reckless—that’s what you are.”

  “Us,” he retorted.

  Before she could say another thing, Alessa found herself pushed back into the closest wall. Her spine ached from the force as Adriano’s lips found hers and his hands fisted into her curled hair.

  Alessa gasped when his teeth bit hard enough on her bottom lip to leave a mark. Adriano kissed her harder, deeper. Like he was starved and thirsty and she was the buffet spread out for him to take what he wanted. His tongue claimed her mouth, his teeth smearing her lipstick.

  “Christ,” Alessa breathed when he drove his hands down her sides.

  “That’s bad. We’re in church.”

  “That’s what is bad about this?”

  Adriano chuckled darkly. “Well …”

  Alessa found her hands pinned above her head. Adriano’s fingers ghosted over her wrist and palms, promising and sweet.

  “I’m going to be busy for a while,” he told her. “Another week, maybe.”

  “I noticed that already.”

  “But I’ll be around.”

  Alessa nodded. “I’ll be waiting.”

  Adriano gave her another sinful smile, kissed the tip of her nose, and let her hands go. “Don’t wait, just be ready.”

  She didn’t have the first clue what he meant.

  Adriano kissed her hard once more, fixed a wayward curl, and left Alessa confused and turned on like nothing else alone in the private room. With shaking hands, Alessa pulled out her phone to call her sister back.

  The lack of something sparkly caught her eye instantly. Her engagement ring was gone.

  Alessa’s breath caught in her throat. “Oh.”

  Sneaky. So jealous.

  Adriano must have took notice of the piece and acted.