“Because my sister was taken by Petrov. I wanted to find him; I wanted to kill him.”
“So you wanted to know about Petrov?” he asks, and I know exactly what he's thinking. He thinks I was trying to get information out of Tommy. He thinks that's why I was with him. That may have been the reason in the beginning, but that's not why I slept with him. And I hate that Vincent thinks that.
“Yeah,” I answer him, not willing to elaborate.
“And now you've quit?”
“Yes.” He looks at Tommy's door with a pissed-off look. He thinks Tommy told me. I can't let him think that. I don't want Tommy to get shit for it, and I won't have to lie anyway.
“He never told me. Even after we were together and everything happened between us. He never told me, but I think he's dead.” Between us. My walls go down and I have to work real fucking hard not to break down. Maybe it was one-sided, and I just imagined him feeling anything toward me.
“So you think he's dead, so you quit.” Although it's not a question, I know he's asking.
“No. I've had a hunch he's been dead for awhile now. I quit because I realized revenge wasn't the answer. There's always going to be someone to fight. I'm not the person to do it. I need to find another way.”
“Another way to do what?” he asks.
“To let go.” Tears prick at my eyes and I feel so fucking weak. I try to keep my composure and walk closer to Tommy's door. “I just need to tell him something.”
“What do you have to tell him? I'd be happy to relay the message.” He takes a step closer to me, and I instantly take a step back. I don't feel the same sense of security with him as I do with Tommy. I don't think I've ever felt that way about anyone before.
“Tell me,” he says, but I can't.
“I--I can’t.” I’ve never spoken to Vincent Valetti before today. And I have no idea what kind of man he is, or what all he knows about us.
“Is it about police matters, or personal?” he asks.
I stare at the door, not knowing how to answer that. I don't want Tommy to get hurt.
“That’s what I thought. You know that’s not smart, right? A cop, and a man like Tommy?” He shakes his head before continuing. “It's over now, isn't it?”
“I came to tell him something before I leave.” A part of me just wants to tell Vincent so I can leave and avoid the rejection I feel coming.
“Good. It’s a good thing you’re leaving. It’s for the best.”
I look back at him, not sure how to respond. It fucking hurts. All of this is really none of his goddamn business.
He presses his lips into a straight line and then he asks, “You tell anyone about this little arrangement you had with Tommy?”
“No. It’s over, so it doesn’t matter.” The words come out hard, but I stand my ground and maintain eye contact.
Vince rocks on his heels and looks to the left. “Good. So what do you have to tell him?”
“Something that’s none of your concern.” He narrows his eyes, but I don’t care.
“Tommy’s in a bit of hot water right now, sweetie, so you might want to be a little bit more forthcoming.” The way he says it makes my heart stop. I don't want Tommy to get hurt because of me. My mother's words ring in my head, it's all because of you.
“I’m pregnant.” The words fall from my mouth, and his eyes widen in surprise as he looks at my stomach. I feel the need to explain, so I blurt out, “It’s early. I can’t be any more than a few weeks along.”
“So it’s been going on for a few weeks, huh?” he asks.
“About that, yeah.” I answer him and he nods his head. His eyes stay pinned on me, like he can read my thoughts. He’s judging me. And along with me, Tommy.
“Are you sure it’s his?” he asks me with an odd expression.
“I don’t fuck around.” I bite out the words with a little anger and instantly regret it. He hardens his expression and stares back at me. “Yes,” I say.
“Why?” he asks me, without any indication of what he’s referring to.
“Why what?” I look at him with confusion. Surely he isn’t expecting me to tell him why women get pregnant. In my case it’s because I’m a fucking idiot who got lost in a man’s touch and wasn’t thinking straight.
“Why’d you go after him?” he asks me.
“I didn’t. It just happened. We didn’t mean for this to happen.” It strikes me that Tommy may be in deep shit. Really deep shit. “He tried to end it, more than once.” I breathe in deep, remembering how he left me, how he never showed and sent me a text. Each time he tried to break things off I knew it was for the best, but it still hurt.
His brows raise in humor. “So he was that good, huh?” He huffs a small laugh and I give him a sad smile in return. That’s all I can offer.
Vince puts a hand on my back and hesitantly gives me a pat as he says, “It’ll be alright. I’ll have him call you.” His comfort is awkward, like he doesn’t want me to cry, but he doesn’t know what to do to make me stop.
“He’s gonna be okay, right?” I ask him, before turning to walk away.
His eyes narrow, and I shake my head and wish I hadn’t said anything. “I shouldn’t ask questions. I take it back.” He looks at me for a long time and I just want to hide.
“My wife didn’t learn as fast as you. She’s got a real problem with being nosy.”
I look at him with a bit of worry.
“You know she tried to kill me once?” My mouth falls open in a little shock and I’m not sure what to say. “It was a horrible effort, really. But I’m just saying, shit can start out rough and end up alright.”
I stare back at him, speechless.
He smiles at me as he says, “Everything’s gonna be alright. I trust you’ll see that soon.”
Tonya
I'm still shaken up as I park my car. It's different to say I’m pregnant out loud. It makes me feel more vulnerable than I ever have before. It almost hurts, admitting the insecurity that I may be on my own and Tommy may truly want nothing to do with either myself or our baby. I take a look at my apartment building and I have to squint. Something's different. My heart pounds in my chest. The light, it's too dark. My breathing halts as I realize the street light is broken. Something's wrong. No, I'm just freaking out. It's okay. It's just a light. I tell myself that over and over as my eyes dart from my left to my right.
Something deep in my chest is telling me something is wrong. Something is not right.
I'm not safe. I hear my sister's voice screaming at me to run. “Run!”
Warning bells ring in my ears and I quickly turn the key in the ignition. But it's too late.
The window smashes and something hard crashes into my skull, splitting the skin on my forehead. I scream out and try to put the car into drive, but large hands reach in and grab my body. Blood drips down my face as strong hands wrap around my neck. I try to scream; I try to fight. The seat belt digs into my skin and holds me down as I hear the doors being unlocked. I open my eyes and see a large man wearing all black open the passenger side door and reach across the console. He's older, and his skin is tanned and wrinkled. His lips are thin and his eyes are deep set and dark. I try to move and get away, but I'm pinned in place by the man I can't see reaching in through the window.
The man to my right turns off the car and removes the keys. I feel hopeless and weak. I should've known better. How could I let this happen? Anxiety courses through me.
“You will not scream.” The man in the passenger seat speaks in a deep, low voice. A voice I don't recognize. Maybe Vincent didn't trust me after all. Maybe they've come to kill me because of Tommy. My heart twists with agonizing pain. Maybe they killed Tommy. It's also possible that Tommy knows. My throat dries up as the man slaps his hand across my face. The slap burns my skin, and it's so forceful that it splits my lip.
“You will answer me!” I hear a faint accent as he yells at me. Russian. My eyes pop open and I stare back at the man.
His
lip curls into a sick smirk. “Do you recognize me, Officer Kelly? You should. We know who you are.” I do. I've seen his face before. He's a member of the Russian Bratva not far from here. One of the last times Petrov was seen was on their territory.
Revenge. They're here for revenge. But we didn't kill Petrov.
My eyes widen with fear. Maybe he's still alive.
A sick part of me wishes it were true. I find strength in thinking I'll see him. I want to see his face. My fear and anguish dissolve into nothing but sheer determination.
The hand over my mouth slowly moves away. I wish I could wipe the spit off of my mouth, but I can't. The arm pinning me down doesn't move.
“You're going to listen to me, and answer me when I tell you to.” I stare back at the man who thinks he's calling the shots.
“Yes,” I say obediently. I'm just waiting for my chance.
“You're going to call Tommy,” the man says, staring me in the eyes. “We need one Valetti. And he'll come to you any time you call him. He doesn't tell anyone, just sneaks off to find his bitch in heat.”
“Why?” I ask him in a calm voice. So calm it nearly terrifies me. I don't recognize my own voice.
“Why do you think, sweetheart?” He gives me a twisted smile. “We need to set an example.” He looks at the man holding me and I'm released. I hear more glass fall as the man to my left leaves my side and opens my door. “Be a good girl, and call him.”
I look down at my purse and consider doing just that. But I don't want to lead him to his death. “Don't you want to live?” he asks. If I didn't know I was pregnant, I would never do it. But I have to do what I can to save my baby.
They'll never let you live, a sad voice whispers in my ear. My eyes dart to his. They're dark and full of excitement. I know they're going to kill me. There's nothing I can do to stop them. I turn my head, and see there are two more men standing outside the car. Four men total.
I think back to the alley. There were only three, and I had my gun in my hand aimed at one. I had an advantage there, that I don't, here. My heart stutters in my chest. I'm not going to be okay. I can't do this. And I need to. I can't fail.
I look back at the man as I take out my phone. I have to call Tommy. He's my only hope.
Tommy
I've never been nervous going into Vince's house, never. It's a good sign that Elle opened the door and didn't seem to act any differently. It's funny seeing her with a baby in her arms. She's carrying him around like a pro now.
I open the door and reluctantly take a seat across from Vince. I know this isn't good. All his text said was that we needed to talk. I wonder what happened between Sunday and now. A million possibilities are running through my head. I don't think he'd kill me, not his own blood. Especially not with Elle around. But giving me a head start to run, or telling me to go away and never come back? That thought is a very real possibility.
I don't know how I ever thought I could get away with being with Tonya. I never should've fucked with a cop. I swallow and it hurts my dry throat. I crack my knuckles and try to relax, but I can't. If I had to take it back, I don't think I would. That's the worst part of it all. There was something between us that I'm glad I felt. Even if it left a scar on my heart. I wouldn't change it.
They may think it was wrong. But there was nothing wrong about what we did.
“We gotta talk, Tommy,” Vince says from across his desk. His body is stiff. It's not a good sign. As I open my mouth, my phone goes off. Vince's eyes dart to my pants.
I should've put that shit on silent. I take it out quickly to turn it off and see it's Tonya that's calling. My bad girl. She sure has some real shit timing. I don't know why she's calling me. She shouldn't be. She should know I can't answer. I look Vincent in the eyes and I know that he knows who's calling. I hit the switch to turn it to vibrate and put it on his desk.
The shit part is that I would've answered her. Even though we've said our goodbyes. If I was anywhere other than here, I would've answered.
“You need to make a decision today, Tommy. If you go to her, you're leaving the family,” Vince says simply. It fucking hurts. He's telling me he'd kick me out. My own blood. The familia is all I know. They're all I have.
“It's like that?” I ask him, not holding back how hurt I am. Fuck it, he should know what he's asking.
“We can't have a cop in our family.” I bite the inside of my cheek, letting the pain consume me. My eyes settle on a dark swirl in the rug beneath my feet. “It's over. I told you that.” My voice is flat, just like my emotions.
“I know you did. But you have to have one more talk with her.” My eyes dart to his. What the fuck does he want from me? I'm not using her. She's staying out of whatever shit he's thinking up in his head.
“She's leaving town. She quit being a cop, did you know that?”
She quit? Damn. I wish I knew why. My brow furrows. I don't know why it hurts me to think that she quit. I should be happy. That means she's not a cop anymore. But whatever her reason is for quitting must have something to do with how fucked up she was the other night. And I don't like that. I don't want anything to hurt my bad girl. And something did, something tore her up. And I'm not there for her. She needed me. She still does. I know she does.
“No, I didn't know.” She never told me, maybe that's why she called. Just as I think that, the phone goes off again. It's a gentle vibration. The screen lights up and I see her number.
We both ignore it.
“She went to your place today.”
My heart stops in my chest and I lean forward in my seat. I have to grab the armrests so hard my knuckles turn white just to stay seated. “You better not have fucking touched her.” I swear to God if he laid a hand on her I'll fucking kill him.
He cocks a brow at me and shows no signs of fear. That's why he's the Don, but I know my threat didn't fall on deaf ears.
“She came to tell you she's pregnant.”
His words strike me with a force that makes me fall back in the chair. I stare at the phone as the words settle. She's pregnant. She's going to have my baby.
“So you need to choose between her or the family, Tommy.” Vince's words smack me across the face and bring me back to reality.
“Choose? Between family and my child? I fucking love her, Vince. I'm not giving her up.” Saying it out loud feels so fucking good. I love her. And I love that she's having my baby.
“I'm sad to see you go, then.” He's firm in his response.
“You said she quit.” He can't honestly expect that I'm going to leave her when she's pregnant.
“I can't allow it, Tommy. Do you know what kind of position this puts me in?” My anger comes back with full force, just as the phone rings, again.
“Fucking answer it already.” He looks at me with an exasperated expression. It pisses me off, but I answer it.
“Hello,” I answer her without giving anything away.
“Thomas,” she answers me with my name like that, and I hate it. Just because we ended things doesn't mean that she's gotta do that shit. I loved hearing her call me Tommy.
“Talk to me, baby.” I hope my answer warms her up to me. I know she's gonna tell me she's pregnant and she's probably worried. I don't want her to be though. I'm gonna be there for her. Even if Vince tells me I've gotta leave, I'm not leaving her.
“I need you to meet me,” she says calmly. There's no emotion from her at all.
“Sure, baby. Wherever you want.” Again I soften my voice. I want her to know I'm receptive to whatever it is she's gotta tell me. I'm also anxious though. I wanna hear it from her lips. “We could talk now, if there's something on your mind,” I offer.
“It's nothing.” My forehead creases. Nothing? She's carrying my child, and she thinks it's nothing?
“I just want to see you before I leave. I thought we could meet where we first met. A small smile plays at my lips as I answer her, “At the station.” She doesn't laugh. Instead she replies flatly, “At Rosetti's
. I know it's closed now, but it'd be nice to say goodbye by the creek in the back. Where we first met.”
Something's off. My eyes bore into Vince's skull until he looks at me.
“Something's wrong.” I mouth the words to him as I put it on speaker. We've never been there before. It doesn't make sense. She's trying to tell me something. “Sure, baby, you want me to bring anything?”
“No, I think it will be quick.” I don't understand what she's getting at, what she's hinting at.
“Maybe a bottle of wine. I can bring those chocolates; you remember the two packages we had at your place the first night? The two on the end table before I had your taste on my mouth for the first time. How many of those are you expecting?” I'm hoping she's getting what I'm talking about. Vince looks at me like I've lost my damn mind.
“I think four would be good.” She's quick to answer, and I nod my head. Four men. I knew it. Thank fuck my girl is so smart and so damn strong.
“Alright, baby. What time do you need me there?” I ask.
“As soon as you can.” Her last word comes out with strain. My heart aches in my chest like it never has before.
“Hey, baby, you okay?” I have to ask, even though I know she's not.
“I'll be better when you get here.” With those last words the phone cuts out.
I put the phone down and look at Vince, my cousin. The boss of my familia, but also my friend.
“What's wrong?” he asks as I try to compose myself. I can't help that I'm choked up. I just realized how much I love her. I just chose her over everything, and now she's in danger.
“There's gonna be shit happening tonight,” I tell him. “I need you.”
“You think it's a setup? She's setting you up?” Vince looks pissed.
“No. No, she wouldn't do that. But someone's got her, Vince. Four men.”
He stands up and runs his hand through his hair. “Fucking hell, Tommy.” Vince looks out of the window like he's debating on what to do.
Tempted: A Bad Boy Next Door Romance Page 29
