by Aliyah Burke
“Plan?”
“Yes, plan. I am tired of sitting here and waiting. Let’s go after them.”
“No.” The word slipped out before he even realized it was an option to say.
Not a good option, given the look on Lexy’s face. She scowled at him. “What do you mean no?”
“Did you not just read what I did? How they killed her? If you think I’m letting you put yourself in that situation, you’ve got another thing coming.”
“I’m already in this situation!” she hollered, shoving to her feet. “I’m up to my throat in it. You can’t keep me on the sidelines, Valentino. For some reason it’s me they want. Not you. Me. Unless you think this is some sick thing to get to you, but that doesn’t even begin to make sense, since you weren’t near when they first went after my brother.” She took deep breaths and he could see her try to relax and regain some control. “I don’t know how things are done in an Italian family, but down here, in the South, in mine, we don’t run from things. We band together and kick the everlasting fucking shit out of the ones who hurt us.”
Lord, she was something else when she was pissed off. Her eyes were hard as flint and cold as the Arctic Circle. Her lithe body trembled and he knew it was with fury, not fear.
“Italian families protect their own as well.”
“Really? Great. Then go protect yours and let me do the same for mine. I’m tired of waiting for this fucker to make moves. It only allows him to be ahead of me.”
He rose to his feet as if he had all the time in the world, when in truth, it was so that he didn’t grab her. Her words were the last things he wanted to hear.
“I am protecting what’s mine.” His voice was low and deadly. When she paced by him, he snapped out an arm and stopped her. “Make no mistake about that, Alexsa.”
She froze, much like a deer in headlights. Those thickly lashed eyes of hers blinked a few times before she tried to pull free. He didn’t release her and held her gaze.
“Don’t lie to either one of us, Valentino. The only reason you’re even here is because of your need to capture this Trevor Mansfield. If his group had targeted another woman, you’d be with her.” Her pinched expression told him of her jealousy.
He tugged her closer and put them so their lips nearly touched. “Is that what you think? I came all this way to settle a score with Trevor?”
“Yes.” The honest reply she gave hit home deep. “I don’t know what he is to you, but it’s personal. I can read you like a book.”
“Can you?” he taunted. Damn her for being right.
“It has to do with that God damn ring you used to wear all the time. I don’t know how it ties into that, but your ex-wife does. Don’t try to appease me by saying crap like that. I thought you were better than that.”
He shoved his hand through her hair, anchoring her where he wanted her. Immediately hostile, as he was anytime Alyssa was mentioned, he struggled not to shake her. “You can’t read me as well as you thought, Lexy.” He tightened his grip and kissed her. Dominated her mouth until she sank into him. “You are mine.” He released her and stepped away. “And you’re not going after him.” His tone was final, with no room for discussion.
Her sharp laughter told him it wasn’t going to be that simple. But then, nothing was when it came to dealing with Lexy. He watched it on her face as she shifted gears, putting her anger to the side, and he knew she was about to come out with something. What, he wasn’t sure.
“Tell me something, Valentino.”
“What?”
“Who’s Marco?”
The air was punched from his lungs and he couldn’t find his breath for a second. “Where’d you hear that name?”
The words were drenched in danger. Lexy crossed her arms and lifted her chin.
“You called out for him last night.”
Bile rushed up and he tried not to puke in front of her. “None of your business. Let it go,” he warned.
Her gaze narrowed slightly before she gave a small shake of her head. “Nope. I’m not letting this go.”
“No. I’ve ignored shit far too long. I let that bitch of an ex go and didn’t push on it. This time, I’m not. Who is he?” She stepped closer to him. “I’m not letting this go.”
He wanted to put his fist through something. He reached out and grabbed her shoulders. “This isn’t up for debate, Alexsa. Drop it.”
“Friend? Partner? Family?”
If he closed his eyes, he could see him, clear as day. Watching him with those big eyes full of trust. Trust he’d not deserved.
“Don’t do this.”
“Damn you, Valentino. You know everything about me. Every fucking thing! We’re married for the moment and you still can’t even let me in just a little bit. Always have to play the martyr. Be totally strong and not depend on anyone.” She shoved him, angry, but he refused to release her.
“Why are you doing this?” He shook her slightly. “Why?” he demanded.
“Because it seems like you need to get it off your chest. Something is riding you hard.” She watched him with a clear expression.
“So you think you can help me forget?”
“I don’t know, but it has to be better than keeping it all bottled up inside.”
“What do you know?”
“More than you think I do. I was there in the doorway listening to your nightmare. And when you woke, I chose not to tell you I’d witnessed it. I thought I was sparing your feelings. Now? Fuck it, I don’t give a damn. Tell me who he is.”
He was torn. “Why do you want to know? You want to see what it takes to bring me down to my knees? Is that it?”
“Christ, Val. I know I can be a bitch, but I’m not made of stone. Unlike you, I do have some feelings inside me.” She shook her head. “You can be as much of an ass as you want, I’m not letting it go.”
“Damn it, Alexsa,” he ground out. “Damn you.” He let go of her then stomped away only to come back and get right in her face. “My son. Marco was my son. Are you happy now?” Pivoting on his heel, he then left the room and slammed the door, shutting himself in his bedroom.
Nothing could have shocked Lexy more than those words coming out of his mouth. She stood there, frozen, mouth moving like a fish’s as she tried to make sense of it. Part of it she knew, for he’d mentioned this to her, but for some reason, at this particular moment it made even less sense.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she went to his bedroom door, paused for a moment then entered. He stood motionless by the window, back to the door, staring out over her backyard. She chewed on the inside of her bottom lip then stepped in and closed the door behind her.
She knew he was aware of her presence, but he still didn’t move. For a moment, she merely watched him. His body language screamed ‘hands off’. And were she a smarter woman, she might have listened to it. However, she’d started this and she aimed to see it through.
Lexy walked toward him, her feet making no sound on the thick carpet. Halting behind him, she curled her toes into the dark gray floor covering and rocked back on her heels slightly.
Fury rushed over Lexy in waves as she recalled what he’d previously told her. And how could she have not remembered? Was she so involved with her own pain she’d forgotten to see his? What kind of person could do that to a child? This isn’t about you, Lexy, she reminded herself. She stood at a crossroads right now. As she figured out what to say, she understood things would change now between her and Valentino. This wasn’t something you forgot about after it happened.
“How did it happen?”
She argued with herself about whether or not to touch him. In the end, she remained apart from him. Beyond his silhouette, the warm hues of the sunset began to fill the area. Soft gold touched it all, calming everything down from a long and hectic day.
“He was killed by a bullet that traveled through me first. He died because I let down my guard.”
Lexy read between the lines. Because he’d told
someone his secret. The person he should have been able to trust with everything. His wife. And the mother of his child.
There was nothing she could say. She didn’t know what pain a person went through when betrayed as he had been, nor the horror of losing a child.
She walked up and leaned her shoulder against the window, facing him. “Does your family know?”
“That my wife died? Yes. About Marco? No. They never even knew I had a son.”
Her brows furrowed. “You didn’t tell them you had a son?” Was he serious?
“No. We wanted to be in the States. They were coming to the new house and would have met him then. Our first night in the house and it burned to the ground.”
She slid closer. “If your family doesn’t know, where is Marco buried?”
“Georgia.”
Dampening her lips, she gazed at the lightning bugs that had begun to make their presence known. “Beauregard, Ethan and Red know, don’t they?”
“They were there. Came on the chopper and took us to Georgia.”
“Have you said goodbye to him, or did you bury it all?”
“I buried my son and moved on.”
She studied him. His side profile displayed the chiseled features she enjoyed staring at so much. She understood now how he’d become the man he was today. It explained why he had always tensed when she’d touched the scar on the right side of his chest. And it explained a whole lot more.
She knew he’d not moved on. “Have you said goodbye?” she reiterated her question.
His jaw clenched and he swallowed hard. “No.” He turned from her and stared out over the encroaching darkness. Lexy wasn’t offended. Quite the opposite. She moved along the window until they touched.
“I know it means next to nothing coming from me, Valentino, but I am truly sorry for what you’ve gone through. What you’ve endured and sacrificed for your country while suffering in silence.” She stretched up, hand on his roped muscular arm, and placed a kiss on his cheek, the day’s stubble lightly abrading her skin.
She walked to his door, stepped through then closed it behind her with a soft click. Back in her room, she perched on the end of her bed where she allowed the tears—ones Valentino wouldn’t ever be privy to—to fall.
It never failed. Her phone picked the most inopportune moment to ring. Wiping her eyes, she reached for the phone.
“Hello?”
“You’ve been crying.”
The distorted voice had her wanting to tear out her hair. “Aren’t you a smart cookie.”
“I thought we told you to pass along the code.” It truly was amazing how a digitized voice could suddenly become menacing.
“I did. Your guy came up, made his statement then I never saw him again.”
“He didn’t make his checkpoint.”
“Not my fault. I did what you demanded of me. I handed it over. I did what I was told.”
“You don’t know where he went?”
Interesting. “No! Christ, I was not following anyone, which I’m sure you know, what with your freakish obsession with me.”
“You…you should be respectful.”
“I am. I’ve not told you what I truly think of you.” Her chuckle spilt coldly from her lips. “I would love to impart that to you.”
“I don’t like being disrespected.”
A lot of words lingered on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them back. “Was there something you needed?” She strove to keep her words as bland as possible—not an easy feat when she longed to let them spew forth like a damn bursting beneath the pressure.
“I can call whenever I want, Alexsa.”
Her lip curled as it did when he used her full first name. “So that’s a no.” She hung up and with a low roar of anger chucked the phone across her room and flopped back.
As expected, Val appeared at her side. In one hand along his thigh he had his pistol. The black matte finish didn’t even reflect the final light of day.
“Guess his person never returned with the code.”
“He never will.”
The three words delivered with icy cold accuracy sent a chill down her spine.
“Good.”
She turned her head and stared at the weapon against his outside thigh. Deadly. Dangerous. Violent. Words which surrounded Valentino Cassano. Not only those, however—he was also protective, honorable and fearless.
Lexy reached out and enclosed her fingers about his wrist then tugged. She was exhausted and knew he was as well. As he stretched out beside her, she curled her body into his, exhaling deeply as he wrapped his arms around her. She held him as well, tightly, and with a contented sigh tucked her head below his chin. This…this was what she needed.
Chapter Seventeen
Valentino stood by the black limo, one hand perched on the top of the doorframe. Lexy’s progress back to his side was slow, hampered by the many offering their condolences. Her black dress fit her to a tee and offered him a view that distracted him.
It bothered him to see her so subdued. This side of Lexy was so opposite of what he was used to being exposed to. Somber. Totally un-Lexy.
He wanted to be beside her, but she’d wanted to be with Hector and alone with the casket for a short time. So he’d acquiesced. She walked slowly, holding a white rose in her left hand. The sun glinted off her wedding ring and he nearly left to meet her. He remained there and just watched her, however, doing his best to respect her wishes.
Tears lingered in her eyes and she paused before him. He reached out and used the pad of his thumb to erase two drops that had leaked free. Dipping his head, he brushed a kiss along her full lips.
Her smile, while shaky, was there. She stepped beyond him and slid into the darkened interior. Valentino waited until Hector also entered the limo. The silence there was thick and sorrowful.
She sat across from him and held her brother’s hand. Each tear which glistened was another stab in his heart. The gathering—wake—after was being held at Hector’s house and that was their destination.
As he held a glass of punch and listened to the numerous conversations going on around him, he realized something. Things had changed between him and Lexy. Not in the sense that she was bending over backwards for him since his revelation. Of course not, she’d never do that, but more in a mutual understanding.
They had mostly avoided one another after sleeping in one another’s arms in her bed—it had been a night of extremely satisfying rest for him and one without nightmares. Her tongue still had the tendency to be viperous, but she watched him differently now. He wasn’t positive what to make of it.
Searching for her, he cast his gaze about the room. She stood between the dining and living rooms talking to Adam. The man continually ran his hand through his sand-brown hair. He appeared—to Valentino—overly nervous.
Valentino didn’t like the implications and slowly began circling the room to reach her. Someone close to the family had to be in on this and Adam was one who fit the profile. Loner. Single. Works closely with them.
“You let me know, Lexy, if there’s anything I can do. Anything at all,” Adam said.
Valentino hid his displeasure at the man’s insistence on touching his wife. Part of him—quite a large part actually—wanted to break the man’s arm and neck for laying a finger on her. The possessiveness he had for her grew daily.
His gaze narrowed in on where she rested her hand on his arm. That was just her. Touchy-feely. Welcoming. And for that—and because it was a wake for her brother—he didn’t go off half-cocked.
“Thanks, Adam. You’re a great friend.”
The man’s smile was strained and Valentino ran over all he knew of the man once more, even as he stood beside them.
“How are you holding up?” he whispered against her temple. Her gentle scent wove about him and began soothing him just in that brief moment.
She reclined partially into him, yet tension radiated from every inch of her. He wrapped an arm around her.
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“I need a moment,” she admitted once Adam had walked off with a nod.
“You want to go somewhere?”
“No.” She faced him, settled her hands upon his torso and fiddled with the buttons on his shirt. “He’s okay, right?” Her question was faint.
Valentino stared down at her, but she wouldn’t meet his gaze. “Last check-in yes, he was stable.”
Her nod was barely there and her fingers moved faster over the linen of his shirt. He bit the inside of his cheek and ran his gaze over the crowd. Hector watched them then gestured to a small room off the side and with a nod of thanks, Valentino guided Lexy over there.
Closing the door of the small powder room behind them, he lifted her chin and shook his head. She still wouldn’t look at him.
“Lexy.” Nothing, her gaze stayed down. “Alexsa.” He kept his tone gentle. “Look at me.”
Ever so slowly, she did. More tears sparkled in her large eyes and he hated himself for making her go through this ruse.
“I didn’t think it would be this hard,” she admitted with a sniff.
He reached for a tissue and handed it to her. She dabbed at her eyes and without messing up her makeup, took care of the tears. Then she balled up the tissue and tossed it in the trash. He swept the room for bugs while she did, not saying anything to her about it, and he didn’t think she even noticed his hand going around the small area.
“Hard is relative, Lexy. You’re feeding off the others who don’t know the truth. You know your brother is as safe as he can be.”
“I know. How am I supposed to break this to my brother after it’s over? And everyone here?” She trembled. “It’s not fair to any of them. They all loved him. Eugene was a well-respected man of this community.”
He cupped her cheeks in his hands. “You can’t worry about that right now, Lexy. This is about keeping him and you as safe as we can.”
“I feel so wrong about deceiving everyone.”
“This isn’t something we do lightly either, Lexy. It’s a last resort. Things will be difficult, but it will be easier than losing him for real.”
She rested her head against his chest. “God, I wish this was over.”
