Glancing up, Matteo is still looming over me, arms crossed over his chest, waiting for more details. With an exaggerated huff, I continue. “I finally got my footing on the ground and used my hands around his wrist to come to a semi-stand. That’s when it hit me, and I remembered something Dom taught me a few years ago.” I glance at my brother and his attention is focused on me. “Remember when you made me practice letting you yank me around by my hair for like a week and I thought you just wanted to torture me?” A real laugh bubbles out of my throat for the first time in hours. “Well, I was able to turn myself and kick him. Not that it did much; he still had ahold of my ponytail and was able to kick me back. I swear to God the bastard was wearing steel toe boots.”
I splay my fingers out and wrap my hand back around my ribs. The pain is bearable when I’m still or I move slowly. “Anyway, that’s about when I heard Caesar call my name. That must have scared the bastard and he took off.”
“Si,” Ren calls out, his voice laced with so much regret it hurts my ears to hear him sound like that.
“What did he look like?” Matteo inquires. “Did you see his face?”
“No, he was wearing a mask,” I repeat the same thing I told Dad and Dom in the car ride home. Only there is something about that statement that hasn’t sat right with me since the first time I said it.
“You know who it was, don’t you?”
Matteo’s question catches me off guard and I snap my shocked eyes to his. “What?” I ask, sounding dumbfounded. Why would he question that?
“Do you?” my father demands, my eyes flicking up to where he stands next to the fireplace. “Why haven’t you told us?”
His assumption that Matteo’s question is true ticks me off. “No,” I say with all the authority I can summon. “I mean, there was something about him that felt familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it. Dad, if I knew I would have told you when you picked me up.”
“Si?” Ren’s voice cracks, but I hear the silent question in that one word. Is this my fault? When I glance over, the pain on his face matches the pain I feel all over.
“The question is where the hell were you, Lorenzo?” The fire in my father’s voice makes me shudder. Daddy can be cold. He can be hard as steel, but this is unlike anything I’ve witnessed before. He’s angry at my twin, which is exactly why I played it off like I wasn’t hurt as badly as I’m coming to realize I might be.
There was a time I may have been in worse shape. I did amateur kickboxing fights throughout my high school and college years. The only difference is that I wore headgear and was never caught unprepared.
I should have been able to take that bastard to the ground.
“I’m taking you to the hospital,” Matteo says. “Lift your arms?”
“I’m not going to the hospital,” I argue, turning away and twisting my body to face Dom instead of Matteo. That small amount of movement causes me to tighten where my palm is holding pressure to one area of my ribs on my left side.
He grasps my chin between his fingers in a gentle but firm grip, forcing my gaze to his don’t-fuck-with-me posture. He can kiss right the fuck off for all I care. No one is making me do anything I don’t want to do myself.
“You are going even if I have to throw you over my shoulder, but I don’t want to cause you any more pain or hurt you any more than you already are. Stand up or raise your arms and I’ll lift you. Baby, you’re going. I don’t want to hear an argument.”
“Go,” Dad orders, backing Matteo and pissing me off.
“You need to back out of your fight with Sasha next month,” Ren says from where he has taken a seat on the couch Matteo leapt over. “You can’t fight—”
“Like hell I will,” I throw at him as I look over my shoulder, stunned that he would even suggest such a thing.
“You didn’t stand a chance in perfect shape,” he says like it was a forgone conclusion that she was going to win. “Now, after this . . . No, Si. Forfeit the match.”
“Are you kidding me right now?” I kick my legs off the chair, swiveling to face Ren despite the ache protesting my jerky movement.
“Way to be in your sister’s corner,” Matteo says, disgust laced in his tone.
“Butt the fuck out,” Ren barks. “Why the hell are you even here, De Salvo. You aren’t—”
“He’s right,” Dad cuts in. “Where the hell is your loyalty, Lorenzo? Because it sure doesn’t sound like it’s with your sister, with your family. Maybe it’s time you take a long, hard look in the mirror. Because if you aren’t one hundred percent with us, for us,” Dad does an air circle with his finger, “then you’re against this family and that does not work. Your name is your goddamn oath, so until you understand that get the fuck out of my sight.”
“Daddy!” I yell.
“Shut it, Sienna. Get your ass up and do what Matteo says,” he orders, and my jaw drops to the floor, too stunned to backtalk him like I normally would. “All of you will fucking learn that I run this family. I say what goes and what does not. And all of you will follow my orders from here on out or there will be consequences none of you want.”
With that speech—words from the boss, not Dad—he walks out of the room, leaving at least three of us in silence. When I look to my left, I find Dom with a dark brow arched. “What the fuck are you all waiting for? Do what he ordered. Now.”
Chapter 41
MATTEO
Sienna fought me tooth and nail about taking her to the emergency room, claiming her injuries weren’t severe enough to need that level of care. Being in the line of work I’m in, I know enough medical personnel that I was able to get a sports medicine doctor to order an X-ray at the clinic he works at part-time when he’s not on retainer for sporting events.
Turns out, Si’s ribs were minimally bruised, and she only had a split lip and swelling from getting slapped. She had a few scrapes where her bare skin was exposed between where her Capri leggings stopped and her shoes covered her feet. All her injuries were superficial, and I was relieved when the doctor delivered the news.
The large patch of black and blue skin on her left side looked worse than anything else. Being a boxer, I know surface area is usually like that, and oftentimes, there is little to no internal damage, but I had to be sure.
Still, seeing her like I did put shit into perspective. Had she gotten marred up due to a fair fight, I know I wouldn’t have reacted the way I did. I would have joked alongside her. Someone maliciously set out to hurt her, or worse, nab her? That doesn’t sit well with me in the least, even weeks later after her injuries have all healed like they never happened in the first place.
Sienna doesn’t want to talk about what happened, so trying to find out if her Dad made good on his promise to end the scumbag’s life is like trying to pry open a safe with a screwdriver. She’s embarrassed, and I know that’s the reason she wants to put the whole thing behind her. She doesn’t have any reason to feel that way, but there is no convincing her otherwise.
Tony has let us both train and workout in his personal home gym instead of going to the one he owns or even going to my house. Other than trips to get more clothes for Brooklyn and me, I haven’t slept in my bed since the morning of Sienna’s attack. Every night after being inside of her, I’ve fallen asleep with my head on one of her pillows and my body wrapped firmly around Sienna while my daughter sleeps in a room down the hall across from Domenico’s bedroom.
If Tony knows I’ve been occupying Sienna’s bed as much as her body, he hasn’t said anything. Perhaps the whole ordeal gave him perspective too and he’s just glad she’s back to sleeping under his roof instead of mine. Not gonna lie, I like it better here than in my cramped space.
At some point in the last month the room across from Dom was painted hot pink with an accent wall in white. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my daughter’s eyes grow so big in my life. Now she thinks it’s her room and not the guest bedroom that she’s staying in while we’re at Tony’s. After I win my fight later ton
ight, those winnings will be going toward a hefty down payment on a bigger house closer to Sienna’s father’s place. It’ll even be closer to my parents, so it’s a win-win as far as I’m concerned. Plus, if I have my way, Sienna will be moving in with me.
“What the hell am I doing here, Matteo?” The sound of Tony’s voice pulls me from my thoughts and I look over my shoulder to see him standing a few feet inside the jewelry store, his hands shoved into the pockets of his black dress pants, his suit jacket open.
“Papa Tony,” Brooklyn squeals from her perch on the glass jewelry display case. Lifting her arms, she squirms to the edge, so I put her on the floor where she runs in Tony’s direction. She’s in his arms and on his hip in the next blink of an eye as I turn to face him.
Brooklyn has spent more time with him in the last week than she has stayed with my parents. In that time, I’ve come to find out he’s been teaching her the basics of Jiu Jitsu. After what happened to Si, I don’t have a problem with it like I would have before, since he never bothered to ask my permission in the first place.
“Hey, tiger.” He smiles at her as he squeezes her to his side, then his eyes flip to mine and his stare hardens. “I have places to be, so spit it out.”
Reaching in my pocket, I pull out the black velvet box and present it to him. With his free hand he swipes it, flipping open the top. He’s silent as he eyes the diamond for longer than necessary, his expression unreadable. Finally, the box snaps shut and his dark brown eyes flick to mine. “You have something you want to ask me?”
“No,” I deadpan. “Whether you give me your blessing or not, I’m still going through with it. I’m giving you a heads-up out of respect. I’m marrying your daughter,” I declare.
“Only if she says yes, De Salvo.” He passes the ring box back to me and I pocket it.
“Does that mean I have your blessing?”
“You just told me you didn’t need it, so why even ask?” He hands Brooklyn back over to me and I keep her attached to my hip instead of putting her down. “Let’s just see what her answer is. Even if she does agree to a proposal you’ll likely screw up, that doesn’t mean I’ll let her walk down the aisle.”
“I could elope with her, you know.”
“And make your child fatherless? I think not. I hope you’re smart enough to know what I’d do goes without saying.” His eyes flick to Brooklyn’s and then back to mine, his brow lifted. “You’ve wasted enough of my time. I’ll see you later tonight. And make sure you win. I lose money on you and you can kiss my daughter goodbye.”
He turns to leave when I say, “Hey, Tony,” as the glass door pushes open a few inches to the outside. Stopping, he waits. “If I do join the family, I want to know what happened to the person that did that to her last month,” I tell him, cautious of the words I use in front of Brooklyn.
“I’ll only say this once, Matteo. Before you join my family, be damn certain this is the life you want for not only yourself, but your daughter too, and even your parents if you plan on continuing your relationship with them. Don’t ask my daughter what you plan to ask if there is even a shred of doubt in that thick skull of yours. Do you hear me?”
“I was certain when I presented my hand to you and I’m still certain now. My mind will not change.”
“I hope for your sake, for Sienna’s, and for hers too”—he juts his chin in Brooklyn’s direction—“that’s true, because there really is only one way out, Matteo.”
He pushes through the door, leaving me standing in the same spot, my decision set in stone. I may not know exactly what I’m getting myself into, but I know I love Sienna and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. To achieve that, I’ll do whatever is needed.
“Daddy,” Brooklyn says.
“Yeah?”
“Can I go see Momma?”
Fuck me. Not this again. She keeps asking and I keep telling her no. She hasn’t seen Kennedy in weeks, maybe even months. I’m not sure at this point.
“We talked about this, sweetheart, and I know you don’t understand but your mother put you in danger. I don’t trust her with you alone.” I don’t trust her period, but that’s more than Brooklyn can comprehend. She hasn’t even started kindergarten yet. She’s still a little kid and is a long way from understanding the situation with her mom.
“But I miss her, Daddy. Can’t I just see her for a few minutes? That’s all. Please.”
God, I’m going to fucking regret this. Even knowing I’m going against my better judgement, I have a hard time telling my daughter no over and over. It’s not that I want to keep her from her mother; I just wish she had a better one.
Pulling out my phone, I call my ex—the last person on earth I want to speak to. Sienna is going to fucking murder my ass, and rightfully so.
Please don’t answer.
“Matty,” she chirps.
Fuck.
I relinquished and allowed Brooklyn to stay with her mom for five hours. If I didn’t have Sienna’s fight to watch and then have to get to the city for my own, I would have gone back to pick her up myself. Instead, Kennedy is supposed to drop her off at my parents’ house for my mom to watch until tomorrow morning.
Dad wanted to see Sienna’s match too, so he came with me to the Muay Thai-Kickboxing Tournament being held in a casino hotel in Long Island.
On one hand, it fucking sucks that we both have our events on the same night. I can’t kick back, have a few beers, and watch my girl fight in a relaxed state. Instead, I’m in a rush to see hers over so that I can congratulate her and then hightail my ass to where my fight is taking place an hour away in Manhattan. Luckily, my match is still hours from now, so I have plenty of time to get there.
Sasha isn’t ranked high in the kickboxing world, so she isn’t the headliner. Their match is third on the fight card for the night. It’s rumored that Sasha wants to move over into MMA where the money is better, which could be a smart move for her if she’s serious about going pro.
Otherwise, I hear she’s a decent stripper, so there’s always that for her if this doesn’t pan out. Not that I’m knocking that. People should do what they enjoy regardless of what anyone else thinks. Everyone’s business is their own, so in that respect, I don’t judge.
“That your girl?” Dad leans over, pointing to the woman dressed in white silky shorts rimmed in crimson and a matching sports bra. Pure white against her tan skin is breathtaking. I saw her fifteen minutes ago and I had to leave her dressing room before I fucked her. I was turned on from the sight alone.
“Yeah, Pop, that’s Sienna.” He hasn’t formally met her yet. I’d planned to rectify that earlier, but with a hard-on that wasn’t happening. I still plan to introduce them after her fight, provided she doesn’t get too fucked up during the match.
I haven’t told either of my parents that I’m going to ask her to marry me before the night is over with. Hell, I’m not even sure whether I’m going to do it before my fight or after. I tried to think of a romantic way to ask, but everything I’ve thought of so far seems cheesy or cliché, and that’s the last thing I want her proposal to be remembered as.
“She got potential to go pro?”
“Potential? Sure, but she doesn’t want that.” That much I do know. Sienna loves finance and business. I hate that bullshit, but that’s why I do what I love and she does her thing.
“Then why is she out there?”
“So she can kick the other chick’s ass.” Saying it out loud makes me chuckle, but when I look to my left, Lorenzo is scowling at me. Dom, on the other hand, has a smirk on his face.
“She’s gonna need to bring a whole hell of a lot more than she’s packing if she’s going to knock my sister out.”
The sound of Krishna’s voice pulls my eyes over my left shoulder to the row behind us where Sasha’s older brother is seated directly behind Domenico, his eyes on his phone and not on the ring in front of us. “Why are you even over here, Nikolayev? Can’t you sit somewhere else?”
Eve
ry time I see him, all I remember is his lips on Sienna, and I want to knock him through a wall like I did the night he sucked her face off in front of a club full of people, her brothers included. I thought for sure Dom was going to do the job for me, but he didn’t so much as lay a hand on the prick that night.
“I sit where I want. If you got a problem with that, Punchy, then man up and do something about it. Otherwise, shut the fuck up.”
“The last thing you want is to be on the receiving end of my fist. Unless you’re dumb enough to think you can take me.”
“You keep believing that, Punchy. Any time you want to tie up with me just say the word.”
“Motherfucker,” I start, but Dom interjects.
“Cut the shit, K. I’d like to see my sister beat the fuck out of yours too.”
“She’s going to need more than luck on her side for that to happen, but you keep dreaming, Caputo.” Krishna leans down, whispering something into Domenico’s ear, but with the noise around us, I can’t hear what is said. By the look on Dom’s face, it pissed him off.
“Matteo, you’re too smart to let that BS get to you,” Dad says, pulling my attention back to the ring where Si and Sasha touch each other’s gloves to start the fight.
What Dad doesn’t know is that Nikolayev and I won’t be even until I ram my fist through the parts of him that touched my woman. Doesn’t matter if she wasn’t mine at the time, but it sure as hell didn’t feel like she wasn’t mine either. His time will come, likely sooner rather than later.
The first round went by quicker than I anticipated. This isn’t a title fight, so there are only three rounds to the match with each round lasting three minutes. Being a pro fight, the typical shin guards and headgear aren’t allowed.
At the sound of the bell both girls came in strong throwing punches and kicks to the body. Sienna has improved her footwork since she’s been training with me, but even I have to admit, Sasha’s stance is better, her form more solid and controlled. Si is able to get in a nice knee to Nikolayev’s gut and it pulls a smile to my lips, a feeling of pride forming.
Bad Princess: A Mafia Romance Page 28
