Heretic: The Clans Book Ten

by Knox, Elizabeth

  I turn away from my brother to go find Pavel, knowing that my best bet is to find Elena and try to get her on my side of things if I can. I don't know exactly how and when to do it yet, but maybe for once I’ll get exactly what I fucking want.

  "Luca?" Pavel says as I grab him on the shoulder and turn him around a little bit too roughly. I'm initially apologetic just because I don't mean to take this out on Pavel. He isn’t a bad man at all, even though he has flaws for sure. He deserves a bit of respect, if nothing else. "Excuse me, Father Pavel, can you tell me where Elena went? I kind of was hoping to talk to her."

  "Yes, I believe that she went to the café across the street to get some coffee. I hope she'll be back soon, but who knows with her anymore?" He throws his hands in the air as if he is frustrated with some little child as if she was I still some rebellious teenager and not a grown ass woman. I'm not surprised, though. He probably assumes she's supposed to be some tight-assed religious nut like he is. I get the feeling she's nothing of the sort, which is exactly why I think there might be a chance that she could help me.

  Even if I have to make her.

  I don't hesitate to follow her to the coffee shop across the street. It doesn't take me long to see that she is there, as I look through the window, deciding not to go inside.

  The reason? She sits at a table in the back with two women. Dangerous women.

  They are all sitting, smiling, and talking as if they are best friends. I can't really tell for sure if they already know each other or if this is some random meeting, though nothing seems to be random with the Clans. What I do know is I recognize the two women to be the Bădescu sisters; the very women who were meant to be outcasts. When Galina, the oldest, was young, her father betrayed the Clans and they all got the boot, being exiled to Eastern Europe; Czechoslovakia, if I remember right. And the thing about it is, the reason they were exiled is because their father overstepped and was trying to take over instead of waiting for Mariana to be found— just fucking unforgivable.

  From my particular brand of research, I also know that the Bădescu sisters were the ones responsible for the bombing of the church where Carla and Philippe were meant to be married. So, here they are, right up the ass of another Clan event, and they just so happen to be meeting with the woman who is to be my future wife.

  I have the feeling there is something more here than meets the eye, even if I can't put my finger on it. So, I'm going to bide my time here and watch and see how this plays out.

  I don't want to interrupt and spook them just in case something I can use comes out of this, even if it means simply rescuing Elena from a really bad friendship here.

  I hope to come out of it looking like a fucking hero and getting the girl too.

  This is exactly the kind of thing I've been looking for; the opening that I need. And I know just what else I need to do to accomplish everything I've ever wanted.

  It's finally all in my reach.

  Chapter Three

  Elena

  “Who the fuck is this?” That’s what the bitchy one asks as I come to sit down at the table with her and Ivana who I’ve made fast friends with, but when she says it, it is in Romanian and not English or Italian.

  I couldn’t believe that I had managed to bump into two other Romanians in Italy at the same time the Clans are having an event. And right across the street, for that matter. However, it’s not like I have ever seen these women before. They don’t belong to the Clans from what I can tell. But I think about what Ivana said to me about fate while we were in line, and I laugh a little, probably pissing the other sister off more.

  “Elena is who the fuck I am,” is what I answer, but I answer in Romanian to show that I know exactly what she said. Ivana’s sister seems shocked, her mouth with dark red lipstick on it literally hanging open.

  “You speak Romanian?”

  Now I take my seat, hoping that I’ve proved that I can be trusted here. I wonder what this bitch’s problem is, but maybe me and her can get along after all. I mean, I tend to be a bitch too. My time in private Catholic school turned me into exactly that. It was the only way I could survive. I was totally on my own, no matter what my father tells anyone. It is not the simple Christian place people might think it is, stereotypically.

  “Well, I sure as hell hope so considering I am Romanian.”

  “No shit?”

  Ivana pipes up next. “I met Elena. She was in line behind me. Seems like she has a problem that I might be able to relate to and thought we could have some coffee together. I feel like we can be fast friends.”

  The juxtaposition between the two sisters is so polarizing that it’s funny. They could easily be playing a part in a movie, 2D characters used to create an entertaining and opposite effect, but they are 100% real. Ivana is kind, personable, and talkative, while Galina, as I’ve learned her name is, is more reserved, cusses like a sailor, and opinionated.

  “I can’t believe of all the places and all the people that there are that we ended up running into another Romanian in here on a coffee break,” Ivana says, continuing our conversation. It’s been light so far, and my coffee is sitting here now lukewarm because we’ve been talking so long. But it’s not like I’m in a hurry to get back to the fucking party where I’m being married off by my father. Maybe if I stay away he’ll just forget about it. I can get home and find a way to leave – for good.

  I know it’s only wishful thinking. I know my father, and he will probably have a contract drawn up by the end of the night. He’s not leaving here without me having a husband or at least one in my near future, and I know it. And I don't think these contracts are easily broken. The mafia has better fucking lawyers than Hollywood.

  “So, Elena, Ivana mentioned that you’re in some kind of trouble or having a problem that we might understand?”

  It’s a little weird to talk about in this place, with strangers, but I feel the need to unload on someone. And maybe these girls do understand, and if they don’t, then at least I got it off my chest.

  “Well, my father is obsessed with marrying me off. He has some very traditional views about things. We were invited to a big event here in town, one that I’m trying to stay away from right now, and he is using it to try and make a marriage contract. Like literally betroth me to someone. This is someone I barely know, and between meeting him tonight and hearing some rumors about him, I am almost certain that he doesn’t even like women. He plays for the other team, and no doubt he will never satisfy me. And he’ll never really be interested in me. I don’t know if my father is that naïve, or if he just doesn’t fucking care. But I feel trapped. My life isn’t mine.”

  Taking another sip of my coffee, I stare down at the cup while waiting for them to say something. In this part of the world, there are still families with some old ideals, and so it might not seem as strange as it might, say if I said something like this to someone in the United States. However, that doesn’t mean I’m proud to admit that I’m a part of one of those families. It is still not the norm.

  “I can see why Ivana took to you immediately. When she was just a baby, her life was chosen for her as well. She was already engaged to be married to someone by the time she was a toddler. The only difference was he seemed to be a nice and a good looking man. You know, until he grew up and he became an asshole like every other fucking one of them. All fucking useless if you ask me.” Wow, Galina deftly has something up her ass. But I kind of like it.

  I think I can get along with these women just fine.

  I look at Ivana, waiting on her to say something. I want to know if it’s true because, if so, this is just too freaking weird. I just happen to meet these two women, these two kindred spirits on the same day that I’m trying to escape a marriage contract myself. And the stifling expectations of my Catholic priest father.

  “It’s true. I thought that I could fall madly in love with him. Hell, I was in love with him. But it turns out that I didn’t mean a whole hell of a lot to him. We spent one nig
ht together. But it turns out he was in love with someone else. And he married her instead of me. And now, here I am, a single mother and now we just lost our father, and it kind of is like everything is falling apart. I don’t mean to be a downer here, and don’t get me wrong, it’s made me stronger. But I wish I would’ve known sooner not to put my whole heart into it, you know?”

  Damn, she wasn’t joking here. What a fucking dick.

  “Sometimes I think men like that could use learning some hard lessons, if you know what I mean.” I wink at her, and both women laugh at that. I don’t know if I actually mean it is a joke or if they understand that I don’t. Those kinds of men, the ones who betray, become deadbeat dads, lie, and cheat – those are the ones that deserve to be put in their place, maybe even using the barrel of a gun. But sometimes some nails will do too.

  “I don’t know what it is about you, bitch, but I’m starting to like you. And I don’t like anybody.” Galina’s twisted version of a girl crush causes me to smile. I can imagine all of us tearing up the town, going bar hopping, picking up every cock in the place that we want and then throwing them away.

  This is a kind of camaraderie that I need after all these years of feeling like everyone is at an arm’s length. This is the direction I want my life to go. Being my own woman, having friends that I can trust and rely on. Not needing any man. And if one comes along I want, then if he wants me back, I’ll take it. But he’ll need to be as fucked up as me. And he’ll need to be able to handle all of me. All of my crazy. And he certainly won’t be so gay that he can’t even appreciate the fact that my cleavage is on point.

  “Wait, so how did you end up betrothed to someone? Who is your family that they have these traditions?” Obviously, these women can’t be part of the Clans, but it’s not like the Clans are the only mafia around. I know that there are other families who are into criminal activity in Romania, as well as here in Italy. Though, the Russians, Italians, and even the Irish have their own form of mafia structure like the Clans do. And of course, there are those who are related to the royals in countries that still have a monarchy that might have these kinds of arrangements still. For all I know these women are duchesses or something.

  “We don’t like to talk about it. But I just feel like I can trust you. This can’t leave this table.”

  “Of course not.” I’m a little surprised and now incredibly curious to find out what these women have been involved in as I get the feeling they have been through a lot of hell. And they’ve grown from it. I mean, after talking to them, it really sounds like Ivana has recently had the worst time of her life. A brand-new baby and nobody to help her take care of it other than maybe her sister, who doesn’t exactly seem to be the motherly type.

  No offense to her. But she just doesn’t.

  They begin at the beginning. They tell me a story. All about their father.

  Their father is an outcast. They mention Romanian officials. And I wonder if it is one of the Clans’ rivals or something.

  And so, their father made someone very angry. There was a huge misunderstanding that was caused by someone else.

  They are being very vague, but I can understand that. It may simply be that all of this happened before they were even born, so they don’t know the details, or it may be for their own protection that they don’t tell me more.

  Because of the misunderstanding that led to the outcasting of their father, they have struggled all their lives. As children, through their teen years, because all this that happened to their father, caused his whole family to be shunned, sent away, and they lost everything. Their entire fortune. They had to start over, and now, their father is dead.

  It sounds like they have some kind of plan. Albeit scattered, but in the works, to make sure that those that worked to banish their father so long ago learn the truth. They want to clear his name, which is a very noble task for these two girls that could easily be bitter. And maybe underneath it all they are, but the love of their father keeps them from acting upon it in the situation. I quite admire that, and if there was any way I could help, I would.

  “I am so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine what that would be like, and I do hope you get to clear his name. If there is any way I can ever help, please let me know.”

  We sit in silence for a moment before I realize my time and luck are likely running out.

  “I really enjoyed this, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to get back before my father sends somebody looking for me. The holy wrath of a priest is not something that I want to face today, even if it seems worse than facing an impending marriage I don’t agree with.”

  “Bitch, wait.” Before I get up, I look at Galina. Galina has a smirk on her face, and I wonder what’s going on in that insane head of hers. I get the feeling that she could be very dangerous. Maybe a little bit of danger in my life will mix things up. I don’t think I’ve had enough of it lately.

  It’s been a long time since I ran with a group like this. A long time since I felt like I belonged anywhere other than following my father around like a lost puppy.

  “What will you do about this situation of yours?” She raises her eyebrows at me as if I’m supposed to have an answer right now. As if I feel like there is something I can do about it. But is there? Does she have a solution?

  I shake my head, not knowing what to say and waiting with bated breath to hear what she might have to pipe in with.

  “I think that you are the kind of woman that could take your life into her own hands. I think that you have a way that you can make it where you’ll never have to marry that man, or any man, that you don’t want to. He’s clearly never going to satisfy you, and this union could destroy that strong woman inside of you. I think it’s time that you get honest with yourself about what you might be able to accomplish. What are the ways that you can make this problem go away. Make him go away?” My heart beats fast, trying to get what she’s insinuating. I didn’t quite expect this. I mean, yes she seems like she is brutal. Frightening. But I didn’t know that she would come up with murder. And I have no doubt as she looks at me, that’s exactly what she means.

  Thinking about it, it’s not that far off from some things I’ve done in the past. It’s certainly not far from what I’ve seen or from what the Clans are willing to do to get what they want. My father wants me to be part of the Clans, right? Well, if he wants me to be a part of them, then maybe the better way to do that is to act like them rather than marry one of them. I can fend for myself on my own just fucking fine.

  And if I marry this man, if I marry Isaac, then I will be a sort of prisoner in my own life. I can’t bear the idea of that. I was a prisoner basically in my home and in school most of my life. And now that I’m a woman, I’m not going to let anyone hold me prisoner. It’s time for me to make a choice if I’m serious about taking life by the balls. So, maybe Galina’s right.

  “I think I know what you mean. I think I know exactly what I need to do.” All three of us smile at one another, a secret that we will hopefully all take to our graves years and years from now, and a secret that will hopefully get me out of the stifling life I’m headed into.

  “Give me your phone.” I pass my phone to Ivana, and she begins typing and adds her phone number into my contacts. “Let us know how it goes.”

  I nod and smile, getting up and walking away, feeling better than ever about going back to the party.

  Now that I know how to take control.

  Now that I know I am ready to kill to keep myself free.

  Chapter Four

  Luca

  I only see Elena at the party one more time, when she finally comes back. I watched her and the Bădescu sisters as long as I could for a little while, and I came back to the party before someone tried to seek me out.

  Plus, I wanted to keep an eye on Father Pavel and Isaac. Just in case they tried to do something that I wouldn’t want them to do.

  I can’t tell if anything happened before I came back. Some of the Clan memb
ers are getting tipsy and acting like fools by now. And I am eager to get out of here.

  “So, brother, you going out after this? I mean, we are in Rome.”

  Isaac and I haven’t seen eye to eye for years, despite being twins. There is always some assumption that just because we grew in our mother’s womb at the same time that we have similarities and some uncanny connection. Maybe I am a psycho, but I just don’t feel it. We didn’t even get along as children because I was selfish, torturous, the ‘bad’ brother, and our mother made sure I fucking knew it at every turn. Not that Isaac ever refuted it, only tiptoed around the subject like the coward he is.

  The truth is there’s only one thing that the two of us can agree upon in some way. That is the fact we like to party. By party, I mean party hard. The only difference is how we want to end up at the end of the night. Isaac wants the end to be with him completely drunk so he can use that as an excuse to do what he wants with men. He likes to pretend the next morning like it only happened because he had too much to drink. Because he had beer goggles on, as they say.

  And he likes to socialize and get to know people. I’m not exactly like that. One, I like women. I like the way they look at me, and I like to sit back and look at them. When their bodies move on the dance floor, it’s as hypnotic as their smell, even though they all smell a little bit different. But they all smell better than men, no matter how much cologne a man wears and how many times he washes his ass. The other thing I like is when women fall all over me, willing to do anything. The desperation. It’s interesting to me. But it never lasts. Because women who stay like that get to be very boring. Either they were only acting that way for one night but will never do it again, or they are these little weaklings forever. There’s no spunk, no fight, no reason to continue molding them to love me; training them to be mine. The first part will never happen anyway.