Gianni (Mafia Heat, #2)

by Jade, Ella

  “I love you but you won’t change my mind about this. I don’t want to fight with you. There has been tension between us ever since I started seeing Gianni. That hurts me. I can’t live like this. I don’t want to fight with you.”

  “Angelique.” He hugged me. “Someday when you have your own children you’ll understand.”

  “I need you to understand me. This is what I want. This is what I need.” The tears streamed down my cheeks. I didn’t want to hurt my dad. “Please, don’t make me choose.”

  “I love you.” He kissed the top of my head. “I won’t make you choose.”

  GIANNI

  My father sat behind his desk while Dominick and I leaned on the edge of the pool table. We were a captive audience to Senator Bruno. He’d called this unscheduled meeting early this morning. We weren’t used to being summoned especially when we didn’t know why.

  “Thank you all for meeting me on such short notice.” Bruno set his coffee cup on the table next to him.

  “What is it you need from us?” my father asked.

  “As you know, my campaign for governor is starting to gain momentum. Next year at this time, I could win the election.”

  “We’re well aware,” Dominick said. “My family is a major part of the reason for such momentum.”

  “You’ve done your part,” Jack said. “I appreciate all you’ve done to clean up the streets and put me in such good graces with my constituents. Your influence has come a long way.”

  “You have our full support,” my dad reminded him. “Is there something specific you need?”

  I didn’t like the way Jack looked at me. There was something off about this meeting.

  “There is.” Jack looked to my dad and then to me. “My request, well, it’s not personal and I don’t want you to take it that way.”

  “What’s not personal?” I asked.

  “If I’m going to run for governor, I can’t be associated with the Marchelli family.” Jack got up from the chair by the window and paced the room. “We’ve always been discreet in our relationship.”

  “That won’t change,” my father assured him. “No one knows what we do for you. Our donations are completely anonymous. They can’t be traced back to us. Our people on the street don’t know where their orders come from.”

  “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me over the years.” Jack stood in front of the fireplace. “It’s true that people don’t know what goes on between us behind the scenes but now that Gianni is pursuing my daughter that could create a problem.”

  “My relationship with Angel has nothing to do with your political aspirations.” I wouldn’t allow him to use her in his bid for governor.

  “I beg to differ.” Jack shook his head. “I can’t have my daughter dating a Marchelli. How long do you think it will take the press or my opponents to figure out that we’re linked in other ways? Our relationship works because we are discreet. You help me and I help you. That doesn’t have to change.”

  “No one said it would,” Dominick said. “Everyone knows you are a friend of our family. We go way back. It’s not unheard of for Gianni and Angelique to be dating. It doesn’t change anything.”

  “It changes everything and I can’t have it.” Jack looked to my dad. “Dante, I’m sorry but you have to reason with Gianni. He has to end things with my daughter.”

  “What?” His request was unbelievable. Did he think he was going to tell me what to do? That I would listen? “That’s out of the question.”

  “I was hoping you’d be more agreeable,” the Senator said. “I don’t want to ruin what we’ve spent years building.”

  “What did you think was going to happen when you came into my home demanding my son stop seeing your daughter?” My father slammed his hand on his desk. “Saying it’s not personal? As if Gianni isn’t good enough for Angelique.”

  “Dante.” Jack walked toward my dad’s desk. “You know how hard I’ve worked to get here. I’m too close for any mishaps now. I can’t have the Marchellis falling out of my closet. There can be no connection between our families. You know this. Gianni is a liability I don’t need.”

  “You ask too much from us.” My father glared at him. “Without us, you’re not going to get very far.”

  “You won’t stop helping me,” Jack said. “I know too much.”

  “You wouldn’t.” My father gritted his teeth. “You don’t want to go there.”

  “If Gianni does what I say, I won’t have to,” Jack countered. “You can make sure he does what I want.”

  “Dad?” What the hell did Jack have on him?

  “Senator,” Dominick intervened. “Blackmail doesn’t sit well with us.”

  “That’s laughable considering your line of work.” Jack looked at me. “End things with Angelique or your father will pay the price.”

  “Enough!” My dad stood, coming around his desk and getting in Jack’s face.

  Dominick and I moved to stand behind him. Our dad didn’t lose his temper often. Whatever Jack threatened him with must have been big.

  “Gianni has twelve hours to break up with Angelique.” Jack wasn’t backing down. “After that, I’ll use what I have.”

  “And risk losing the backing of my family?” My father raised his voice. “You’re a bigger fool than I thought. I did you that favor all those years ago. If you expose me, it won’t take long for people to figure out why I did it.”

  “That doesn’t concern me.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked.

  “It doesn’t matter,” my father responded.

  “You need me as much as I need you,” Jack said. “Without me, your businesses wouldn’t be as lucrative. I make sure the authorities look in the other direction.”

  “Without us, you’ll never get elected.” Dominick put his hand on my father’s shoulder, guiding him away from Jack. “Becoming governor might be harder than you think.”

  “Most of the work is already done.” Jack headed for the door. “I’ll take my chances. I’m more concerned with my daughter’s situation.” He looked at me. “Twelve hours.”

  “No.” I followed him into the hall. “I won’t hurt her.”

  “You don’t have a choice.”

  “Don’t push me,” I warned. “Not when it comes to her.”

  “Gianni.” Dominick placed his hand on my bicep and pulled me back. “Don’t engage him.”

  “He comes into our home after everything we’ve done for him,” I yelled. “He knows I’d do anything for his daughter. He threatens us? You’re one brave son of a bitch.”

  “I know what I have to do,” Jack said. “I get it done.”

  “You don’t know your daughter at all.” Was his bid for office so important that he’d sacrifice her happiness? Or did he want her away from me that much?

  “And you do?”

  His smug laugh made me tense. Dominick must have sensed it because he kept his hand on me, keeping me in check.

  “She’ll never believe me if I end things with her. She’s too smart for that.” After everything we shared, she would know. After everything I promised her, she would see right through it. Wouldn’t she?

  “Then I suggest you really make it good.” He shrugged. “It shouldn’t be that hard.”

  “Why is that?” I wanted to grab him by the throat but assaulting a U.S. Senator would be a huge mistake.

  “You’ve been fooling her all this time. She does whatever you want. Wears whatever you want. She’s come to rely completely on you. She wants to move in with you. How can I get on the ticket when my daughter lives with you? Do you know what the press will do with that? How my opponents will use her to try to defeat me?”

  “That’s what this is about?”

  “This is about me coming too far to allow you to screw this up.” Jack glanced at my father. “Dante, I know you can appreciate my position. I don’t have an issue with your family but your son is a problem I don’t need.”

  “You�
�re saying my son isn’t good enough for your daughter and you’re using me to tear them apart.”

  “I’m sorry but it has to be this way.” Jack dismissed me. “Twelve hours or your father pays the price.”

  “Don’t be so sure.” Dominick followed him down the hall, opening the door and escorting him out. “You’ve burned a significant bridge today.”

  “Gianni,” my father said.

  “No, Dad.”

  “Gianni.”

  “I’m not doing it.” I’d never told my father no before but this was out of the question.

  Dominick came into the study and shut the door, ushering us into the room. “How bad is it?”

  “If Jack chooses to use what he has it could be detrimental.” My dad ran his hand along the back of his neck. “I’ve kept the peace with him all these years and helped him achieve his political aspirations in exchange for his silence for something I did for him.”

  “Now he thinks he’s big enough to move forward without us,” Dominick said. “He believes he’ll get elected without our help.”

  “That’ll never happen.” My dad glanced at his watch. “Get Vincenzo here.”

  “Dad, do you really think it’s necessary to bring him in on this?” Dominick asked. “Maybe we could diffuse the situation.”

  “I want Vincenzo to stop all legitimate contributions to the Senator’s campaign by end of business today.” He sat down at his desk. “Tell him to call Jameson Clark and persuade him to drop Jack as a client. Make a sizable donation to Clark’s favorite charity. His wife’s mother died of cancer. Look into that. Do whatever it takes.”

  My father’s mind was working in overdrive. He’d paralyze Jack within hours. By the time the overconfident senator figured out what was happening, it would be too late. Angelique would never have to know what a snake her father really was. I wouldn’t have to break her heart.

  “You might be able to come at him this way,” I said. “What about his blackmail?”

  “Leave that to me.” My dad pointed to the chair in front of me. “Sit down.”

  “I’d rather stand.” I glanced at Dominick who was now positioned behind my father. A united front. “You’re going to team up on me, aren’t you?”

  “Gianni.” The seriousness in my dad’s voice created a dismal sensation. Maybe I should have taken a seat. “You’re going to have to make a sacrifice for your family.”

  Fuck!

  Chapter Sixteen

  GIANNI

  Dread

  I drove to Angelique’s house and waited in her driveway for her to get home from work. I thought about having her come to my house but I knew once she was there, I’d lose my nerve and never let her leave. It would be difficult enough to stare into her eyes and crush her. Lie to her. Tell her we couldn’t be together. What the fuck am I doing?

  Right, protecting my family. At whose expense? Hers? One day I’d get back at the Senator. God help him when I did. This was a temporary situation. I tried to convince myself of that. I’d find a way to win her back. To make her understand. Would she ever forgive me?

  “Hey.” Angelique slid into the passenger seat and gave me a kiss. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came to see you.” I held her close to me, kissing her again as if nothing was wrong. “I wanted to talk.”

  “I was going to come over your house tonight.”

  “You were?”

  “I wanted to tell you I made a decision.” She beamed with excitement. “I’ve given your proposal some thought.”

  Oh, no!

  “I spoke with my dad.” She rolled her eyes. “As expected, he wasn’t too happy with me wanting to live with you but after I explained that if he made me choose between the two of you, I’d choose you.”

  Now it makes sense. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “That’s exactly what I needed to do.” She took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “He understands how much you mean to me.”

  “I doubt that,” I mumbled.

  “It’ll all work out.” Her optimism caused a dreadfulness to settle in the pit of my stomach. “I want to move in with you.”

  Of course you do. Staring out the window, I willed myself to tell her what I came here to say. I needed to be quick. I had to get it over with.

  “Hey.” She caressed my cheek. “Did you hear what I said?”

  “Yes.”

  “What’s wrong?” She turned to face me. “Has something happened?”

  “You could say that.”

  “What is it?” She took my hand again. “You can tell me anything.”

  I don’t want to tell you this.

  “If you need me, I could move in tonight. I could be with you even if you have business. I won’t pressure you. I could be there for you.”

  “That’s sweet of you but I don’t think tonight’s going to work.”

  “Maybe tomorrow?” The hope in her voice crushed my soul. “Whatever works for you.”

  I took a deep breath as I slowly faced her. I could be man enough to look into her eyes when I did this. “Angel, tomorrow isn’t going to work either.”

  “I don’t understand. Have you changed your mind?”

  I nodded.

  “Oh.” She dropped her gaze. “I guess we were kind of moving fast.”

  “Being with you is the best thing that could ever have happened to me.” I brought her knuckles to my lips. “I wish it could be different.”

  “What could be different?”

  “Us... me.” I had to rip off the bandage. “We’re not meant to be.”

  “What?” She laughed but not because I amused her. It was more of a disbelief kind of sound. “Why would you say that?”

  “I’ve been doing some thinking and you were right when you said you would worry about me every time I walked out the door. My life is dangerous and it isn’t fair to subject you to any of it. I was wrong to think we could work.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Why... I don’t—”

  “It’s true.” I stood firm even though I wanted to vomit. “I have nothing to offer you. I can’t be true to you. I can’t share who I really am.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “Our relationship is based on a lie.”

  “Where is this coming from? I thought we worked this out. I promise I won’t ask you about your work. I’ll respect your family’s business. Please.”

  “This isn’t your fault,” I assured her. It’s your fucking father’s fault. “I shouldn’t have pursued you. I should have left you alone. I knew better.”

  “You didn’t leave me alone. You made me believe you were in love with me. You said things to me that made me trust you. You said when you know, you know. We were fine yesterday. What’s changed?”

  “I did.”

  “In twenty-four hours?” Her eyes filled with tears. “You said you loved me.”

  “I do,” I whispered. “That’s why I have to let you go.”

  “You asked me to move in with you. I told my father I would choose you over him. I believed everything you said. All your promises. I...” She sobbed. “I gave myself to you.”

  “I was so wrong to take that from you.”

  “You said you would be my only.”

  “Please! Stop throwing my words back in my face!” When I shouted she jumped. “I’m sorry.” I reached for her hand but she backed away. “Please.” I softened my tone. “Don’t remind me of all the promises I made.”

  “I thought you were a man of your word.”

  “I try to be.”

  “Not when it comes to me.” The tears streamed down her cheeks and I wanted more than anything to kiss them away. “Just your precious family. You’re only loyal to them. I’ll always take a backseat when it comes to them.”

  “No.” Right now, her words were true. I had to hurt her to protect my father. “I’m doing what’s right.”

  “For who?”

  “Angel.” I took her arms and brought her close
to me. “There are situations in my life that you will never understand. It’s best if I do this now before I really break you.”

  “Do you think you can do anything worse to me than this?” She bit her quivering lip. “Whatever is wrong, I can help you.”

  “I wish.” I rested my hands on either side of her face, holding her still as I took one last look into her eyes. The very eyes that had captivated me from the beginning. “Don’t waste more time on me.”

  “Gianni.”

  I tried to hold back but I couldn’t. It was wrong but I did it anyway. Dropping my gaze to her lips, I proved how weak I was when I pressed my mouth to hers. She sighed into the kiss. Her salty tears dripping onto my lips as I slipped my tongue inside her mouth, claiming her one last time. Mine...

  When I released her from my hold, she gasped. “Please...”

  She must have seen the dread in my eyes, sensed the emptiness and despair in my soul.

  “It’s over,” I whispered.

  ANGELIQUE

  My stomached churned when he said the words. I tried to process them but I couldn’t.

  “It’s over.” He said them so low, he didn’t sound sure of himself. The man sitting across from me was a stranger. This wasn’t who I’d fallen in love with. He could never do this to me.

  I wanted to scream and cry, and tell him what a jerk he was for doing this to me but none of this seemed real. How could I argue and plead when he didn’t want me... us?

  “Fine.” He wanted us to be over? I’d give him what he wanted.

  “Fine?” He almost looked relieved. “That’s it?”

  Are you kidding me? “I’m not going to beg you.” None of this made sense to me but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing him break my heart. “If you’ve made up your mind that you don’t want me then I’ll make it easy for you.”

  “Angel...”

  “No!” I shouted. “You’re not worth my time. You’re right! I won’t waste any more time on you.” I turned to open the car door but he reached for my arm. “Don’t!” I didn’t look back at him. I couldn’t. “It’s over, remember?”

  I didn’t wait for a response. Bolting out of the car, I ran up the porch steps and into the house. Slamming the door shut, I slid down and sat on the floor, finally setting the sobs free.