Empire

by Rachel Van Dyken

  Shit.

  A bullet grazed my arm, tearing flesh and part of my shirt. Val’s eyes watered.

  “Stay still,” I mouthed, my body pressed against hers. I would die before I let them take her, whoever they were.

  We were stuck.

  Trapped.

  If it was just me, I’d hop out of the car guns blazing, die in the process, and my family would just have to deal with it.

  But I had a responsibility, and my responsibility trusted me to stay alive, needed me to stay alive if she was going to stay alive.

  The shooting stopped again.

  “Do you trust me?” I whispered.

  “Yes,” she whispered, her voice shaking.

  “You want the girl?” I yelled so they could hear.

  “Dead. We want her dead!” The man yelled back at me. “Bring her out to us and we’ll let you go.”

  “No you won’t.” I laughed. “But what if I bring the girl because I’ve already had her and I’m sick of her? Can I at least choose the way you shoot me? Seems only fair.”

  Silence.

  “You want to choose how I shoot you?”

  “I’m dead either way, I have a thing about body shots, too much risk of suffering, bleeding out too slow, collapsed lungs, suffocation. Who wants that? A quick death, that’s what I say.”

  “Fine,” another man barked. “Bring her out, but she goes in front of you.”

  “All right, you can kill her or take her, do whatever you want with her.”

  “We take her and then we kill her.”

  “Take her?”

  “The boss will never know.”

  “She’s not that great.” I laughed coldly. “You may need to be drunk to appreciate what she has to offer.”

  Val’s eyes narrowed.

  But she said nothing.

  The men chuckled.

  “I’m coming out now.” I pulled Val to a sitting position and whispered. “I’m sorry.” As I ripped the bottom part of her dress and wrapped it around her hands like a rope. “When we get out I’m going to push you to the ground, it’s going to hurt, you’re going to get scraped. Flash boob.”

  Her eyes widened.

  “Hell, flash both of them.” I grabbed my knife and tugged at her corset. “Your life depends on your ability to make those guys hesitate, got it?”

  “Got it.” Her voice was clearer, and then without hesitation, she pulled her dress down an obscene amount. I nearly choked on my tongue as she moved ahead of me. True to my promise, I shoved her out of the car, she fell to her knees pulling the top of her dress with her.

  The minute she landed on the pavement, both men glanced at her, both men hesitated.

  It was all I needed.

  Two shots.

  One in the head, one in the chest.

  Both hit the ground hard.

  People screamed around us as sirens sounded, and police finally managed to make their way into the circle of jammed cars.

  I put the gun in the back of my pants and helped Val to her feet. I would be lying if I said my gaze didn’t linger, because fuck, she had a nice body.

  One made for sex, hips begging for a man’s grasp.

  I tugged her dress up. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded, but she didn’t cry. It freaked me out. Girls that weren’t in our life, hell girls that were, they cried.

  “Val?” I wrapped my arms around her. “Use your words, please.”

  “I’m…” She frowned, “Are we going to get arrested?”

  “That’s what you’re concerned about? Not the dead bodies? Being shot at?”

  She chewed her lower lip. “It’s louder, the gunshots are louder than I thought, they vibrate, making you th-think you’ve been shot when you’re simply an observer.” Another sigh. “I’m not sure tears are the right emotion, or sadness, I—” She shuddered. “Thank you. For keeping me safe.”

  Damn, I could feel my heart growing as I held her close and kissed her head. A police officer whistled as he walked over to the bodies then to me.

  “Accident?”

  We owned this town. Plain and simple.

  And we were still near our neighborhood.

  Hell, we didn’t just own the town, we owned the mayor. They were in deep, ever since the economic crash; they’d been taking money from both the Abandonatos and Alferos for the last ten years.

  And the police had known we were in town.

  From the very day we arrived.

  Frank was kind like that.

  Hell, it was like writing a freaking press release. “The bosses are here, keep them safe at all costs.”

  “You’re a little late.” I spat.

  “Clearly.” He tapped his chin and glanced over at the bodies. “I’ll let the Chief know that there was a… situation.”

  “We need a ride.”

  “Right away, sir. Were you headed to the airport?”

  “Same airport.” I sighed. “Different destination.”

  I ducked into the back of the limo and grabbed my jacket then quickly grabbed our bags out of the limo’s trunk and headed over to the waiting police cruiser as the rest of the cops arrived along with the coroner.

  I wrapped my jacked around Val. She snuggled into it then surprised me by turning her face toward the collar and inhaling deeply, a half smile playing on her lips. That little movement, almost as though she were savoring my essence, did a number on me, but I had no time to analyze what it might mean.

  People were snapping pictures.

  News reporters showed up.

  And I’m sure the city would spin the story well — but that wasn’t my job, my job was to keep my wife safe, and right now, we were sitting ducks.

  “To the airport, officer…?”

  “Sherman.” He tipped his hat.

  “Thank you for the help.”

  “It’s an honor.” He looked at us through the rearview mirror. “My pops knew the Families, had Christmas drinks with a few of the men every year during his shift in the neighborhood.”

  I smiled back at him. “I bet he enjoyed those times.”

  A grin split across Officer Sherman’s face. “He still talks about it.”

  “Tell him to stop by sometime… I’m sure the Family would love to see him.”

  “Will do.” Sherman pulled up to the curb. “Enjoy your honeymoon? I’m assuming you were just married.”

  “Our honeymoon was unfortunately just cut short,” I said feeling more sad than I cared to admit.

  Val gripped my hand as we made our way to the ticket counter.

  “Two first class tickets to Chicago on the first flight out, please.”

  The lady nodded and then frowned. “We don’t have any flights that—”

  “Thank you for your time,” I interrupted her and grabbed my phone as I stepped away from the counter. “Nikolai, I need your plane.”

  “What is this? No ‘Hi? Long time no see?’”

  “I saw you a half hour ago and since then have ended two lives and been shot at with more rounds than I could count. Give me your damn plane.”

  “Done,” he said without hesitation, all humor drained from his voice. “Need that favor yet?”

  “Hah!” I rolled my eyes. “This is it.”

  “This is a plane. I own six. Hardly a favor. Call me if you need more… man power.”

  “Workaholic.”

  “Yes, sounds so much better than masochistic murderer.”

  “Doesn’t it?”

  “What airport?”

  “JFK.”

  “You’re in luck, my jet is getting refueled for my flight back. I’ll stay an extra night and visit with the Family.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Thanks Nikolai.”

  “Of course, and Sergio?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Love her well tonight.”

  I sighed. “I’ll do my best.”

  “Do better than your best.”

&nbs
p; I pressed end and held out my hand to Val again. “We’ve got a plane, let’s get you some clothes.”

  A lion among ladies is a most dreadful thing. –A Midsummer Night’s Dream

  Valentina

  I WAS BARELY hanging on.

  Trying desperately to be the type of woman Sergio needed, the kind that didn’t scream when getting shot at — the kind who could kill spiders without cursing and point a gun at someone without shaking.

  He needed strength.

  But what he needed and what I was able to offer were two very different things.

  I didn’t speak as he grabbed my hand and led me to a nearby store.

  “Val?” he whispered gently. “Jeans or leggings, you don’t get much choice.”

  “L-leggings,” I whispered, my voice weak, my body even weaker, my vision blurred as I tried to focus on the task at hand. “And um, just a T-shirt or something is fine, flip flops.” I reached for a long T-shirt while Sergio grabbed a pair of flip flops.

  Sergio frowned, “It’s Chicago, I’m not so sure you want flip flops.”

  I swallowed, and found my voice. “I’m on a plane though.”

  “Size?” he called over to me, apparently letting me win that one.

  “Eight-and-a-half.” I took the flip flops and walked over to the cash register, then nearly burst into tears because I realized I didn’t have any money on me.

  Panicked, I let the thought sink in.

  I literally had no money.

  I mean, I had made money at the flower shop, but I typically just deposited it and used the cash my uncles gave me because they bought me everything.

  And my debit card was back in my room.

  Because this morning I’d woken up thinking I was getting married and then returning back to my room to change.

  Instead, I woke up. Got married. Was swept away in a limo. And was shot at, nearly killed.

  And I had no money.

  Shame washed over me as I turned around, ready to ask Sergio, but he was already handing his shiny black card to the sales lady.

  She swiped.

  He signed and thanked her.

  And off we went.

  Still not talking.

  I think a part of me was afraid that if I talked I’d burst into tears or maybe all the screams I’d been holding in would suddenly explode out of my mouth and I wouldn’t stop — screaming that is.

  A loud bang had me nearly climbing up Sergio’s body.

  “Shh, it’s okay.” He kissed my head. “Someone’s suitcase fell over.”

  “Oh,” I croaked. “Sorry, and I’ll pay you back when I get my stuff. I do get my stuff later, right? I mean, if we’re going to Chicago?”

  Sergio’s expression grew concerned as he pulled me close and led me to a nearby door. Once we were on the other side, a man in a black suit motioned us over. He typed in a code and escorted us down a long hallway. When we reached the end, he typed in another code, and we were outside.

  In front of a private jet.

  A huge private jet.

  It was black, sleek.

  And loud.

  “Let’s go.” Sergio handed our luggage to the same man and then grabbed my hand and pulled me up the stairs and into the warmth of the plane.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Abandonato,” the captain greeted us with a warm smile. “I’m Captain Parker, I’ll be taking you into Chicago. I’ve been told you want your privacy so there will be no cabin attendant to help you get settled in. My co-pilot and I are only a phone call away.” He pointed to a phone attached to the wall. “If you’ll just get seated, we’ll taxi and take off.”

  “Thank you.” Sergio shook his hand.

  “My pleasure.” Captain Parker tipped his hat and closed the plane door, then went into the cockpit while I managed to slip out of the jacket Sergio had given me. A chill ran over my arms as anticipation hit me square in the face.

  “Val?” Sergio braced my shoulders with his strong hands. “Look at me.”

  I was looking at him.

  “No, sweetheart, not like that.”

  “I am looking at you,” I whispered. “Aren’t I?”

  “You’re staring through me, you’re not really here, your thoughts are defiantly not here. We can talk about it, sometimes it helps.”

  “I’m fine,” I lied, the smile that tugged at my lips was worthless, as the sting of tears threatened to take over. “Really!”

  Sighing, Sergio refused to release me. “Your things are already packed. You won’t be going back to New York. Not until things calm down.”

  Funny how it would be the simple fact that I wasn’t going to see the only family I’d ever known that would cause the tears.

  I could hide my terror at what I’d seen an hour ago.

  I could force a smile through the violence.

  But take away what I love — take away my security?

  And I was broken.

  With a sob, I fell against his chest. “It was so loud!”

  “I know.” Sergio rubbed my back. “I know.”

  Shivering, I tried climbing into him, craving security. “And they wouldn’t stop and then you just… shot them. That one man… in the head!”

  “He felt no pain.”

  “I don’t care about his pain!” I yelled. “I care about the fact that we were nearly killed! And for what? Is this normal?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “Silence isn’t helpful. It makes me assume you get shot at all the time.” I hiccupped and let more tears fall as I jerked away from him and hugged my stomach. “Oh, God! We have to go back! Sergio!” I was beyond hysterical. “What if they go after my uncles? Frank! Dante! We have to warn them, we have to—”

  “They already know. They’ll be fine. I’m more worried about your safety than theirs.”

  “I’m young! They’re feeble and old, and you know Sal has a cane!” I jumped to my feet and pounded against his chest. “Don’t do this! Please, please!”

  He closed his eyes and held me tightly as I continued to fight against him, not once yelling back, or returning any of the violence, just taking it while I cried.

  “Val,” Sergio whispered once I’d calmed down. “Believe me when I say, this is not what I had planned for you. I was going to take you on a real honeymoon right after the wedding. It was a surprise. I had your uncles pack as much as they could, we all figured you needed to get used to being married and deserved some time away, but…”

  “But,” I said with a sniffle. “We got attacked.”

  “It’s not safe.” Sergio tilted my chin toward him, the pad of his thumb rolling across my lower lip. “They expect us to be in Mexico. So we’re going to Chicago to buy some time and see what the next move will be.”

  I pushed away from him again and stumbled into one of the seats as the plane started to taxi.

  Warm tears streamed down my cheeks. “I’m sorry I’m weak.” Admitting it sucked worse than thinking about it. And it only made me cry harder. I’d been married over an hour and I was already a failure.

  “What?” Sergio charged over to me, his handsome features barely containing his rage. “What the hell do you mean you’re weak?”

  “I’m absolutely terrified that I won’t ever be able to get that image out of my head. All of the images actually. Or that every time I hear a popping noise I’ll think I’m getting shot at. I’m a failure. Not a true mafia wife. I know… I know I’m young.” I took a deep breath. “And innocent, and from what you’ve said, Andi was… the exact opposite of me.” It hurt saying the words out loud; it hurt more than I realized, admitting my own inability to meet his expectations. “I just… I need to be braver. I’ll try harder.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Sergio roared, he fell to his knees in front of me and grabbed my hands. “Val, look at me.”

  His blue eyes locked on mine. He was so beautiful. Just like the story. And that was another thing. My uncles didn’t know about the letters.

  Meaning, t
hey were forgotten.

  I had two more.

  And they were lost to me now.

  My stomach sank even more.

  “You aren’t a failure.” Sergio cupped my face. “It’s a bit presumptuous of you to assume what I do and don’t need in a wife. What if I like the idea of finally having someone to protect? Someone to save? Someone who’s vulnerable,” his voice cracked. “Sometimes Val, it’s nice to be needed. Sometimes, it’s nice to be someone’s hero. Just for once.”

  I reached my arms around his neck. “I didn’t call you a hero.”

  “You didn’t have to.”

  “That’s presumptuous.”

  “Well, I’m fairly confident in my damsel in distress saving abilities.”

  “Cocky.”

  “Eh, do we want to call it arrogance or just the ability to be a bad ass? I mean, call a spade a spade, Val.”

  I burst out laughing.

  He’d made me laugh.

  The same guy who looks at people wrong and makes them burst into tears and confess all of their sins.

  He’d made me laugh.

  “Thanks.” I pulled back, our noses almost touched. “For being my hero.”

  “All in a day’s work.” His eyes darted to my lips then back up to my eyes as if asking permission.

  So I gave it.

  By kissing him first.

  With a groan he slammed his lips against mine, meeting me halfway. Strong hands dug into my hips pulling me almost completely off the seat as my legs dangled across his lap. Sergio fell back against the floor, tugging me the rest of the way with him. He stayed in a sitting position as he wrapped my ankles around his waist and continued his wicked assault on my lips.

  His mouth was hot.

  And it felt — dangerously tempting.

  Like I was in danger of falling and never being able to get back to where I had the upper hand — then again, I never did have it, not where he was concerned.

  His hands slid up my sides causing my body to rise above his, he guided me back down.

  I squeezed my thighs around him, with each squeeze more and more sensation built, his movements were slow. And every time my body collapsed against his, I felt him pushing into me.

  Too much dress was blocking our bodies from joining.

  Well that, and the fact that he still had clothes on too.

  But I wanted it.

  Fear wasn’t attached to the way we kissed — only hot exploration on my part, and need on his.