“You want to destroy everything I’ve built for myself. You want to erase my family, tear down all my achievements, and one by one, kill off everyone that ever knew me. You started early with that one by killing off members of The Pride. Then you made a bold move by almost killing Raelyn’s mother. That gave me a clue that these attacks were very personal.” I told him, keeping his hard stare.
The more I talked about his strategy, the more I understood his twisted method of thinking.
His eyes squinted at me. “You wanted me to feel like my world was closing in on me, bring me the fear of losing everything.”
“Well you’re right about something.” He said, darkly.
“Above all else, you want Raelyn’s heart and the best way to do that is to kill me. You want to make her have no hope of ever seeing my face again. In case your plan failed, you raped her. Not just to get back at me, but to make sure she remembered you forever, even in your death.” I wanted to cry for my princess just thinking about the pain and trauma she’s endured.
I continued to attempt freeing myself from the rope. I noticed it became just an inch more lose. “I’ve come across sick bastards like you before. To this day you still want to live out your fantasy dream with Raelyn. But, I’m in the way and you want me forgotten.”
Vandal tossed his head back and laughed. He squatted down to my level, still finding my words humorous.
“At this point you’re just saying anything to prolong the time you have left. Stop trying to get in my head. You’d never understand and to be frank, I don’t need you too.” He reached in his back pocket and pulled out a pocket knife.
I didn’t flinch as he raised the pointiest part to my forehead and dug it through my flesh, carving two lines across my forehead. I assumed he drew an X. Blood poured and dropped quickly onto the floor.
“Even if you do kill me know this, you will still fail at the end.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You will fail.”
Vandal scoffed as he stood up. “Hm. Let’s say in some galactic dimension you are correct and a man who goes by the name Vincent Vandal is trying to achieve total erasure. What makes you so sure that he will ultimately fail? What makes you think you know his mind?” He asked me, daring me to enter his dark mind.
“I’m one hundred percent certain because I attempted the same thing and failed.” I admitted.
He narrowed his eyes.
“To Raelyn’s knowledge you were dead and buried. I shielded her away from anything that could spring up the thought of you. Neither did I ever entertain her curiosity. Still, five years later, you were still in her heart, her mind. She still loved you. She honored your memory, the moments you shared together, she made sure you still lived on.” I told him nonchalantly. But inside, I cursed for exposing my own insecurities.
This caused Vandal to grin.
“If you think you can erase me, think again because I will continue to live on in her head and come back to bite you in the ass. Killing me won’t bring you the peace of mind you think it will.”
“Spare me. You just want to save yourself.”
“I love Raelyn. That is why I’m here. I’d rather finish you with my bare hands and take my wife back home with me, but you left me no choice but to sacrifice and humiliate myself like this. What lengths wouldn’t a man go for the love of his life?” I replied back.
“You don’t love her like I do.” Vandal responded, angry that I dared to go there.
I scoffed and spit the blood from my mouth. “Do you know what you’ve done to her? You’ll never have peace with any woman.” I said, in disgust.
His demeanor had changed. He was no longer the calm and collected individual he pretended to be. “I’ll ask you again. Where is my wife?” I asked, using my finger to slip through one band of the rope. I leaned on my side to hide the fact I was freeing a few of my fingers. Shit. I just needed to get my index finger and thumb underneath the first band. Then, I’d at least have a free hand.
Vandal reached into his holster and drew out his gun. He squatted down to my level and narrowed his eyes at me before drawing his arm back and pistol whipped me with the back of the gun.
I spit out blood and turned my neck, stretching it to relieve the soreness and pain from the blow. Fuck, that hurt. I was struggling to get my remaining fingers out now. “Damn it all, you annoy me. I’ll finish you right now!” Vandal stood up and aimed his gun at my forehead. He made sure to aim precisely at the letter he drew not too long ago.
I guess this it.
I heard his safety go off, which told me he was serious.
This is it, Rae. I closed my eyes.
His pistol went off and my world was consumed in darkness.
In the end, what kind of man was I?
***
I heard groaning and feet shuffling which made me open my eyes. I thought he had shot me dead. In front of me, I saw Vandal clutching his right arm tightly. His head was thrown back and his mouth was wide open as he groaned in agony. His arm was gushing out blood and trails of the red liquid ran down his arm.
I watched as his fingers weaken and his gun drop to the ground. What’s going on here. I clenched my jaw and cringed as another gunshot was heard. “Gahh! Shit!” Vandal wailed dropping to his knees. “My fucking leg!” He yelled, eyeing his leg in horror. A pool of blood began to display on the floor.
I began looking around frantically from where the gunshots were coming from. Could it be coming from the upper level of the west house? Whatever the case, I was unlucky with my hands tied behind my back.
If I could just...shit!
Vandal’s breathing was ragged and he was now down for the count. As a last desperate attempt to gain the upper hand, Vandal stretched his other leg to slide the gun towards him.
With one final tug against the rope that had me in no damage, I slipped my thumb out and now had a free hand. My body was still weak but I had to move.
I leaned with quickness and punched Vandal, making him fall back. I took advantage of the fact he was seriously Injured. He was bleeding profusely from his arm and leg.
He kicked me with his other foot and I punched him again.
Quickly, he dug in his pocket and pulled out his pocket knife again. “Dammit.” He stabbed me, right in my lower abdomen. “You bastard.” He Whispered.
I held my hand around his, trying to pull the knife out of me. I gritted my teeth hard at the excruciating pain. He had gotten strong over the years and I knew that because it was easier to drag him like a rag doll then.
The sound of fast footsteps descending the stairs that led to the upper level sounded. Vandal furrowed his eyebrows further and growled. I looked up, my hand still focused on pulling the knife out as Vandal jabbed it in further.
“You’re not leaving this place alive. No. Not if I can help it.” Vandal whispered. The fool was bleeding to death and he was spilling out this nonsense.
“Stefano! Stefano?!” Those cries.
I followed my gaze to the direction of my name being yelled out and my eyes locked on Raelyn.
“Get back up there, Raelyn! What are you doing?!” Vandal yelled at her. “You’re not leaving with him!” He said again, coughing up blood in the process.
My eyes followed her. It was like a scene in a movie almost. Like, I felt my world still for just a moment. “Raelyn! Raelyn don’t come any closer!” I yelled. Vandal punched my jaw and I fell off of him, landing on my back. He jumpedon top of me and I punched his right jaw, licking him in his gut as well. It was almost like a blood bath.
I heard Raelyn sobbing suddenly. I looked in her direction and saw she had a gun in her hands. So she…
I saw the gun shaking as she tried to aim it in me and Vandal’s direction. While she was aiming, her heart was breaking in two.
I wanted to tell her to put the gun down, but I couldn’t be distracted now. I reached my arm to grab the gun on the floor but I was elbowed in the side once more. I couldn’t take my eyes off this guy
for just a second.
I heard this mad man laugh again. I raised my head and the cool tip of the gun was now pressed against my forehead.
“It’s time to say goodbye.” He said with a wicked glint in his eyes. Just when his finger tug at the trigger, a loud shot was heard and he stopped in the air, before falling down on me.
I looked straight ahead to see Raelyn with a ghostly look on her face, her hands and then she held trembled. She dropped to her knees and sat, looking at me but almost through me. “I k-killed him.” Raelyn stuttered.
She was traumatized.
I rolled Vandal off of me onto his back and saw a pool of blood surround his head. A kill shot. Raelyn shot him dead before he could do the same to me.
I mumbled a stream of curses as I pressed down on my stomach to stop the bleeding. I felt the Adrenaline build inside me more as I approached closer to my princess. She lifted her head and locked eyes with me.
I knew she was completely out of it, but relieved to see me. I was relieved to look at her and see she was safe, but I didn’t like seeing her in such a state.
I pressed hard on my lower abdomen, my blood seeping through the fabric of my thin shirt and my fingers. I lifted Raelyn’s chin and kissed her forehead and lips. She didn’t kiss back due to shock, but she stood up hesitantly. Her eyes lowered to my wound and her eyes widened.
“It’s okay Raelyn, I-” I was cut mid sentence as Raelyn ran into me and wrapped both her arms around my neck. She dug her head into my chest and cried. “Raelyn…” I whispered and kissed the side of her head.
She pulled away and looked down at my wound again. “We have to stop the bleeding.”
I turned around to look at the body lying on the floor some feet away. Blood had surrounded Vandal and he remained unmoving. He was dead for sure this time.
*
“C’mon, move in! The boss and his wife are alive! Quick, somebody get first aid!” I heard the men ordering themselves around from a distance. I could also see four soldiers running up to Raelyn and I.
She didn’t say much during the mile we walked from the warehouse to where my soldiers were stationed. Infact, she could barely hold a conversation before slipping back into her quiet state. Her arm was around my waist to support me, and my arm was around her shoulder not only to balance myself, but to keep her close to me.
“Boss are you okay? How about the Mrs?” Enrico was the first to run to me. Ricardo, Angelo and Thomas followed suit.
“Shit.” Angelo cursed looking at the blood all over my shirt.
“We’re fine.”
“And him?” Thomas asked, his voice serious.
“He’s dead.”
**
My ribs and lower abdomen were bandaged up and I was thankful that the injuries weren’t life threatening. My team was able to handle me good for the time being. It was only two hours left until we were to reach Boston and see Dr.Ardizzone.
Raelyn held my hand tightly in the back of the vehicle. She didn’t say anything, but her firm hold on me told me how she was feeling. “I’m here, Raelyn. I’m here for you.” I spoke to her softly.
“Stefano.” She whispered, turning to face me.
She raised our connected hands to her face and cried. “I’m never going to lose you again.” I said.
“Vincent...I killed him. I can’t believe I killed him.” This was the second time she muttered something about killing Vincent Vandal. This situation took a bigger toll on her than I thought.
She’s never killed anyone before.
“You don’t have to worry about him ever again.” I told her.
She shook her head and sniffed. “He’s very much alive in here.” Her voice was scratchy and she lifted her finger to point to the side of her head.
Chapter 28
Raelyn’s POV
2 weeks later
My mother rubbed my back and she turned her body to my direction as she listened to me talk. "Talking to Dr. Ardizonne has helped a bit...but obviously I'm going to have bad days." I explained to her. She had come over again along with my father for the fourth day this week. I appreciated their efforts of trying to be my support pillars and shoulders to cry on.
"That's understandable, Hunny. No one is rushing for your recovery. We just want you to heal." Mother said squeezing my knee. I nodded my head and tightened my robe as I reflected on yesterday. "I'm still having sleepless nights. I fight for my appetite on most days and most evenings I still think about him." I told her. All the while, I stared ahead at the ocean painting on the wall, trying to put myself at ease.
I could feel my mother tense as she knew who I was talking about. My parents knew about it all. They knew of the confrontation with Vincent, the rape, and all else that had to do with him. There was nothing they could do about what happened to me besides listen to what I had to say.
In the past, I never truly grasped why made men kept secrets from their women. Now, I would never question it again. I knew why. I survived what had happened to me, but not without getting blood on my hands first.
"You don't know how it feels mom. I feel so tormented, haunted by Vincent and he's not even here anymore. The things he said to me, what he d-did to me...Father is even trying to convince me into leaving Stefano." I said, my voice cracking mid-sentence. I closed my eyes tight, fighting for a tear not to roll down my cheeks.
I knew my mother felt the same as my father, yet she wouldn't tell me that. "Raelyn...I wish I could make your pain go away. As a mother it's my duty to be here for you so I will be by your side and see you through your recovery. I'm so happy to have you back and I will be here for you every step of the way my dear." My mother held me, bringing me in closer to her.
"Don't mind your father, do what you think is right." She said as well. Her familiar vanilla scent brought me comfort and a reflection of a happier time.
I heard light footsteps coming from up the stairs and looked up to see Romano gazing down at his grandmother and I with curiosity. I gave him the largest smile I could and he took that as a green light to come down and run to me.
He ran with his arms wide, aloof to the despairing aura surrounding me. "Oh, Romano." I said wrapping my arms around his small frame. Mother chuckled at our display. I kissed his head tenderly and squeezed him tight. "Stay adorable like this forever, okay?" I asked, pulling away. He nodded his head quickly and his eyes shone with the light of happiness.
I knew he too was just jovial that he could kiss me and love all over me again.
The sound of the sliding door opened and it was then I remembered that Stefano and my father had stepped outside to talk. The hostility between them was created when I first arrived back home two weeks ago. Father had made it clear to me that if he had known my husband was going to fall short of his promise to protect me, he would have never gone through with my marriage to him.
Of course it was too late for that, so I knew it was up to me to decide if I felt comfortable enough to stay a mob-wife or leave Stefano and draw a new path for myself.
My father immediately made his way towards me and kissed my forehead softly. He looked at my mother and they nodded to each other. He then turned around to look at Stefano who was standing in the center of the living room, eyeing my father with what looked like contempt.
"I leave her in your capable hands." My father said to Stefano. I knew him enough to detect sarcasm. Stefano didn't smile at his comment, knowing it was a jab.
My parents left soon and Romano went outside to play ball.
Stefano leaned in to kiss my lips and I returned his gesture. I could sense he was holding back on the intensity of his affection. I didn't blame him though because I was struggling with being receptive to his advances. He sat next to me and took my hand, rubbing it and giving it a squeeze.
His eyebrows were knitted and his eyes were sincere. "How are you feeling? Did speaking with your mother make you feel better?" He asked, soft and tenderly.
I gave him a reassuring smile and squeezed
his hand back. "My spirits are high again, Stefano."
Stefano has been with me through every step of my recovery so far. He was home often than he had been in the past due to my need of support and security, which he ungrudgingly obliged. I knew how important his line of work was, so I felt like a burden when I'd be his main focus instead of the protection of our society and his organization.
"How are your sessions with Ardizonne going? He says there's nothing for me to worry about and you're being compliant but I want to hear from you." Stefano asked, kissing my hand.
I smiled. "Every day is another difficult step. I'm just very confused and lost some days." I answered him.
His eyebrows knitted in concern and I watched him bite his lip. "What is it?' I asked him, catching onto his expression.
"I...just hope it's not us you're confused about." He said straight forward. He held firm eye contact with me for what seemed like half a minute. His words caught me like a rope and I was reeled in for inspection.
I hoped he didn't find the truth behind these eyes.
To say I was not questioning myself and this bond I have with my husband would be a lie. To say I wasn't questioning this dangerous lifestyle I was living would be the biggest lie. Sinking deeper into the pit of my own thoughts made me froze. I forgot that Stefano was looking at me so intensely with his dark, brown eyes.
"I'm not. There's just so many other things I've been thinking about." I lied.
Typically, nothing ever got past Stefano. It's always been hard to lie to him and get around him. Unexpectedly, Stefano gave me a short smile, gratitude and relief plain on his face. "I shouldn't have asked that. That kind of conversation should be saved for later." He asked.
I knew at that moment he ate up my lie because that's what he wanted to hear.
Stefano shook his head and put my hand down gently, rising from the couch. I knew that I was going through a mental battle, but I was also aware Stefano's conscience was eating him up alive.
He blamed himself for what happened to me and he's become more paranoid than ever before. "I'm going to check on Romano." He said to me, before turning his back and preparing to walk to the sliding doors.
Of Mobsters and Men: WILD (Book #2) Page 24