“Good morning, Mr Bianchi’s. Can I get you coffee?” Angela asks with a smile as I send a text to Danny telling him to meet me at Killian’s, and that I’ll be there in an hour.
“That would be great, thanks, Angela,” Dante replies and his brother’s nod in agreement. “What time are we leaving?” he asks as he comes to sit beside me.
I resist the urge to kick him, but do glare at him. “Have other plans?”
He growls, running a hand through his hair. “Fucking hell,” he mutters, then reaches for my chair and pulls me toward him. “I have six different ways to kill my father. Just waiting for the time to do so.” He whispers in my ear. “I hate the man, Makenna, but seeing how he is around you, makes me want to slit his throat and be damned of the consequences.”
We’re not allowed to kill the Boss’, if you’re caught it means death. A long and painful death.
Angela brings us our coffees, and quickly follows it by putting plates in front of us. She quietly leaves the room, leaving us be.
“I want to rule, I want to be the Boss and, Makenna, before you, I’d have done so happily. Now, knowing what I know about you. It’s going to be the two of us.”
Now that is shocking. “Really?” I didn’t think he had fully accepted that I am the Boss.
“Really, I also haven’t told them who you are yet.”
I smile, as I reach for my coffee. “Oh, today should be fun. Do they know who Killian is?”
He shakes his head. “Nope, but you can tell them when we arrive.” He reaches out and I shiver as his thumb lightly caresses my face. “I talked to Romero, he’s been searching through the wedding footage to see if he can see anything.”
I smile, that was on my to-do list this evening. “And?”
He shakes his head, “Nothing as of yet, but he feels as though there’s something we’re missing.”
“Can I see the footage?” I ask turning my gaze to Romero who immediately gets to his feet and leaves the room. When he walks back in, he has his laptop tucked under his arm. He sets it down in front of me, taking the seat beside me. I press play, all of us watch as the scene unfolds, from me walking down the aisle, until Dante and I say I do and then all hell breaks loose. I rewind it again, and watch the man at the back, he hits the deck before Dante and I kiss. Well before the gunshot rings out.
I rewind it once again and press pause. I stare at the man, I haven’t seen him before, I can name every one of the people that were there for me and me alone, but with my family and Dante’s, our wedding was a huge event and there were a lot of people that attended that shouldn’t have.
“Who’s he?” I ask Dante, my finger pointing at the fucking arsehole.
“That’s Kurt Holdsteader, he’s a low level thug that works for the Famiglia. He actually cleans up a lot of mistakes that are made. He’s been a part of our family for years. Hell, for as long as I can remember, Kurt has been a useful tool for us,” Romero says with a smile. “He and Dad are friends.”
“Yeah? Well look how fucking useful that bastard truly is.” I hit play again and this time I know that everyone’s eyes are on Kurt.
“Holy fuck. What the hell? He set it up?” Alessio growls.
“I’m going to kill him,” Romero grunts in agreement.
“I’m going to enjoy making that asshole bleed.” Alessio laughs and Dante shakes his head.
“Whoa, slow down there, chuckles,” I tell him with a smile. “Why is it that men want to act first and think later?”
“Oh and tell me, genius, what is it that you suggest?” Romero glares at me.
It takes every ounce of strength not to reach for his throat, Dante’s hand reaches for mine, holding on tightly. No doubt, he realizes just how close his brother is to losing his life.
“Well, obviously, Kurt didn’t set it up himself. He’s a low level thug. Which means someone set him up to do it, knowing that you’d find out and kill him, effectively ending the threat.”
“Go on.” Dante gives my hand a squeeze.
“So, what if we use Kurt? Find out who wants us dead and then take them out before they have a chance to take us out.”
All of the men nod, “That’s a good plan actually,” Romero reluctantly admits.
“Who do you think would do this?” Alessio asks as everyone starts to eat their breakfast.
It’s me that answers as I have no qualms in telling the truth. The Bianchi brothers have no idea who Dante married, but Dante trusts them and in turn I’ll protect them. “I have a couple of ideas, but the ultimate question is, who’s fucking brave enough to get into bed with the Bratva?”
“Fuck!” Dante slams his hand on the table, his jaw clenched, as pissed off vibes surround him.
Alessio and Romero start talking but Dante cuts through them.
“Eat, we’ll figure this out. But now is the time to realize that you are alone. The only people you can trust are at this table and those alone can help us figure this shit out.”
The silence hangs around the table, as we all contemplate the fact that we’ve at least two traitors in our midst.
Nine
Dante
I see the look in Makenna’s eyes and realize that she’s ready to kill someone. There’s nothing I can do to calm her ass down. She was shot. Whoever orchestrated this shit, shot my fucking wife and almost killed my brother. Although, looking at Alessio you wouldn’t know he was bleeding out yesterday.
“Ready?” I ask Kenna once we’re all finished breakfast. She nods, and Romero gets up out of his chair. “Where are you going?”
He glances down at himself, he’s wearing sweats and a t-shirt, something that we don’t wear in public. “I need to get changed.”
Makenna’s shaking her head, “Nope, what you need to do is pack a change of clothes.”
I smirk at the grimace that crosses Romero’s face. He doesn’t like taking orders at the best of times, and having Makenna do it is pissing him off but he does as she says and walks off, no doubt grumbling about her.
“What have you got planned?” I ask and realize that she’s in a pair of yoga pants and an oversized sweater. She looks fucking sexy as hell, the pants showcase her phenomenal ass.
She shrugs and smiles, “I’m not sure what you mean.” She leans forward and kisses my lips. It’s quick and brief but fuck if it doesn’t mean something. “Alessio, are you sure you’re okay to come?”
She seems to have a soft spot for him, where she rides Romero, she babies Alessio.
He rolls his eyes, “Yes, fuck, I’m not an invalid.”
Her eyes narrow at his tone, “I never said you were, I asked a question.” She sighs heavily before turning back to me, “Oh and Sunday, we’re having dinner with my family.”
I blink, “Why the fuck are we having dinner with them?”
“Because…” she says slowly. “They’re my family and every Sunday we have dinner together. It’s the only day that we ever spend together. I’ve missed a lot. So, you’re coming, and you’ll be the buffer.”
I raise my brow, “Buffer between who?”
She grins and it’s fucking sexy yet satanic. “Between me and my mother.” She rubs her scar on her throat and it’s in that moment that it hits me. She’s never told anyone about what happened to her that night. But she hates her mom, more than I think she hates anyone. But she loves the rest of her family, all of them.
“Alessio,” I growl. “Go and see if Romero needs anything.” I dismiss him and without question he gets to his feet and leaves the room. As soon as we’re alone. “She did this to you.” It’s not a question.
“Leave it, Dante, please?”
I swallow hard, my head pounding as blood rushes from it. Fire fills my gut and all I see is red. I’ve never been so fucking angry before. “Kenna…” My voice is hoarse and tight. “I’m asking you to please, tell me what happened.”
She scowls at me. “Fuck you, Dante.” She whispers, “Why are you doing this to me? Hmm, do you get a fucking ki
ck at trying to rip away at my walls?”
“Those walls you’ve built are fucking so high no-one can get in. I’m going to break them down one by one and, Makenna, when they’re down, you’re going to be mine. Now, tell me what happened.”
She growls and turns away from me, “I heard a noise and went to investigate. I was used to one of my brother’s coming home hammered and stumbling all over the place. I used to help them to their rooms and make sure they were okay before going back to my room.”
Anger flares in my veins. She’s been taking care of everyone and yet no-one takes care of her. That shit’s about to change.
“But it wasn’t one of my brother’s. The sound was coming from my parents' room.” She shakes her head, “I ignored it and went downstairs to get a drink, disregarding it as my parents having sex.” She scrunches up her face in disgust and I bite back my smile. “But when I went back upstairs I realized it wasn’t my da that was with her.”
Fuck, her mom was having an affair? Her dad mustn’t know otherwise he’d have gone mental. Women are meant to be faithful. In our world it’s a death sentence to cheat on your husband. When Makenna turns back to face me, the look she has on her face makes me brace. Whatever she’s going to say, I’m not going to like.
“I saw the man, he saw me and he fucking hated that I’d seen them together. I heard what he said to her. He told her that she had to get rid of me, that if my father found out it would mean a war between the families. Mom pleaded with him and that’s when he came into the hall.”
She balls her hands up into fists and I watch as the anger flashes through her eyes. “He punched me, told me that I should have been a good girl and stayed in my room.”
I’m going to fucking kill him, I don’t care who it is, he’s going to die.
“He kept hitting me until mom cried out and told him to leave before my da got home. I was lying on the floor and all I kept thinking was he’s going to kill me. But what shocked me the most was that he didn’t. Instead he told mom that she had a choice, she could get rid of me or he’d tell Da what happened.” She shrugs, “Mom made her choice, she wanted to protect herself, her marriage, so she told him she’d get rid of me. She’d never hurt someone before, it was new for her. So she messed up when she slit my throat, she didn’t do it properly.”
I stare at her in wonder, how is she so fucking blasé about this? Her mom tried to kill her because the cunt was having an affair and rather than protect her child, she took the coward’s way out and tried to kill her own daughter.
“I started to choke, she cut my throat too low, so the wound bled a lot. Thankfully Finn came home and mom hid in her room, pretending to be fast asleep. He got to me in time and I was okay.”
I slam my hand against the table and she gets to her feet. “You’re not okay!” I yell, fucking pissed that she’s acting as though this is normal. “Who? Who was your mom fucking that made her try and kill her own daughter?”
She shakes her head, her arms crossed over her chest. “You’ve heard enough, Dante. Leave it be now.”
I move, stalking across the room until we’re face to face. My chest heaving as I try and tamper down my anger. “Kenna, I’m fucking asking as your husband, who gave your mom the order?”
She licks her lips and turns her head away from me, I grip her chin with my hand and pull it so that she’s facing me. “Makenna, I’m not going to ask again. Who?”
“Your father,” she whispers and my entire body freezes. What the fuck? “Dante, you’re father wanted this wedding to fuck with me. He thinks I’m a beaten down girl that he can fuck with, but I’m not.”
I can’t fucking believe this shit. My anger is bubbling to the surface. I move back a step, releasing her and ramming my fist into the wall above her head. She doesn’t flinch, she stands there watching me. There’s no fear, there’s nothing.
“Kenna, I’m not going to hurt you,” I tell her softly and she blinks.
“I know, I’d kill you if you even tried.” Her voice is even, she’s not moved an inch and I fucking hate that she’s this cold. I frame her face with my hands, she blinks at me, a furrow between her brows. “What are you doing?” she asks, confused.
“You’re my wife, Makenna, I’m not going to hurt you and I’m not going to let anyone fuck with you. I told you about my plans for my father and knowing he’s done this to you, I’m not waiting any longer.”
She places her hand on my chest, right above my heart. Her touch is gentle and I remember back to our conversation last night where she confessed that it settles her. I kiss her lips softly and she opens her mouth for me. I sweep my tongue into her mouth and love that it sets her off, her hand on my chest flexes and she brings the other to my hair and tugs.
“Dante, as much as I’d love to have you fuck me here against the wall, your brothers are probably outside the door waiting for us and I’m not going to fuck you where they can walk in and see.”
Talking about my brothers is like having an ice cold bucket of water thrown over me. I release her and take a step backward, needing to put a bit of distance between us before I do fuck her.
“I don’t know what it is about you, Dante, but keep going and you may just get your wish.” She murmurs as she walks past me, snatching up her cell phone off of the kitchen table as she does.
“Arseholes,” she grumbles as she walks out the door. I smile when I realize she was right, Romero and Alessio are standing outside the door as soon as she’s out of the kitchen they enter.
“How much did you hear?”
Romero’s eyes are dark and filled with anger. “All of it. Fucking bastard,” he grunts. “I never took him as a coward, if he wanted her dead, he should have fucking done it himself. Now? He’s trying to torture her.”
Alessio grins, “So, you get off on her threatening you?”
“Fuck off,” I tell him as I move toward the door.
“Want to tell us what the hell is up with that woman? I mean, she’s unlike any other woman I’ve ever known. She’s strong, she’s got some guts bossing me around. If she weren’t your wife I’d have finished the job her mom couldn’t.”
I hear her laughter, feminine and husky. “Oh, Romero, you wish you could.” She’s standing in the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest, glaring at him.
His eyes flash and I decide it’s time to step in. These two are going to kill each other eventually. “It’s time to go.” I reach for her and pull her into my body. She tries to push me away but I hold on tight and she sighs, twisting around so that she’s facing forward.
“Where are we going?” Alessio asks as we move toward the elevator.
“We’re going to see my uncle,” Kenna tells him. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen him.”
Once we’re in the elevator, she presses her hand against the panel, which begins our descent to the garage. She walks to the driver side and climbs in. Alessio and Romero climb into the back, all the while Romero glaring at the back of her head. I sigh, it’s like having fucking children with these two. Once I’m inside the car, Makenna drives out of the garage, the sunlight beaming through the window making her hair shine. I put my seatbelt on because Kenna’s a fucking menace behind the wheel. I’m not sure if she understands the concept of speed limits.
Ten minutes into the car ride her phone rings, the sound blaring through the speakers, she must have it hooked up through Bluetooth. “Hey, Kenna.” Kinsley’s voice says through the speakers. “Are you busy?”
I watch as Makenna frowns, “I’m driving, I’m going to Killian’s and you’re on speaker.”
“Who’s with you?”
Her frown deepens, “Dante and his brothers. What’s going on?”
There’s silence. “Okay, so last night, shit hit the fan,” Kinsley tells her and I see Makenna sit up straighter. “Ace, Stag, and Benny went crazy, they found out what dad was doing.”
“About fucking time. Please, tell me that arsehole is dead?” Makenna responds as her bod
y begins to relax.
“Yep, and get this. Dad? He wasn’t our actual dad. When mom was pregnant with me, our dad died and she and Jaws got together. Plus as vice president, Jaws became president and nobody said anything. Until last night.”
Holy fuck, I guess it’s been a fucking twenty-four hours for revelations. How the hell did none of my research uncover the fact that Julian ‘Jaws’ Montry wasn’t Kinsley’s dad? Hell, none of my research was any way useful and now that I know about what happened to Makenna I understand why. My father. He’s going to die a slow and painful death.
“So the asshole is dead?” Makenna says looking in the rear-view mirror.
“They both are. Ace went ape shit. I’m telling you, Makenna, I’ve never seen anything like it. It was a massacre.”
Makenna pouts, “He couldn’t wait?”
Kinsley groans, “Makenna Bianchi, are you pouting?” Her question is met by silence as Makenna glances at me. “You’re pouting because you didn’t get to join in?”
The smirk on Makenna’s face tells me that’s exactly why she was pouting. “Fine, I wanted to kill that bastard. So, Stag, huh?”
“Yeah, he claimed me last night,” Kinsley says and Makenna smiles. “Anyway, I wanted to let you know what happened last night, I’m good Kenna, honest.”
I watch as Makenna bites her lip, a barrage of emotions etched on her face. “Yeah?” Her voice is soft.
I glance back at my brothers. They both have worried expressions on their faces as they look at Makenna, neither of them can see her face, but they’re obviously worried.
“Yeah, no more having to save me. You were right. When it started to happen I should have told Ace. If I had, it wouldn’t have gone on for as long as it has,” Kinsley replies and it’s even more secrets that I need to uncover. “Maybe you should tell your dad about what happened.”
Makenna laughs, “Yeah, that’s not going to happen. Could you imagine how Da will react when he finds out that not only is his wife a whore but she also tried to kill his only daughter?”
So Kinsley knew what happened and she kept that a secret? What the fuck? Who does that shit?
Bloody Union Page 8