The Vendetti Coward: Salvatore Vendetti (The Vendetti Famiglia Book 4)

by Sapphire Knight

  “Just tell me why,” Matteo demands solemnly. “Why betray your blood for the Irish?”

  Valentino shakes his head, still staring at the ground. A broken prince kneeling before a powerful king. “I hated her…despised her, at first. I-I can’t stop thinking of her,” he admits, his tenor raw and ashamed.

  “Fuck!” Matteo screams and punches the metal table several times, provoking Violet to rush to his side. He stops for her, knuckles split and bloody. She cups his hands in hers, gently tugging him to a small cabinet hidden by the couch. It has medical supplies, mostly items to help us keep our captives alive longer to endure more torture. Vi frets over his wounds, while he takes us all in once more.

  He’s angry, no doubt, but no longer looking like he’s going to kill Valentino. Rather, he appears tired. The stress of being Capo has eaten away at him. He’s great at it, but it still rides on him constantly. “You’ll go to your suite. You will not leave this house without my explicit permission,” he orders Tino and then glances between me, Luciano, Santino, and Cristiano. “I have to figure out a way to fix this fuck-up. As soon as O’Toole is found, the Irish will be calling for war.”

  Cris pipes up, “We’ll be ready. Our soldati easily outnumber their members.”

  Luciano affirms, “New York is ours. They’ll feel the wrath of the Empire.”

  Santino grumbles, “I’ll hunt the bitch, skin her while she screams.”

  Matteo interjects, “No. You’ll not touch her. Valentino obviously cares for her, enough to go against his famiglia. He’ll spend his days knowing she lives and plans our deaths because of it.”

  A noise comes from Valentino that I can only describe as despair. He won’t shed a tear, no matter how much his chest aches. We learned long ago to extinguish any such emotions.

  Matteo continues, “We’ll figure out a plan. Right now, I need time to think. I’ll send for you when I’ve had time to myself.” My siblings begin to file out of the room. Valentino leaves, and we’re last behind him. As I step over the threshold, I hear Matteo order Violet to remove her clothes and submit. He’s never been shy about fucking her around us, but tonight I’m worried he’ll hurt her and regret it later. I’ve never been concerned in the past… Perhaps my wife is making me soft.

  I trail behind, watching as Valentino exchanges a few words with Annabella. I’m trying to give him space after that shitshow we just witnessed, but my protective side is rearing its head. He better not be spiteful to my moglie because he’s fucked himself in the eyes of our Capo. “Annabella?” I call, startling her. She jumps a little, which I will admit I find more adorable than I should.

  She falls back, allowing my arm to wrap around her. I hold her close to me, grateful I have her at my side. Never in a million years did I think I’d want a woman by my side and feel comfort in her presence. She shouldn’t have been in the basement with us, but I’m glad I’ll have her to speak with about what was said. I’m curious on what she thinks of the situation.

  “Everything okay?”

  She shrugs. “I’m fine, but I hate seeing your family so distraught.”

  “They’re your famiglia now too.”

  She stares up at me for a beat and nods, finally offering me a smile. “You’re right, they are. I shouldn’t feel bad about helping them, right?”

  My brow furrows, but I agree. I don’t want her to put her life in jeopardy for anyone. That’s our job—to protect her. Perhaps Valentino wasn’t being rude but finding comfort in her not being as close to our brothers and their judgment. “If Valentino finds comfort seeking your ear, then so be it. As long as he isn’t nasty to you or touch you. If he attempts to fuck you, I’ll be putting a stop to your chats.”

  She grins. “After today, I have a feeling that having sex with me is one of the furthest things from his mind.”

  “Hm,” I grumble. “Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? Men would be stupido to not want to fuck you.” She gasps and I chuckle. I squeeze her close. “It’s the truth, bellissima.”

  Her cheeks redden. “You’ve been complimenting me more than usual.”

  I lick my lips. “A man can’t tell his wife she’s beautiful?” I lean in, murmuring against her ear, “Or that her pussy is amazing?”

  “Shh!” she reprimands, gesturing to our famiglia. They’re in front of us, but far enough away they won’t be paying any mind to our hushed conversation.

  Without skipping a beat, I turn, holding her frame to my chest, and push her against the wall. “Should I fuck you against this wall next? Maybe my brothers would like to watch.” She giggles as my thumb skates down her side. She’s a bit ticklish—not enough to be annoying, but endearing. “That laugh, amore, it’s the sweetest.”

  Her smile drops, her expression softening. Her hand reaches up to cup my cheek. She does it a lot and I’ve grown to enjoy it. “I only see you, Salvatore. While I’ll gladly give you what you want, wherever we are in this house, right now I want to be with our daughter.”

  “Ours,” I murmur, kissing her. I pull away, holding her hand as I lead her to our suite. Margo will have Rosa back in her nursery by the time we arrive. “Tonight,” I begin.

  “You’re mine,” she claims, cutting me off.

  I nod. “I am.” Only hers.

  If you let a person talk long enough

  you’ll hear their true intentions.

  Listen twice, speak once.

  - 2Pac

  I was beating myself up inside, I couldn’t believe Valentino took responsibility for what I’d done. Not only was I a chicken, but I was also a liar by omission. I think I would’ve ended up caving with Salvatore and confessing had Valentino not spoken to me. Our conversation has played back in my mind so many times, it’s practically all I’ve thought about this past week. Aside from how heartbroken I’ll be if I lose Rosa and Salvatore over this, I will admit having Fiadh out of the house has made me feel safer, not only for myself but also for everyone else’s wellbeing.

  Right after we’d all been dismissed from the basement the day Fiadh “escaped” Valentino had told me he needed to talk to me. I was terrified and I’m fairly sure it reflected in my eyes as he’d told me to calm down, that it’d all be okay. I’d spent some time with Sal and Rosa, attempting to soothe my nerves, but it was no use. I’d kept myself up all that night, worrying to the point it made me sick to my stomach. On top of that, I was stressed that my husband might possibly hear me up puking in the middle of the night and grow suspicious.

  Much to my relief, Valentino found me the following day and was able to help me cool down a bit to the point I could think of other things once more. Our conversation crosses my mind for the thousandth time as I zone out, rocking Rosa back and forth in her stroller to get her to fall asleep. He’d stopped me when I went down for some snacks in the afternoon.

  “Can I speak to you for a moment?” Valentino’s normally proud, demanding timbre had a different tone to it in that moment. He sounded hoarse and friendly. Not a word I used lightly when it came to the imposing underboss. The rank was another thing I’d wanted to ask Sal about as soon as we were alone. He’d said that he wasn’t the underboss, nor would he ever be. The position was earned by Valentino and he thought there’s more to the story than what’s being shared. Thank God he didn’t act like he’d suspected me of being involved with any of it.

  “Uh, of course,” I respond timidly. This could go basically in any direction if our chat has to do with Fiadh O’Toole. I can’t think of any other reason why he’d be seeking me out right now.

  “Not here. Follow me to the library. It’ll be empty right now, and my brother doesn’t have cameras set up in there.”

  I nod mutely and watch him walk out. I wait a few beats, grabbing a sleeve of Town House crackers from the large walk-in pantry. Hopefully, they’ll help settle my stomachache. I haven’t been able to eat anything since yesterday morning. I take a bottle of water with me as well and follow moments behind.

  I slip into the libra
ry, standing by the door, tucking the water and crackers to my chest. I shouldn’t fear any of them, but I’m not stupid; they’re all dangerous men. Matteo is the quiet, careful type, who never gets caught handling his business. Valentino, he’s far too proud to fly under the radar. He’ll take care of whatever irks him, then rub it in the world’s face that he got away with it. I’m confident that I got the best one out of all the brothers. Salvatore has his demons, but he has a good soul, and that means more than his weight in gold.

  “Come,” he orders. With a deep inhale, I take the remaining steps leading me to him. My body’s shifting into fight-or-flight mode and he hasn’t even tried anything—yet. It doesn’t matter, he’s messed with me plenty in the past to have me on edge around him unless Sal is at my side. “We have to discuss what happened.”

  I clear my throat, sweat peppering my brow. He knows what I’ve done. Did he draw me in here to kill me? He told me everything would be okay yesterday, but was that only a farce to make me think I’d gotten off scot-free? If not to kill me, then is Matteo lurking in the shadows, ready to swipe me away under Salvatore’s nose to make me pay? I really can’t blame them. I promised to be loyal to their family and in a sense I went against that, even if my intentions were to keep us safe.

  “Stop. Panicking,” he orders. “I can read you like an open book. You think they know, but they don’t. Only me. You’ll give yourself an anxiety attack. That’ll only draw the famiglia’s attention.”

  Those are the most nonthreatening words he’s said to me since I’ve arrived at the Vendetti Estate. “What do you know?” I attempt at playing this smart. Perhaps he realizes little of what actually happened…only enough to make him think it offers him the power to hold something over my head.

  His brow hikes. It’s the single move his stoic face makes, but it says volumes. I don’t amuse him in the slightest. He’s a trained hunter, after all. He stares down at me for moments, and my heart thuds in my throat the entire time. His too-proud smirk tilts his lips and he shares, “Everything. I followed you. Turns out you’re not particularly good at being sneaky, or secretive, if I were to go by your emotional state.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be in your suite?” I whisper, feeling like the mouse caught in the cat’s claws. I need to escape.

  He huffs, “This is my home. My Capo can order me grounded, but I will still go about the property as I wish.”

  “I see.” I set the drink and crackers down, no longer able to hold them. I’m ready to wretch right this moment. I whisper, tears cresting, “How much trouble am I in?” I was foolish to think I was brave in doing this; it was careless. I threw my life away all because I was scared. Am scared. Turns out the feeling never vanished after Fiadh was gone. I only traded it for another burden to ride on my shoulders.

  He chuckles darkly. “Little batuffolo, trouble isn’t an adequate word for what you’d be in, if the Capo knew of your deception.”

  The tears spill then. They track down my cheeks as my throat feels remarkably tight. I can’t breathe…my vision clouds. A light slap comes out of nowhere, sending my tears flying. My mouth gapes, not having been slapped since I was a child. He snarls, “Snap out of it! You must be strong, especially being a wife of a Vendetti. You can calm your tender heart. You only did what I was already planning to do. You freed her. However, you didn’t know I was there at the same time with a similar plan. You did me a favor. I will keep your secret, but you must forget it. It’s no longer yours to keep, it’s mine. Capisci?”

  I begin nodding, still unable to speak in the moment or know what to even think about it all. “Why would you do this?” I ask eventually. “This is an easy way to get rid of me. You hate me.”

  His brow furrows with a frown, and he straightens to his full height. “I don’t hate you.”

  “You haven’t exactly been nice to me.”

  “I don’t have to be. It kept you away from me, didn’t it? You flew right into Salvatore’s arms. We all knew he wanted you from the moment you got here. Santino was convinced he’d get in your pants first, then Matteo put a stop to it all.”

  I gasp. I can’t help but ask, “Did Salvatore know about Santino?”

  He shakes his head. “Of course not. He had enough to worry about, let alone a sibling after his object of desire. None of it matters anymore. You two ended up married, and we’ve got other things to think about.” I reach for the crackers, tearing the top apart and slipping one between my lips. “If you’re that torn up over this, then you need to thicken your skin a bit. It’ll only get tougher at times in the future.”

  The package slips from my grasp, spilling onto the floor. I quickly fall to my feet, scooping them up. “I thought I was going to die,” I admit quietly but defensively. “I have a valid reason to be sick over everything.”

  “Leave them. We have staff to clean up messes. Besides, you will die if you don’t take what I’ve said seriously. No matter how much my brother is falling for you or not, none of it will matter. You will be a vault of silence if you want to keep Salvatore.”

  “But isn’t it betrayal?”

  “I find it hard to believe you have a treacherous bone in your body. Why did you help her escape?”

  “I felt unsafe having her in the house with Rosa, as well as everyone else. I’d rather her be out there,” I gesture to the window, “than in here with those I care about.”

  “Proves my point. Regardless, it’s my burden, not yours.”

  “You like her?” I ask, wondering what his reasoning is behind wanting her to escape.

  He releases a breath and shrugs. His hands tuck into his slacks as he eventually permits, “It’s complicated.”

  “She’s not a Facebook status.”

  “She most certainly isn’t. You need to leave. Your marito will be searching for you soon.”

  Rosa babbles in her sleep, drawing me out of the memory. I’d brought her to the indoor garden to rock her in her stroller and it worked; she fell asleep quickly. Salvatore asked me to remain inside until they figure out where Fiadh is, so we couldn’t go on our usual stroll through the outdoor gardens.

  “Annabella.” My head snaps up at my name being called. It’s Arianna, so I offer her a friendly smile.

  “Hey, Ari. No Romeo today?” Her and her son are always in here when they’re not by Cristiano’s side. She loves flowers, says they remind her of her mother and Italy.

  “No, he’s with his papa. Haircut day.”

  I laugh. “But he’s so tiny. He doesn’t have enough hair!”

  She giggles, tossing her hands up with a wide smile. “I know, I told Cris. He says it’s important a boy learns from his father early.”

  “He’s a good father,” I compliment, and pride reflects in her irises.

  “Si. How has Rosa been? Still no crying?”

  I shake my head. “I always hear the stories about how distraught she was before I started caring for her, and it’s hard to imagine. Had I not seen her with Sal the first few weeks, I’d never have believed her to be so temperamental.”

  She gets a mischievous look. “She needed a mama.” I blush but say nothing, and she continues. “She needs una sorella.”

  My mouth pops open. “Or a brother. I’m not picky.”

  She reaches for my hands, clasping them in hers, and squeezes affectionately. “I will pray for it.”

  “Thank you. I’m not in a rush. When it happens, it happens, you know?” She nods, and I can’t help but think that if it weren’t for Valentino taking responsibility for Fiadh’s disappearance then I may’ve never had a future with Salvatore and Rosa altogether. “You’re lucky you’ve known Cristiano for so long. It feels strange having a husband that I don’t already know everything about.”

  “You’re falling in love with him?”

  I admit, “I think so…He’s constantly on my mind, even when I don’t want him to be there. I find myself altering my decisions based on what I believe he’d prefer. I don’t put myself on the backbur
ner, but I always consider him and his regard. And, if he’s not in bed when I lay down, I have to smell his pillow so I can sleep, otherwise I worry. Is that love, or because we’re a new couple?”

  “Answer two questions. One, if he didn’t come home again, would you search for him and would you love his daughter as yours?” My brow scrunches as a sharp pain stabs at my heart over the thought she’s placed upon me. I reach up, rubbing my palm over my heart, wanting the ache to disappear. “Are you okay?”

  I swallow. “Y-yeah, I just had a pain. It’s starting to fade, but caught me off guard. To answer your question, I wouldn’t ever stop looking for him. For the second, Rosa is already mine. I promised her I’d always be there for her, until she no longer wanted me to be.”

  “It hurt you to think of what I said?”

  I release a breath. “Of course.”

  “No, I mean you had a real, physical pain?” She points to my heart. My hand is still resting over the spot that was bothering me.

  “Yes,” I confess.

  “Amore! You must tell him,” she nods excitedly as she proclaims it. “Promise?”

  I give in with a smile. “I promise, I’ll tell him.”

  She leans down to hug me and I return it, grateful to Arianna being warm towards me from the beginning.

  I guess it’s time I fess up to Salvatore about my growing affection, but what if it freaks him out? He’s been much sweeter to me lately, and we are married, after all. It may’ve been arranged through Matteo, but it was still a union I wanted. If I went back and had to make the decision again, I’d do the same thing. I’m not sure I’m all the way in love with him yet. I’m a firm believer that with time comes knowledge. Certainly, it has to be true with marriage as well. I’ve heard so many stories from my parents about how they got to know each other and things they went through over the years. At the time, they were funny or cute, but now I’m starting to have a better concept of what those stories truly mean.