by Posey Parks
HIDDEN WITNESS 6: MARCO & EMONI’S STORY
THE RISE OF A DONNA
POSEY PARKS
LICENSE STATEMENT
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Copyright © 2020 by Posey Parks
Published by Posey Parks Publishing
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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THE FIVE FAMILIES
The Magarelli’s of Newark.
The Esposito family in Jersey City.
The Romano’s in Hackensack.
The Bertozzi’s out of Hoboken. (Ended)
The Pitucco’s out of Elizabeth.
TABLE CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
EPILOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
EMONI
Vulnerable. I hadn’t felt vulnerable since José. Even in death, he plagued me. Made it difficult for Marco and me to move on with our lives. Curled in a ball on the couch, I peeked around the spacious hospital room. A chill swept through my body in the drafty room. All I had were the memories Marco and I shared. Clutching my eyes shut, I dreamed about our midnight sexcapades in our kitchen.
“Come on, baby. Let’s head to the kitchen. I’m hungry.”
I stretched my hands out toward the TV. “But this is my favorite part.”
“Pause it.” He scooped me up into his arms. I paused the movie and dropped the remote on the bed.
“Marco, I am not hungry.”
“Not even for a snack?” His lips melted against mine.
“Wait, are we talking about a food snack or sex snack?” I grinned.
“Both.”
“Oh, I’m always hungry for a sex snack.”
He laughed. “I know. I think you are the horniest woman I’ve ever met.”
Running my fingers through his hair, I bit his earlobe. “What can I say? I’m strung out on that good dick.”
His heavy hand landed on my ass. I screeched.
“I love how strung out you are.” He lowered me onto the kitchen counter.
His beautiful green eyes held my gaze. “We are making pasta from scratch. Let’s get started.”
Marco rounded the counter, gathering all the ingredients. Sitting Indian style on the counter, I watched him roll out the dough.
He nodded me over minutes later.
“All right, I want you to roll the pasta through the machine.”
I turned the wooden handle.
“Not too fast.” He placed his hand over mine, controlling my speed.
“Who taught you how to cook pasta from scratch?”
“My mother. My grandmother who still lives in Italy taught her. You and I will teach our children.”
I smiled up at him and kissed his lips. “I like that. The tradition will live on through our babies.”
“Emoni. Emoni.”
I blinked twice, rubbing my eyes, waking from my dream.
“Maceo, what’s wrong?” I hopped up from the couch.
He shook his head. “I brought you a change of clothes. Thought you’d might like to take a shower while you wait. The nurse spoke to me a moment ago. She said surgery is going well.”
I bent over, holding my head. Maceo helped me sit down.
“You need to take it easy for the baby’s sake.” He draped the garment bag over the arm of the couch and sat beside me. “Kagan told me this baby is a miracle. Does Marco know that?”
“No. We planned to visit the OB-GYN next week. I can’t imagine the stress I’m under is good for the baby.” My smile dropped. “Maceo, I forgot to ask. How are you feeling?”
“A bullet grazed my abdomen. And I have tons of bruising. Luckily, the vest caught most of the abuse. I’ll be fine. I’ve got the good stuff.” He retrieved a bottle of pills from his pocket and shook them eye level.
I had a feeling he was down playing his injuries. “Maceo, you need to take it easy.”
“I’ll rest once we’re back in Jersey.”
“Find a doctor who will live with us while Marco recovers. We are leaving the second he’s out of surgery. If we don’t move, we’ll have a fight on our hands right here in Portland. We don’t have enough man power. I will call Leana the moment the doctor brings me up to speed on Marco’s condition.”
His brown eyes smiled. “I’ll find a doctor.”
“Thanks.”
∞
Jeans and a blouse. Yes! I stared at my appearance in the rectangular bathroom mirror. Comfort never felt so good. I wasn’t supposed to wear anything other than dresses. One rule I wish I could change for all Donna’s.
Knock, knock.
“Mrs. Esposito?” A man called out.
I tore out of the bathroom. “Yes.”
“Good evening, I am Dr. Connor.” He stepped into the room; hand stretched.
I shook his hand. “Is my husband out of surgery?”
“Yes.” His blond brow rose. “He’s not out of the woods yet. He sustained multiple gun-shot wounds to the chest. One of the bullets exited his back. Another remains lodged in his back, near his spine. I’d like to wait to remove the bullet. He’s lost a lot of blood. Moving forward now to remove the bullet could be life threatening.”
My shaky hand slipped over my forearm. “I understand. I need to fly my husband to New Jersey tonight.”
He smirked, waving his hand at me. “Mrs. Esposito, I can’t let you do that. He needs to remain here under my care.”
I stepped closer. “He moves now,” I growled.
“I will pay you one hundred thousand dollars to fly with us. We’ll arrange for another doctor to manage Marco’s care. I’ll need you to bring his new doctor up to speed. So what’s it gonna be? Are you coming with us or releasing him from your care?”
He tousled his short blond hair. “I won’t release him from my care.”
I chuckled. “Oh, you won’t? One moment.”
I texted Maceo.
Emoni- “Get down here now.”
Maceo stormed through the door seconds later. “Yes?”
“Dr. Connor won’t return to Jersey or release Marco.”
Maceo laughed, crossing his arms. “Is your address two one seven Rose Angle Drive?”
His brow wrinkled.
“Are your daughters Melissa and Sara. Ages ten and seven?”
His eyes widen and he turned white as a sheet. “How did you obtain that information?”
“Doesn’t matter. Releasing Mr. Esposito is off the table. You will accompany us to New Jersey. If you attempt to contact authorities, your house will explode with your family inside. Now, prepare Mr. Esposito for travel,” Maceo threatened.
We wouldn’t harm innocent people, but we had to stand firm. We needed his help.
He rubbed his brow. “We’ll be ready to move, meet me at the emergency room entrance.”
Maceo smacked him on the back as he led him out of the room. “I knew you’d understand.”
Maceo stepped back and pivoted. “Emoni, we have a problem.”
Chills shot through my body in waves. I met his gaze. “What?”
“We have company. There’s a guy with a scorpion tattoo on his arm, peeking in rooms and he’s headed this way.”
“Shit.” My weapons were in my bag on the couch. “Get in the bed under the sheet and face the window.”
“What?” His forehead creased.
“Maceo, I need you to trust me.”
I darted to the couch and dug into my bag, retrieving my gloves, Glock, and knife. Maceo climbed into the bed. Heavy footsteps halted outside the room. I dipped behind the door, knife in hand. My Glock rested against the small of my back.
The door creaked open. The guy inched toward the bed, slipping a knife from his sleeve. I jumped on his back and glided my knife across his throat. I hopped off of him. The man clutched his neck, his body hit the floor.
Maceo hopped up. “I’ll text Kagan. He’ll need to move Kahn. I’ll tell him to be careful and meet us near the emergency room.”
Kahn was recovering from a gunshot injury to the abdomen.
“Good.” I stepped into the bathroom and washed the blood off my gloves.
Maceo wrapped the guy in a blanket. He dragged the man’s lifeless body into the shower and closed the curtain. We used the sheets to clean up the blood. Keeping our heads low, we strolled through the hall.
“There’s Dr. Connor,” Maceo whispered.
He wheeled Marco down the hall on a gurney. My heart was in my throat. Maceo scanned his surroundings. We kept our distance from Marco. I peeked over my shoulder a few times. We were almost there. I glared at everyone suspiciously as we approached the exit. Kagan and Maceo loaded Marco and Kahn into the back of the ambulance. My finger itched near the trigger of the second Glock resting in my large purse. Maceo and I hopped in the front seat of the ambulance, and Kagan climbed into the suburban.
I blew out a breath as Maceo barreled down the road toward the airport. Massaging my temple, I glanced out of the side mirror. I sat up straight. The tiny hairs rose on my arms. “Maceo, I think someone’s following us.”
He checked his side mirror. “Shit, yup. We have company.”
He called Kagan on speaker.
“What’s up?”
“We have a tail. You and Emoni will need to handle the situation once were a mile out.”
“Got it.”
Maceo disconnected the call.
The airport came into view. I unzipped the bottom of my purse and retrieved an AR-15.
“Dr. Connor, hold on tight back there,” I shouted.
There was no time for shaky hands and second guessing. I had to jump into action.
I rolled down the window and pointed my weapon at the pickup truck trailing Kagan. Leaning out of the window, I shot multiple rounds as the wind whipped through my hair. A guy with bulging arms held his machine gun out the window in my direction. I couldn’t allow him to shoot. Aiming at the tire, I squeezed the trigger. The bullet shredded the tire. The truck swerved. Kagan shot through the windshield of the truck. The driver lost control. I riddled the truck with bullets, then the truck exploded.
Maceo came to a screeching halt on the tarmac. “Emoni, Kagan and I will secure Marco and Kahn on the jet.”
Clutching my weapon, I stood on the tarmac, staring off into the distance, searching for more of our enemies. For the first time I didn’t give a shit about the gorgeous sun set.
Maceo pulled me toward the plane. “Emoni, time to move.”
An hour later, the tremors ceased once we were above the clouds. I strolled into the makeshift hospital suite. I sat beside my husband, caressing his hair. I marveled his face. Marco appeared to be in a peaceful slumber.
“I love you, baby.” My lips melted against his. The tears burned the backs of my eyes.
“We’ll be home soon. I’ve stepped in for you until you’re better.” My words were laced with concern.
The reality of war was heavy on my mind.
My heart beat against my rib cage. My role as the Donna differed from others. Marco said if anything ever happened to him, I’d take his place. Fuck. I wanted my husband to wake up badly.
I hated I was the reason for this war. I was responsible for my husband’s unconscious state.
That asshole Roderigo was at the top of my hit list. He pumped my husband full of bullets.
That bitch would pay.
“Don’t worry, Marco. The heads of the bastards who hurt you will roll; literally.”
A devilish smile took my lips.
“We are at war.”
CHAPTER TWO
EMONI
Holding a man hostage against his will with the threat of harming his family had its perks. Dr. Connor was hyper focused on Marco’s care. Seriously, who’d want their love ones killed. Again, we were monsters who killed people. But women and children were off limits. The four families in New Jersey lived by that code. There were other mafia families out there who were heartless. Marco said the New Jersey crime families didn’t do business with those families. He said they were the worst kind of ruthless murderers.
“Emoni.”
I peeked up at Maceo. My feet kept moving across the heated hardwood floors in my wide hall.
Worry filled his brown eyes like a blizzard that wouldn’t let up.
His jeans fit laxed on his tall, muscled frame. This was only the second time I’d seen Maceo in a T-shirt. The white T-shirt clung to his pecs.
“You need to sit down,” he growled.
“I will. The moment Dr. Connor gives an update.”
He extended the piping hot navy mug toward me. “Drink the chamomile tea at least. It’s good for you.”
“You are trying to put me to sleep.” I felt my face tense as I gripped the handle, bringing the mug to my lips.
“Emoni, you need to rest if not for yourself. For the baby. I sound like a broken record.” His long-tanned fingers slipped through his unruly brown hair.
“But Marco would kill me if I didn’t take care of you even if you won’t take care of yourself.”
“Oh, yeah?” My eyebrow crept up as I stared him down.
He stepped closer. “Yeah.” His jaw ticked.
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. I will rest. I promise. But you need to rest too.”
He exhaled, taking a step back. “I will. Rémy and Romeo are patrolling the perimeter. Pays to be best friends with the Magarelli boss’s wife. He sent his best men to assist.”
I smirked. “You’re right it does.”
Rémy and Romeo delivered a hospital bed per their boss’s orders.
“I assured him we’d find the rat who betrayed us, soon.”
A devious grin swept across my glossed lips. “Sure, the fuck will.”
I couldn’t make any threats while the doctor was in ear shot.
“Have Kagan keep an eye on the doc once he wakes up.”
“Will do.”
The master bedroom door on the main floor swung open. My head whipped around and I placed the mug in Maceo’s hand without removing my eyes from the doctor.
“How is he?”
Dr. Connor braced his hands on his muscled hips. “He’s still unconscious. I have him heavily sedated. Tomorrow he should wake up. In two days, I’ll n
eed to perform the surgery to remove the bullet. The procedure needs to be performed in a hospital.”
I slipped my fingers through my dark ponytail. “The surgery will be performed at a sterile facility, but not in a hospital.”
I glanced at Maceo. “Provide the doctor with pen and paper. He’ll need to write down a list of supplies needed to perform the surgery.”
Maceo darted down the hall toward Marco’s office.
“Very well, Mrs. Esposito.”
“I hope you like Chinese. That’s what we’re eating for dinner. Now if you’d excuse me. I’d like some alone time with my husband.”
Maceo returned. “I will place your food in the warmer, Emoni. Rest.” He urged.
I nodded before disappearing into the bedroom, closing the mahogany double wooden doors behind me.
On the jet, I carefully removed the hospital gown from Marco’s body. The gray joggers I slipped onto his lower body made my knees wobble. My husband was sexy as sin, even all banged up. My fingers trailed along his bulging arm.
Maceo inspected our bullet-proof vests upon returning home. Marco’s, and our guards were previously traded out for fake vests. All their vests had been stored in Marco’s condo. Someone who had access went in and switched them out for duds. My vest was new. Marco purchased it while we were in Vegas. Squeezing against his side, I splayed my hand softly against his rising broad chest. I leaned up on my elbow, studying his hardened, handsome features. Shuttering, I clenched my eyes shut. The memory of the last time we made love pounded on every nerve ending in my body. Such a delicious memory. Tears slid down my cheeks as my head lightly thudded the feather filled pillow.
“Marco,” I cried.
“Wake up. Your big strong arms wrapped around my body is what I need.”
Lips trembling against his earlobe, I sobbed. “Please, baby.” My words trailed off.
~
“Shit, my fucking head.” I heard.
I yawned and rubbed my eyes. What time was it? My eyes fluttered open. I scanned the dimly lit room. How long had I been asleep?
I peeked to my right, and a smile curled my lips. “Baby, you’re awake.”