by Amy Cecil
I beg. “Vince, please. I really need to get away from all this. We still have the family villa in Florence. You can send men there to protect me. I should be fine. I promise I will behave and stick to the grounds. Please.”
Sitting back down, he says, “Aw fuck, Zaira. Let me see what I can do.”
“Thank you.” Normally I would give him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek, but right now, I’m not feeling the love. My brother betrayed this family and sold it to the Vitalis.
Chapter 2
Michael
Women! Damn them all to hell. Why did I ever let myself fall in love? Why did I let myself go there and get my heart trampled on? Because it was Zaira. It’s always been Zaira.
But no more.
I’m done being Mr. Nice Guy. Women are nothing but a place to stick my dick when the need arises. Perhaps if I fuck enough women, I’ll forget Zaira’s face. I’ll forget what it feels like to be deep inside her. I’ll forget her smile and forget how she tore my heart into fucking pieces.
Perhaps.
Damn. I know this whole fucked-up situation is my own fault. Everything ended this way because of me, but she wouldn’t even take my side into consideration. I was so sure she would love me enough to see it had all been for her. Damn arrogance!
I said it once, and I’ll say it again, no more! No. Fucking. More.
I’m sitting in my office, waiting to hear back from Vince. He went back to Edinboro three days ago to settle things with Ice’s case. From what he told me, I don’t even think it will go to trial. Hopefully it will all go as planned, and Ice will be back with his club and his old lady. Sainte still hasn’t returned, and I pray he has not caused any problems with the MC. I’m sure I would have heard from Hawk if there were any issues, so I guess it’s safe to say no news is good news.
I look at the clock. 3:45 p.m. Vince should have been home hours ago. Just then, my phone rings.
“Yeah?”
“Michael, hey. It’s Vince. Just got back in town a couple of hours ago.”
“And it took you fucking two hours to call me?” I ask. My mood is not the best, and it has been this way for two weeks. Damn woman! Unfortunately, Vince gets the brunt of my abuse as he is a constant reminder. But he gets it and doesn’t complain much.
“Give me a break, Mikey. I got held up.”
What’s up with Ice’s case?”
“Can I stop by?” he asks. “I need to talk to you about Zaira if you have some free time this afternoon.”
“Aw, Vince. What about Zaira?” I’m not her fucking keeper anymore, now am I?
“I really don’t want to go into it over the phone, Michael. Can you just spare a few minutes? I’ll also fill you in on my meetings with Ice and the prosecuting attorney. Please?”
“Fine, see you in an hour,” I reply.
“Great, I’m on my way.” Vince disconnects the line, and I look at my phone in amazement. Why in the hell would he need to speak to me about Zaira? The settlement has been drawn up and filed. As long as we stay away from each other, the divorce will be final in less than a year. I fucking can’t escape her. I’ll never escape her because she has embedded herself into my heart.
I go to my messages and message Ricco:
Vince will be here within the hour.
He replies:
Got it.
About forty-five minutes later, Ricco knocks on my office door. “Come in,” I answer.
Ricco walks in, and behind him is Vince. “You want me to stay, boss?” he asks.
“Nah, we’re good. Thanks, Ricco.” I gesture for Vince to sit. “Wanna drink?” I ask as I walk to the bar.
“Yes, I sure could use one,” he replies.
Oh, this is gonna be good. I pour two bourbons and walk back and hand him a glass. Once I return to my desk, I sit. I’m not ready to hear about Zaira, and the longer I can prolong that conversation, the better. “So first, tell me about Ice.”
“He should be released any day now,” Vince replies proudly.
“Holy fuck, you got him off the hook. If anyone could do it, I knew it would be you.”
“Well, they had nothing on him. He was accused of murdering his half brother, but they had no body and no weapon. In all honestly, I am not sure how they were even able to arrest him.”
“Fuck, I didn’t even know he had a brother.”
“Apparently he didn’t either until a few months ago,” Vince replies.
“Did he do it?” I ask.
“Now, Michael, you know I can’t divulge details on a case.”
“Fuck, Vince, it’s me. I’m the fucker who hired you.”
He shrugs, knowing he really doesn’t have a choice. “Yeah, he did it.” He pauses briefly. “But he had good reason. If some guy had done what this asshole did to his old lady to any woman in my life, I would have done the same thing. You would’ve too.”
“What did the guy do?” I ask.
“He fucking kidnapped Emma, Ice’s old lady, and tied her to a bed, naked. Then he planned to rape her multiple times and return her to Ice. The guy was so wrapped up in jealously—over Ice having everything Grayson thought should have been his —he was blinded by jealousy. He made Ice come to him, and his psycho brother chained him to a pipe in his basement, Emma was bound upstairs. Ice was smart though, got free and gruesomely murdered the man. I mean, he carved shit in his skin from what he told me. The MC had the body burned at the local mortuary.”
I look at Vince curiously.
“They got a guy on the payroll.”
I nod.
“Then they burned the house to the ground, faulty wiring I guess.”
“That’s Ice. He’s loyal to the core, but you fuck with him, and he will destroy you.”
He smirks. “Well, remind me never to get on his bad side.”
I laugh. “It’s one of the reasons I stay on his good side. I mean, the Vitalis are powerful. You know that. But Ice, he’s like a man possessed. He’d make a great enforcer. I’ve asked him several times to join the family, but he always declines. I guess he’s happy being a biker and his own man. Can’t say I blame him.”
“I invited the MC to my omertà in two weeks. I was hoping Ice would be released by then, and now thanks to you, he will be. It can be a welcome-home party for him as well. You never know when we’ll need them again,” I reply.
“Is that wise?” Vince asks.
“Yes, why wouldn’t it be?” I ask. The MC has helped us out on more than one occasion. They are good allies to have. “I can’t think of a better opportunity than to have them here as well as I officially move to take over the family. My father didn’t like using them, but I’m not gonna burn that bridge.”
“They are definitely good allies to have.”
“Of course they are.” I pause and know he is itching to talk about Zaira. Fuck. “So, what do you need to talk to me about that concerns my soon-to-be ex-wife?” I might as well get it over with. He’s not gonna go away until he talks to me about her.
“She wants to take an extended vacation—alone,” Vince says. “She says she needs to get away from everything. She doesn’t even want me or Mia to go with her.”
“Oh, hell no. She is not going anywhere alone.”
“Well, I told her that. She didn’t buy it. She requested Darius to go with her for protection.”
“Fuck no! One bodyguard is not going to be able to protect her. Where in the hell does she want to go anyway?”
“Florence. She wants to stay at our villa there. She promised she would remain on the grounds and not wander around.”
I down the rest of my bourbon. Fuck. My first reaction of course is to say no, but maybe the time away will help her. Maybe if she is able to clear her head about everything, she may see things in a different light. Maybe… aw fuck, who am I trying to kid. She’s gone, a closed chapter in my life. Move on, Michael.
Before I can say any more, Vince says, “Michael, if you want my opinion, I think you should let her go.”
“Well, I didn’t ask for your opinion, now did I?” I snap.
Vince raises his hands in defense. “Hey, man, I’m just calling it like I see it. I see her every day. You don’t.”
Don’t fucking remind me!
“You don’t know what she’s been going through.”
What she’s going through? What about what I have been fucking going through? I think to myself.
“Just hear me out. Please.”
I shake my head. “Fine. Say what you need to say and then I don’t want to talk about her anymore.”
“Michael, she spends every day in her room. She takes her meals in her room and only comes out when necessary. She won’t go out of her way to speak to Mia or me, and when she does, she is completely guarded with what she says. I see the look of distrust in her eyes, and I can see heartbreak written all over her face. I hear her crying herself to sleep every night.”
Heartbreak? “Heartbreak? Really, Vince? This was all her idea, not mine. If I had my way, she’d be here by my side where she fucking belongs.”
“I think she may be regretting her decision, but she is too proud to admit it. I think the time away would do her good, clear her head of all the negativity.”
“Regretting her decision?” And there it is, hope. It was the one thing I didn’t want to hang on to. It’s the one thing that will completely destroy me. Vince has played me perfectly. He’s dangled the apple just close enough for me to hope. Damn fucker.
“Yes, but she needs space. I believe this trip will do it.”
I rake my fingers through my hair and rub my temples. My head is beginning to pound. I need another drink. I walk to the bar and pour another one. Drink in hand, I turn back toward Vince and say, “Fine, she can go. Two months, no longer. Darius and all his men will go with her. But she has to come here and ask me herself.”
“Damn, Michael. You are really going to make her come to you?”
“Damn straight I am. If she wants to go bad enough, she’ll be here.”
He shakes his head. “I sure as hell hope you know what you’re doing,” he says. “Seems like I have told you that before, and well, we all know how that turned out.”
“You just… never mind. She wants to go, she comes here.”
He gets up to leave and smirks. “I’ll go and tell her the good news.”
“Wait,” I say as he’s walking to the door. He turns back. “She can’t leave until after the omertà, and she must attend and represent her family, along with you and Mia.”
“Michael? But why?”
“Don’t question me, Vince. Those are my conditions. Take ’em or leave ’em.”
“Fine, I’ll take them.” He gets to the door and says, “Don’t you dare be an ass to her, Michael, at your party.”
“Remember who you are talking to, Vince,” I warn.
He shrugs and walks out the door.
Chapter 3
Michael
After Vince leaves, I call Hawk.
“Hey, Michael,” Hawk says into the line.
“Hey, man, just heard the good news.”
“Yeah, can’t thank you enough for sending Vince. He truly worked magic. Ice is set to come home tomorrow.”
“That’s great news! So he’ll be able to attend the omertà as well.”
“Yeah, we’ve got four guys and three old ladies coming. We wouldn’t miss it.”
“What day are you all planning on coming in?”
“Looks like we’ll leave here the Wednesday before. It’s roughly a seven-hour-or-so drive, but with the ladies… well, we’ll probably stop somewhere along the way for the night. You know they’re not used to being on a bike that long.” He laughs. “Expect us on Thursday. Does that work?”
“Perfect. I’ll make arrangements for you all to stay on the compound. You know we have several homes on the estate and we definitely should be able to accommodate everyone.”
“Hell, you don’t have to do that.” Hawk replies.
“I know, but I want your boys close.”
“Why? Something brewing?”
“No, nothing really, everything’s been quiet.” I pause. “I guess a little too quiet for my tastes.”
“I hear ya. Well, you know we’ll be there and ready for anything you need.”
“Thanks, Hawk. See you in a couple of weeks.”
“You got it,” Hawk says and disconnects the line.
I can’t shake this uneasiness I feel. I don’t know if it is because of Zaira and all the shit that went down, killing Bonita or something entirely off the radar, but it has been too damn quiet.
***
“Michael? Cosa ti preoccupa?” my father asks. I’m sitting on the back patio, and until my father approached, I was lost in my thoughts. Thoughts of Zaira and the times we spent together on this very patio. Thoughts so intense I could smell her perfume and hear her laugh. Fuck, I miss her.
“Pop, non è niente,” I say, shaking my head.
“Bullshit, son! Don’t tell me it’s nothing. Something is troubling you.”
I shake my head. The last thing I want to do is show my insecurities to my father.
“Look, Michael, you may be head of this family now, but I am still your father. What is it?”
Realizing he is not going to let up, I sigh. “I’m just worried, Pop. So many uncertainties lie ahead.”
“Good,” my father replies as he takes the seat across from me. This is not the response I was expecting.
“Good? Why would you be happy that I am worried?” I ask.
“Because, son, if you weren’t worried, then I would be worried. You’re dealing with a lot right now. You still have a rat in the family. Someone inside allowed that attack on you last month. You have the meeting coming up with the Gallardi Cartel and then, of course, there is Zaira.”
“So what do you suggest?”
He grins. “Michael, like I’ve told you before, I will give you advice but I will not tell you what to do. It is your time now, time for you to grow into the man I know you will be. I have complete faith in you, your decisions, and your abilities.”
I nod. “Can we talk about the cartel?”
“Sure.”
“So Gallardi is big. I’ve done some research. Their net worth? Over two billion dollars. They are extremely powerful, and getting into a disagreement with them could cripple our family. With that being said, they not only deal with drug trafficking but money laundering, assassinations, kidnapping, extortion, and human trafficking.”
“And your concern is?” my father asks.
“Why? Why did you agree to this meetup with them in the first place?” I ask.
“You really don’t know?”
I shake my head. “I don’t see it. I mean, I know we’re not clean by any means, but drugs, kidnapping, and human trafficking? Forgive me, Pop, but that’s not what we’re about. So I ask you again, why?”
“Curiosity, son.”
“What?”
“I wanted to know what they wanted us for. They are powerful, and it piqued my curiosity that they would approach us in their endeavors. Frankly, Michael, they don’t need us.”
“Well if they don’t need us, why even meet with them?”
“Because, Michael, what have I always told you? The Gallardis are not our allies. They are our enemies.”
“And I should keep my enemies close. Yeah, Pop, I remember.”
“The only way you can find out what they are up to and what they want with us is if you are on the inside. Take the meeting, Michael. Then we will talk.”
I nod. “Okay, Pop. If that’s what you think.”
He stands and paces the room in thought. With his back to me, he says, “Now tell me about Zaira.” Fuck. The last thing I want to do is discuss Zaira with him.
“What about Zaira? There’s nothing to tell. You already know everything. We’re separated, and the divorce will be final in less than a year.”
“Michael, don’t lie to your old
man.”
“Damn, Pop, do we really need to talk about Zaira?” Can’t you see the mere mention of her name shatters me?
“Yes. She’s in your head, Michael. You’ve got a lot of decisions to make, and she’s one of them.”
“She wants to go away. To Italy…” I say. “With Darius.”
“And are you letting her go?”
“Yes, but after the omertà.”
“Smart move. She needs to be here for that. Even though she is not living here, and you are both separated, she is still your wife.”
“I’m bringing a date.”
“What?”
“Pop, I’m done waiting for her to realize that everything I did was for her own good. I’m moving on with my life. In two weeks, I will officially take over this family with the omertà celebration. It’s time I take over the rest of my life as well.”
He shakes his head. “You will never learn,” my father says as he turns to walk away.
“Pop, what do you mean?” I call after him.
He turns back to face me. “Games, Michael. They are what got you here. They will not get you out.” He turns again to leave, shaking his head in disappointment.
“But…” And there it is, his disappointment.
Before I can say any more, my father calls as he continues to head back to the house, “If you piss off the Gallardis, remember, Michael, they will come after what you love most. Don’t forget that.” He opens the patio door and proceeds into the house.
Chapter 4
Zaira
I’ve been waiting patiently for Vince to return from his meeting with Michael. When I hear him come in through the front door, I rush downstairs to meet him in the great hall. “So am I going to Italy?”
He takes off his suit coat and does not look me in the eye.
“What the hell, Vince. What’s going on?”
Draping his suit coat over his arm, he says, “Yes, you’re going to Italy, but there is a caveat.”
At first, excitement rushes over me and then I feel nothing but irritation. Of course Michael would have demands. “What?” I ask smartly.
“He wants you to ask him in person.”