Breathless & Bloodstained (The Chicago War #4)

by Bethany-Kris

  Abriella cringed.

  “Still fucking with her, boss?” the enforcer asked.

  Joel laughed. “She fucks like a pro. You’re still here, Darryl. Don’t you have something to do, now? Like get me some info on Tommas Rossi and whatever female he’s dipping his dick into?”

  “I guess.”

  “Then do it.”

  That was enough for Abriella. She tiptoed down the hall and slipped into a spare bedroom that was only used for guests. Closing the door just enough to leave an inch crack for her to peek through, she listened as the office door opened and shut. Squeaks of footsteps echoed down the hallway and then traveled over the staircase before quieting completely.

  With her back pressed to the door, Abriella took in the information she had learned. She needed to tell Tommas and soon. Especially about the club and Joel’s plans.

  Hours ago, Abriella had been sure she wanted the war to end. She didn’t want to see more bloodshed and people hurting because of others’ selfishness and power-hungry ways. Now, she was ready to do whatever she had to so that her brother wouldn’t get what he wanted.

  Joel wasn’t ready for Abriella.

  But she was still coming for him.

  Abriella caught the cordless phone charging on the bedside table. She quickly crossed the room and picked up the phone to turn it on. She never called Tommas from a phone inside the mansion just in case someone overheard her conversation or picked up another line and listened in.

  This time, she didn’t have a choice.

  Joel’s office had a different number from the rest of the wing. He’d said he was going to make his own phone call, and Abriella was positive her brother was distracted with that. Hopefully, he would be for a few minutes.

  Dialing a familiar number, Abriella watched the door she’d left cracked open and waited when she put the phone to her ear. Tommas would likely recognize the number as a Trentini one, considering their home phone for the wing wasn’t a private number. She wondered if he would even answer.

  Her cell phone? Absolutely.

  A Trentini number? Maybe not.

  Abriella also wondered if Tommas was pissed off about her earlier disappearing act. Her time had run out, and she woke up with little to spare as it was. Had she woke him up to say goodbye, the man would have dragged her back to bed and she wouldn’t have been able to refuse him.

  How else would she get ahold of Tommas?

  Pick up, Tommy.

  He didn’t disappoint.

  “Tommas speaking.”

  Abriella let out the breath she’d been holding. “Tommas, we’ve got a problem.”

  “Ella?”

  “Yeah. Sorry I left earlier without saying goodbye. I couldn’t stay.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I love you, crazy girl. Now, what’s the problem?”

  “What else?”

  Tommas sighed. “Joel.”

  “Joel,” Abriella confirmed.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Tommas hung up Abriella’s call, a heaviness settling in his chest.

  “What was that about?” Damian asked.

  Turning on his heel, Tommas faced his cousin. He’d met Damian for dinner at one of his downtown restaurants before they went to Damian’s club that was closed for business during the daylight hours. They had needed to talk over whatever problem had come up. Privately.

  “Abriella called,” Tommas explained.

  “So?”

  “She just gave me the same news you did an hour ago.”

  Damian frowned. “About the police?”

  “Yeah. Seems like someone is poking their noses into my business, and they shouldn’t be.”

  “How did Abriella find out?”

  “Joel,” Tommas said.

  Damian cocked a brow. “Huh.”

  “That’s not good, D. It’s one thing for you to be able to get information because you’ve got a couple of contacts, but for Joel to find out that the police suspect there was another person with me the night my car got blown up—a woman, for that matter—is a bad thing. It means he’s got someone inside, too.”

  “I’m aware of what it means, Tommas.”

  Shit.

  Tommas could feel the panic rising in his gut, threatening to close off his throat. If the police had information that there was a second person with Tommas that night, then they were just a few steps from finding out who that person was.

  Worse yet, if Joel had access to someone on the inside of the police department, and the police found out that Abriella was the mystery woman, then Joel would know, too.

  It screamed bad in ten different ways.

  “I had enough attention from the cops before the bomb,” Tommas said, rubbing at the headache beginning to form at the base of his skull. “Now, it’s even worse. A little digging, maybe going back on the security cameras if they get a warrant beyond the day of the bomb, and they could find out it’s her, D. They would know.”

  “Yeah, I get it.”

  “What in the fuck am I going to do?” Tommas asked.

  “Chill out.” Damian pushed an unopened bottle of beer toward Tommas. “Have a drink, we’ll chat it out.”

  Tommas eyed the beer with as much disgust as he could manage. “You know, I bet that’s exactly how my mother and father started out by thinking like that, too. Just a drink to take the edge off, nothing too serious. Before they knew it, they were knee deep in addiction with four kids they couldn’t take care of.”

  “Whoa. This is … new.”

  “Not new, D. I don’t want the beer. I want to figure out how to keep Joel from getting any more info from the police.”

  “Well, you can start by keeping a distance from Abriella.”

  Tommas scowled. “That’s your grand fucking plan?”

  “It’s a start, Tommy. It’s like this, man, she’s dangerous for you right now. There’s too much attention, like you said. And frankly, you’re not very goddamn safe for her. Let some of this settle down. Maybe the cops will question you again, maybe they won’t. What I do know is that if you keep taking risks with Abriella for the sake of dipping your dick and feeding your heart, then you’re both going to end up killed.”

  Easier said than done.

  It was more than sex.

  More than love.

  Tommas needed Abriella like he needed air to breathe.

  “Joel took away her stuff,” Tommas said quietly.

  “Abriella’s?”

  “Yes. Her phone, the Hummer, and whatnot. She uh …” Tommas trailed off, cringing. His cousin wasn’t going to like the fact that Tommas spent the day shacked up in bed with Abriella, especially not after this. Damian was all about protecting family, after all. “She came over today after she lost her enforcer. I guess the guy found her car using the GPS app Joel had the phone company install on her cell during a routine update.”

  Damian’s face grew stony. “Where was her Hummer parked?”

  “I don’t know. Nowhere near my house. She never parks it close. She always takes a cab and comes in through the back.”

  “You’re a fool,” Damian grumbled.

  “I didn’t know she was coming over.”

  “You knew. After the hospital incident, you knew she wouldn’t stay away for long. You get off on that shit, Tommas. You love it that she’s crazy in the head over you, just the same as you are for her. Sometimes, I wonder if your relationship with that girl is even a little bit healthy, or if you’re both just fucked up beyond repair.”

  “Wouldn’t that mean we’re the perfect pair either way?”

  “Keep looking at it like that,” Damian said as he tipped his beer up for a drink.

  “My point is, how am I supposed to look after her or do anything for her if she has no way of contacting me or even driving herself around?”

  “No, the better point is that you need to stay away until shit dies down a bit. I guess you can thank Joel for making it easier on you. Take the break from Abriella Trentini. You could use it to
get your head back where it needs to be.”

  Tommas was seriously beginning to dislike his cousin.

  But … Damian could be right.

  “A week, two tops,” Tommas said, “but then I’m going after her.”

  “Don’t get yourself killed over that girl, Tommy.”

  “You’re one to talk.”

  Damian’s mouth snapped shut audibly.

  Tommas took that as a battle won.

  The next two weeks, however, were sure to be hell.

  “We’ve got a problem, man.”

  Tommas sighed harshly, more frustrated than he had been in a long time. Those were the last words he wanted to hear from his cousin. After two weeks of being quiet, staying under the radar of police, and dodging the asshole detectives requests for interviews, Tommas didn’t need more problems.

  It was bad enough that he hadn’t spoken to Abriella in thirteen damn days.

  Nothing was doing it for him when he woke up from dreams, and smelled her on his sheets. Not his hand, a cold shower, or the most mundane thoughts he could think of. He was like an addict without a fix.

  Just her voice, her sarcasm and humor, would be enough.

  Tommas wasn’t even getting those things.

  It drove him crazy that he had to wonder and worry about his girl. Was Joel being his usual asshole self? It was enough to make Tommas insane with anxiety and anger, but Damian was never far behind. Damian liked to point out that the cops were still trying to find out who the mystery woman was, and someone was feeding Joel information.

  The asshole.

  “Can’t I enjoy my breakfast in peace?” Tommas asked.

  The eggs, toast, and bacon on his plate were hot, fresh, and begging to be eaten.

  “Eat while I talk,” Damian said, pulling out a chair and sitting down.

  “You didn’t tell me there was a problem when you said that you wanted to meet up this morning.”

  “You wouldn’t have met me if I did.”

  Tommas didn’t even bother denying it. “I’ve got enough stress without adding to it.”

  “You’re about to get more.”

  Great.

  Tommas shoved a mouthful of eggs in and waved the fork at his cousin.

  Damian took the hint and said, “Adriano gave me a call this morning and gave me a head’s up about something. I think what he was really looking to do was get some kind of guarantee on his side, you know what I mean?”

  Swallowing back the food, Tommas said, “Not really.”

  “The kid wants someone backing him. He doesn’t want to run into problems with Joel.”

  “Over what?”

  Damian cleared his throat and rubbed his hands together. The actions spoke clearly of Damian’s nervousness, which was abnormal for the former hitman turned Capo.

  “Well …”

  “What did I miss?” Tommas demanded.

  “Nothing. Even I didn’t know. Theo gave Adriano a call to let him know it would be happening today, and nothing more. There wasn’t even an option involved, although I don’t think Adriano cares. He’s happy for his sister.”

  “Are you purposely being vague? Because if you are, I’m going to shove my foot up your—”

  “Theo and Eve got married at town hall as soon as it opened this morning,” Damian interrupted.

  Tommas dropped his fork on the table with a loud clatter. Several patrons of the restaurant turned to look in the direction of his table, but he didn’t give a shit. He owned the place, did a heck of a lot of work in it for the Outfit, and if people didn’t like him making a bit of noise, they could take their business elsewhere.

  “Seriously?”

  Silently, Tommas praised Theo for breaking the rules and taking what he wanted. But he was also concerned for what that could mean for Adriano. The young Capo was the man heading the Conti family, and Joel fancied himself the boss of the operation. No marriage should happen without Joel giving some kind of approval.

  Especially one between families as influential as the Contis and DeLucas.

  “Theo hasn’t kept his relationship with Evelina a secret,” Damian said.

  “No, I guess not.”

  “Joel hasn’t kept secret his dislike for the fact that Adriano is letting his sister run wild with a man of her choosing, either.”

  Tommas leaned back in the chair, tapping his finger to his mouth as he considered his cousin’s statements. “Adriano wants someone backing him here, you said?”

  “Yeah. You, likely. He knows Joel is going to throw a fit that he told Theo to go for it. Did you hear anything about Joel putting pressure on Adriano to marry Evelina off to him?”

  “To Joel?” Tommas asked.

  Damian shrugged. “I guess so. Adriano refused. He’s been making nice with Joel, or as much as he could before this, but he wouldn’t do that.”

  “Making nice for Alessa’s sake. Family. Nothing more.”

  “This could be bad,” Damian said.

  “But it could be really good for us,” Tommas pointed out quietly. “Or for me, I suppose. DeLuca sways to my opinion even if Theo won’t actively put a hand into the war. Adriano is outright saying he needs an ally right now. Who does that leave Joel with?”

  “No one.”

  “He’s got a decent sized crew, but this could be exactly what I need to force him into a situation where he goes crazy and messes up in a bad way.”

  Damian cringed. “Be careful doing that, Tommas. Joel is unstable.”

  “I know, I just wonder if he’s unstable enough to turn on himself.”

  Pushing up from the table, Tommas dropped a few bills down for the waitress and his unfinished meal.

  “You’re done eating?” Damian asked.

  “Yes. I have a Capo to see.”

  “Don’t get Adriano killed in the process of fucking around with Joel.”

  Tommas smiled. “That’s not my plan.”

  But first, Tommas had other plans.

  It’d been two weeks.

  Tommas had done the time that his cousin wanted to stay low and out of the view of the police. That was over. He had his girl to see. Chances were, Joel knew about Theo and Evelina getting married and was on one of his rampages. That meant Joel was distracted, and likely wouldn’t have a handful of enforcers watching Abriella.

  But even if he did, Tommas would have to take the chance.

  Two weeks was too fucking long.

  Abriella would be at school. Tommas had spent a week planning to safely see her.

  It wouldn’t be too hard.

  Hopefully.

  Tommas shrugged off his suit jacket, laid it over one of the chairs, and sat down on the edge of one of the many tables.

  Checking his watch, Tommas noted the time was cutting close to when the class was expected to start in this very room. He wondered if Abriella was going to show up, or if she’d somehow missed school that day.

  His girl needed a new way to contact him.

  Tommas hoped to fix that little issue today. He’d picked up a prepaid burner phone on the way over to the college. As long as Abriella kept it out of Joel’s sights, then she should be okay.

  Five long minutes of waiting later, and a knock on the classroom door brought Tommas from his thoughts. Pushing off the edge of the desk, he walked over, stood to the side of the door, and opened it to let who he knew had to be Abriella in without her being able to see him at first.

  “I’m not late,” Abriella said as she strolled right past a slightly hidden Tommas. “I’m five minutes early, so I don’t know why you closed the door on me. I know the rules, thank you very—”

  Tommas slammed the door shut, making Abriella jump and spin in her heels.

  “Oh,” she breathed.

  A beautiful smile bloomed on his girl’s features.

  Tommas answered it with a grin. “How long was it going to take you to realize that the classroom was empty?”

  “Not very long.”

  “Mmhmm. And what w
as all that attitude you walked in here with?”

  Abriella dropped her bag on the floor and stuck a hand on her hip. “What about it?”

  “Are you always like that when you waltz into a classroom?”

  “None of your business, Tommy.”

  “Get over here, babe.”

  Abriella didn’t need to be told again. She flew into Tommas’ opened arms, and let him lift her right off the floor. Her jean clad legs wrapped around his waist like she didn’t want to let him go. Keeping a firm hold on her backside, Tommas used his other hand to grab Abriella’s chin and draw her mouth to his. The soft touch of her lips was all he needed to forget the nonsense of two weeks missing, thinking about her, and worrying his ass off.

  Just a kiss.

  That simple kiss quickly turned into something hotter when Abriella’s teeth nipped on his bottom lip and sent a shock of lust straight down to his cock. Tommas groaned, and Abriella took the opening he gave to deepen their kiss until neither of them could breathe and blood rushed in his ears. Beneath his trousers, his cock twitched to life, hardening more by the second. The gentle friction of her body rubbing against his length only added to the need beginning to thrum hard and fast through his body.

  “God, I missed you,” Abriella mumbled against his lips.

  Tommas chuckled. “I figured. It ate me up thinking about being away from you for two weeks and not even calling you somehow. Damn, Ella, I was going crazy.”

  Carefully, Tommas let Abriella drop back on the floor. She didn’t go very far. Her arms snaked around his chest and hugged him so fiercely, his heart ached. She didn’t seem to want to move away, so Tommas held her, kissed the top of her head, and stayed still until she was ready to release him.

  That time didn’t come.

  “How did you get in here, and where is the rest of my class and the professor?” she asked.

  Tommas shrugged. “Maybe I paid some kid in the office to hack the computer, get a list of the students in the class and their cell phone plus email contacts, and sent out a message that the class would be held in the fourth hall.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Maybe.”

  “And the professor?”

  “Minor water leak. That’s what his message said.”