Angelica (The Family Book 1)

by Jones, Angelique

  Taking the child from her mother’s still body the little girl handed it to the maid, as she close her mother’s eyes. “Take the bags and the child and go to the passage,” she says, knowing that the maid will do what she is told. With purpose the little girl goes to the liquor cabinet. Taking the contents, she spills them, soaking every surface. Walking back to the maid, she steps into the passage and drops a lighter to the floor. Flames shoot through the room, quickly engulfing everything. Closing the passage the little girl leads them on, no longer having to be quiet as there sounds are drowned out by the running footsteps and screams. Opening the passage that exits near a crop of trees, she takes the baby from the frightened maid, and together they walk into the night, the flames burning behind them lighting their way.

  …..

  Lucca took a deep drink, the alcohol burning down his throat. She would come. He felt it. She would come to protect Maria. She belonged to him. Maria had finally told them what had happened that night, asking her family to watch the video Angie had left with her. She had been without mercy and had taken her time. It was the following night before she had finished with those pigs, finally burning them alive to finish them. The coldness of that woman in the video wasn’t the one who had been beneath him. That was the woman who belonged to him. That fire was for him alone, and he would have it back.

  Enzo had done what they knew he would. He’d asked for Maria’s purity to be checked by his own doctor. The day after tomorrow he would arrive, and then they would finish this. Patiently, Lucca and his father plotted, knowing they had to wait to strike. The fucker thought he had gotten away with it, and they let him. Soon that fucker would scream. He would beg for his life for what he had done to Maria. He would beg for death for what he had done to Angie.

  Chapter 11

  It was time. Riding up in the elevator, she counted the floors, waiting for it to reach his. She had dressed for the occasion; in a dress of purest white, Angie went to him. He would no longer hunt her. She now hunted him. She had seen some of Lucca’s guys as she entered the hotel; they were watching him. She knew that they wanted to stop her, but she also knew that they couldn’t. She wasn’t the reason that they were here. As the doors finally opened, two of Enzo’s most trusted guards stepped forward to block her path. Shocked when they saw it was her, they quickly stumbled back, looking anywhere but at her.

  Stepping from the elevator, she walked toward the double doors at the end of the hallway. The guards there also bowed their heads, quickly opening them. Moving through, she placed her purse on the entryway table and walked straight to the floor-to-ceiling windows that led to the patio garden. She could hear the yelling and screams and watched as half-naked girls were forced out the doors. Quickly, a tea tray was set out for her, and the guards kept far away as they waited for Enzo to join them. Thirty minutes later, he came down the stairs. Still in the spot by the windows, she felt him approach. “Why do you shame me?” Angie asked when he was close enough to hear her furious whisper.

  Enzo stopped cold at her words. “Those girls mean nothing, my princess,” he began, but she slashed her hand out to stop him, turning around to face him. “I don’t mean those whores. I mean the girl. The Salvatici girl. Why do you shame me?” Angie spat out with fire in her eyes. Entranced by the emotion that was burning from her gaze, Enzo reached out to touch her. Smacking his hand down, Angie forced tears to her eyes, then blinked them back. “You shame me. You lie. It’s that girl you want.” Whirling around to give him her back, she wrapped her arms around her body.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him approach from the side, watching her face. She let him see what he always desired from her: emotion, passion. She let her lips tremble and tears fall from her eyes, which she angrily swiped away. Reaching out with a gentle hand, he took her chin with his fingertips and turned it toward him so that he could look into her tearful eyes. Fanatical devotion filled his gaze as he swiped her tear with his thumb and brought it to his lips, tasting the saltiness. “Only you, my princess, do I want. The girl was a contract of my family’s that after tomorrow will be gone.” Blinking, Angie shyly ducked her head and stepped back. Stepping forward, Enzo tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Are you hungry?” he asked, and she let a small smile touch her lips and gave a little nod.

  Looking as if he’d just been granted his most ardent desire, Enzo stepped back and opened the doors to the garden/sitting area. Walking past him, Angie moved through it, stopping to touch and smell the flowers as he ordered them lunch before going to join him at the table from which he watched her. Turning to him, she made her face look like she was fighting to put her mask back in place. Avoiding his gaze, she passed him as if she was going to make for the chair the farthest away. Like a steel manacle, his hand shot out, forcing her into the chair almost atop his, so close that her knees were between his legs. “No,” he said forcefully, moving her wrists into one hand while the other gripped her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his. “This belongs to me; every emotion, every tear there is mine. I won’t let you hide it from me again because you are no longer jealous.”

  Mutinously squeezing her lips together and squinting her eyes, Angie tried to turn her head before spitting out, “Who said I was jealous? I’m not jealous; let me go”

  Laughing, Enzo leaned forward and kissed Angie’s lips before releasing her and smiling at her stiff posture. “You, my little princess, are so jealous of some girl who cannot hold a candle to your beauty, you are practically turning green with it.”

  Ready to blast him, she was stopped when a hotel maid came forward to serve them. Sitting up prissily, Angie smoothed her dress down, shooting fire out of her eyes when Enzo glanced at the maid. A wide grin spread across his face at her action and he touched a finger to it when Angie turned her head to ignore him. Giving the girl a sharp “thank you,” Angie turned to her food. Finishing her meal in silence, she rose and walked back inside toward the door, stopping short when he grabbed her arm.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Enzo demanded sharply, ah the crazy fuck she was used to was getting ready to come out and play.

  “Shopping, then home. You can send me flowers to apologize for your behavior,” She said, completely throwing him off and bringing back his earlier grin.

  “You, my little princess, are going to be the death of me.”

  Of that they both agreed.

  “Two of my guards will go with you to get your things, then you’ll be staying with me.” He grinned, as if it was all settled.

  The hell she would. “I am going home. I am not going to live with a man in sin.” Poking her finger into his chest, she added, “You are now required to get me flowers and a gift, and in exchange for that, I will let one of your goons follow me. And I’ll agree to think about letting you get me a room here, on a separate floor.”

  “I’m required, am I?” Nodding her head solemnly, she waited. “You will let two of my goons follow you and get your things while I get a suite for you here, and you will take my credit card and buy anything you want and make me suffer.”

  Looking as if she was thinking it over, she held her hand out, palm up. “Deal,” When he leaned in to kiss her, she leaned back. “Credit card first.”

  With a grin, he took the card from his billfold and placed it in her hand before leaning forward and laying a firm kiss on her lips. “Deal.”

  Turning on her heel, Angie grabbed her purse and headed out the door, knowing that his eyes were following her. Getting into the elevator, she put her mask back in place, looking straight ahead, letting nothing show on her face. The fucker wanted what he just saw, but he didn’t trust it. He’d be watching her like a hawk, waiting for her to make a mistake. It didn’t matter; soon this would be all over. Then she would fulfill the final promise she had made to her mother, and she would be free. Exiting the elevator, she walked through the lobby and outside, getting into the car Enzo had arranged for her. She recognized the driver. Rolling down the privacy
screen, she gave him the name of the hotel she was staying in, then put it back up.

  Closing her eyes, she curled up on the seat and took a short nap until they got there. Blinking as the goon opened the door, Angie let him help her out and lead her to her suite, telling them to watch some TV so she could take a nap. They talked on the phone for a minute, probably telling Enzo that she had been sleeping in the car before they turned and told her to take as long as she needed. Closing and locking the door, Angie turned the TV on and went to run a bath. Climbing in before it was full, she leaned back, closed her eyes, and nodded off.

  A hand was around her throat and one over her mouth when she opened her eyes and stared into Lucca’s furious ones. Keeping her gaze devoid of anything, she raised her hand and removed his from her mouth, then braced her hands on the side of the tub and rose up. Leaving her gaze, Lucca watched as the water rushed away to reveal her body. Letting go of her neck, he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her before pulling her body into his and plundering her lips. She sat there passively, like a statue, not responding, ignoring the shoots of electricity that seemed to zap her core. Angered, he broke away and gave a sharp tug to her hair before releasing it. “Get dressed; we’re leaving,” he growled, pushing his fingers through his hair as he looked at her.

  “You got in through the servants’ entrance?” She asked, knowing there were three ways in and he hadn’t used the main door.

  He looked even more pissed. “I said, get dressed. We’ll talk about this when we’re out of here.”

  Leaning against the wall, Angie secretly drank him in. “Lucca, you need to leave. If they report to Enzo that anyone was here with me, it won’t go well for me.”

  Crowding his body into hers, he said, “It won’t matter because he’ll be dead soon.”

  Reaching her hands up, she let her towel sag, only held in place by the closeness of their bodies, and took his face into her hands. Gently placing her lips to his in a chaste kiss, she pulled back and looked into his eyes. “He’ll be dead tonight, Lucca. Please leave before you get yourself killed.”

  “Do you think I’m afraid of that fuck? Do you think I’ll leave you here to get hurt? You think I don’t know what will happen if he finds out you’re not a virgin?” he whispered angrily.

  She wasn’t going to win this. He’d kill the two goons outside and drag her out naked if he had to. Leaning forward, she crushed her lips to his, giving him what he’d wanted before. Hooking her legs over his hips, she rocked her body into his. She could feel him fumbling with his pants, and then he shoved it in hard and fast, his mouth holding her moans so they wouldn’t travel. They fucked wildly, slamming into each other, no finesse, just animal passion, clawing at each other. When she came, it was fast and sharp, striking hard. She felt him join her as waves poured into her so much that it began to seep out between them. With gentle kisses, he held Angie to him, carrying her to the shower and gently setting her down. Turning on the nozzle, he waited until the water warmed, then took the head from the wall and gently washed himself from between her legs. Finished, he took the towel and dried her before cleaning himself and righting his clothes. “Go get dressed,” he said, kissing her forehead and tapping her butt to get her into the bedroom.

  Going to a bag in the closet, Angie got out a syringe and went back into the bathroom, putting it to Lucca’s neck as he washed his hands. Surprise, then anger clouded his gaze as she helped him to the floor. Whispering that he’d be awake in twenty minutes, she got up, leaving him there, and quickly dressed. Grabbing her cases, she took them out of the bedroom and down the main stairs into the living room, surprising the goons who rushed to help. Leaving the key card on the table, they quietly left.

  Chapter 12

  A little over an hour later after settling into the suite Enzo got her, she again curled up in the bed, still exhausted. She hadn’t really slept more than catnaps in weeks and it was catching up with her. Knowing she’d need her strength for tonight, she closed her eyes and fell into a light sleep.

  Angie felt Enzo’s presence before she opened her eyes. Carefully, she peeked through her lashes to judge his mood. He seemed like earlier, but she knew he could change in a flash. Playing it up, she rubbed her eyes and looked at him, blinking a few times before she closed them again. Christ, she was still so tired, she could almost fall asleep with him there. This was bad. Forcing her eyes open, she pushed herself into a sitting position against the pillows, “What time is it?” She whispered, her throat scratchy from sleep.

  Staring at her for what seemed the longest time, Enzo finally spoke. “It’s close to five. You’ve slept most of the afternoon.” Tilting her head to look at the clock, she saw he was right. She was so busy looking at the clock that she didn’t see the strike but she felt it as it crossed her face, throwing her from the bed to the floor. Quick and hard, the kicks and punches rained down on her. They weren’t random or in blind rage but well placed, with cold, calculating fury. She could have defended herself, but she didn’t, taking the hits until he stopped to tell her what they were for. Lifting her into his arms, Enzo placed Angie back into the bed, forcing her to stay on her bruised back. Looking at him, she kept her eyes dead as he gently patted her face. “Why were Lucca Salvatici and his men at your hotel?”

  Fuck if she didn’t do this right. “I don’t know.” she hoarsely got out, earning a sharp slice to her side. Oh, goody; it was time to play with knives. Making a show of letting a tear fall from her eye, she took a shuddering breath. “I don’t know why he was there.” Fuck, that hurt. Allowing pain to show on her face, she gave Enzo what he always craved. Whimpering at every cut, Angie let her lips tremble and tears pour down her face, hoping if he got this, she wouldn’t have to take a normal session of torture. Watching the door open, Angie saw the doctor enter. She guessed it was time.

  Staring up into Enzo’s cold gaze, she lifted my butt off the bed so the doctor could remove her panties, then spread her legs. Placing his cold instruments into her, they sat in silence until the doctor stood up, telling Enzo she was still pure, and left the room. Removing his hands from her, Enzo’s gaze softened. Closing her eyes, she turned onto her side. All right, crazy fuck was about to go into sweet and caring mode now that he thought his toy hadn’t been played with. Better play this up. “I don’t know why he was there. Maybe he followed me from here because you’re marrying into his family,” She whispered, making sure her voice caught.

  Enzo’s hand touched her back and she made myself cringe, but he kept going, taking a cloth and cleaning up the blood. Piece of shit was fanatical about aftercare so that his prize didn’t scar. Putting on the ointment, he gently turned her onto her back so he could look at her face. Leaning down, he kissed Angie’s forehead and smiled at her as if he’d just done something good for her. Fucker had a short memory; he was the one who just beat and carved her up. Reaching up, she cupped his cheek, earning an even bigger smile. “I have an event I have to attend tonight, I’ll be back late. Don’t worry about Salvatici. After tomorrow he won’t be an issue.” Taking her hand from his cheek, he kissed her palm and walked out, the click of the lock telling her he had left the suite.

  Letting her mask fall back into place, Angie stared at the ceiling, pushing the pain back to the place where it normally resided in her. The place where she no longer felt. Taking stock of her injuries, she knew she had a cracked rib; nothing that would slow down her plan. She had gotten off lucky. Getting up, Angie went to her bags. She had two hours to prepare before she had to get to his little meeting. It was a dinner, actually, with some of the more prominent families who had come to witness Maria’s official engagement tomorrow, out of respect for her father. Enzo couldn’t have canceled it or he would have looked suspicious. Unfortunately, Angie’s Uncle Angelo and some of their family would be attending, but she had figured that out too. Taking out a delicate wire mask, she walked into the bathroom and put it on. Staring into the mirror, she knew it was perfect. It did nothing to detract from
her beauty, but it distorted her face enough that Uncle Angelo wouldn’t know it was her as long as she didn’t get close enough for him to see her eyes. Satisfied, she set it on the counter and got to work. Tonight was when it finally ended.

  …..

  Lucca couldn’t believe she fucking did that to him. Walking into the restaurant, neutral ground controlled by the other family in the city, Lucca followed his father to their table. There were representatives and bosses from many of their allies throughout the country; unfortunately, there were Enzo’s allies there too. Tomorrow would bring a bloody war until the families were ready for a sit-down. Father refused to go to the commission to have Enzo sanctioned, saying that it was a personal matter of honor. Because he sat on the commission, he must not have thought things would go our way, which Lucca understood. It was our word against Enzo’s, and no proof other than a supposedly dead woman’s theory to back us up.

  Smiling and playing the game, Lucca allowed nothing to show as he made his way around the room, until dinner was about to be served. Sitting down, they all kept chatting under the hum of the live music. After everything was cleared, the hosting boss—an ally of Enzo’s—stood up and said he had a special treat. The lights dimmed, except for the stage, and there she stood. Lucca knew it was her. Dressed in a gown of lace and satin that opened by her legs when she moved, with angel black wings that dragged behind her and a mask made of shadow and wire that accentuated her eyes and lips. No one could look away, spellbound. Looking at his guys, he knew they knew it was her, and so did Enzo, but before he could go hide her, she began to sing, and her spell over him was complete.