“Why wouldn’t you call us? Tell us,” Lucca demanded, bolting from his chair and grabbing Nico around the neck.
“Maria was so angry when she left that I was afraid that if I told you and you went there, she might run again. I thought that Angie could make her come home of her own free will. I never thought that she would betray Maria like this,” Nico coughed out, scratching at Lucca’s hand.
Stepping forward, Angie pulled Nico from Lucca’s grip before any damage could be done. Ignoring Nico’s curses, she told him in a cold voice, “Enough. Nico, save your self-righteousness for another cause. I’ve always known where Maria was. The only thing that your finding her did was up Nero’s timetable.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Lucca said, looking at her like he had never seen her before.
“At Barzette’s funeral, Nero agreed to my terms that he would marry Maria to repay his debts to me,” she told him while holding her eyes firmly to his in an unflinchingly stare as her words sunk in. Seeing the look that entered his eyes at her words and the meaning behind them made her guilt sharper than she ever thought.
“What debt? My brother didn’t owe you any debts. Getting rid of Caterina was in both families’ best interests.” Tori angrily spat as she rose from her chair and stood with her husband.
“Little girl, you have no true idea what you and your family owe to me. Did you really think that it was your grandmother who came up with the idea for the contracts to save your miserable lives? Your brother would have been dead more times than you can possibly imagine if I hadn’t intervened. There are things that you cannot possible conceive of that I have done through the years to ensure your family’s survival and sanity. I asked one thing of your brother in exchange for all that I had done. One thing, and he did not do it. He was supposed to kill your sister long before her insanity ever touched Maria. His foolish sentiments have brought dangers to our families that you cannot imagine. So, yes, your brother owes me debts. Debts that he is repaying by giving Maria a name and a family. By giving her the protection that only his name can from those who would use her like a whore if they ever found her to avenge themselves against any slight they may feel that the Salvaticis have dealt them,” Angie lashed out, unable to hide her anger at Tori’s part in what happened any longer.
Pulling Tori back, Dom got in front of her. “Angie, I wouldn’t have you speak to my wife like that.”
Was he kidding? “Your wife. I gave her to you so that you could find peace. So that you could know happiness. What did I get for my sacrifice of forgiveness at the pain her family has caused me? You turned against me. Turned against your sister.”
“I have never turned against you or Maria. We did what we felt was best for her. You know that. By the time we learned of the child, there was no way to get rid of it. If she hadn’t married, she would have been ruined. No man would have taken her. No woman would have shown her any kindness. You know how our world is,” Dom said, mouthing the same bullshit that he had ever since that day.
“Yes, I do, Dominic. I know our world. I know it in ways that you never will. I know that Paulie Barzette was just like his dead father. I know because when I grabbed his father, Paulie was raping a girl in the other room while his friends watched. I know because if you told me what you planned, I would have stopped it.”
Dom’s face took on a stricken look at her words, but it was Lucca who demanded, “Why didn’t you tell us?”
Too angry to be cautious at his tone, Angie said, “Why? There was nothing that you could have done. Let’s be honest: the lot of you would have thought that I was just saying it because you knew that Maria was unhappy that you forced her to marry.”
“When did you decide that Maria was going to marry Nero, Angie? Before or after you killed Paulie?” Lucca asked but didn’t wait for an answer. The look on her face said it all. “At the hospital, you knew the truth.”
“Yes, I knew.”
“The trips you’ve been taking to visit Michael every month. You go only for a few days.”
“Maria was a few hours’ drive away.”
“How?”
“I would go to bed early and rise late at least one day.”
“You knew how worried we have all been. And you’ve known where Maria has been all this time?” Lucca bleakly asked.
“Yes.”
Walking up to Angie, Lucca stared into her eyes. “You made sure that we couldn’t find her.”
Seeing the look of betrayal that filled them, she reached out. “Yes.”
“Don’t fucking touch me right now!” Lucca snarled, ripping free of her hand.
“It’s done, Lucca. They’re married,” she told him as she lowered her hand.
“I have given you leeway in a lot of things. I have allowed you to have your say when you had no right to a say, but in this, you have gone too far,” he told her sharply before his voice turned as frosty as the look in his eyes. “I’m going to see my sister, and when I get back, we are going to have a talk on your role in this family. It’s time for you to learn your place. So that you don’t get any ideas, the guards will be checking on you every hour. If you leave this house while I’m gone, it’s for good. And so there is no misunderstanding, you will be leaving without my children,” he finished, meaning every word before he ripped open the doors and walked out.
Staring at the empty doorway, Angie could feel the recriminating stares aimed at her back. She knew when she had made the decision to give Maria time that it would cause problems, but this was worse than she could have guessed. She would have to live with what she had done, but she couldn’t help but wonder if she hadn’t just traded giving Maria a chance for happiness for her own happiness.
Chapter 6
“Nero, you have visitors.”
He looked up at Matteo from the papers on his desk. “Who?”
“Nico Salvatici and his girl.”
“What’s he doing here?”
“He says that he’s come to see Maria.”
“Bring him in, but leave the girl in the waiting area,” Nero told him, leaning back in his chair. What the fuck? He told Lucca when he’d barged in here after he found out that Nero had married Maria that it would be in everyone’s best interest if Maria got used to being married before dealing with her family. Obviously, the memo hadn’t gotten through.
Lucca had been furious when he’d showed up, though he kept his anger caged. Good to her word, his wife had told him that she had arranged the marriage, so Nero wasn’t sure whom the Salvatici family was angrier at, her or him. When he demanded to see Maria, Nero took him right to her room. Leaving Lucca at the door, Nero told him that he’d be downstairs when he was finished. Nero didn’t have long to wait before a grim-faced Lucca rejoined him. Yeah, guess it was hard to have a conversation with someone who either didn’t speak at all or only spoke to curse you. Lucca was willing to allow the marriage to stand for now, though he made his stance clear that if Maria remained unhappy, they would have it terminated and she would return home.
It had been a terse conversation. Lucca was pissed that Nero had married the girl without the family’s blessing, and he damn near pulled his gun when Nero told him that Angie had given her blessing on behalf of his family. Pure rage filled Lucca’s voice when he told Nero that his wife did not have permission to act on behalf of his family and that he was to have no future contact with her. He went as far as to demand that Nero call him immediately if his wife ever tried to contact him. The rest of the words spoken were brief. Lucca agreed that it would be best if the family waited to see Maria, and he would leave it to Nero to call him when she was more civil.
So when the youngest of the Salvaticis walked in, Nero lit right into him. “I thought it was agreed that your family would wait for my call.”
The kid wasn’t at all intimidated by Nero’s tone. “I didn’t think it would be an issue if I tried. I know that you said to wait, but I figured that if you hadn’t called by now, you might need some hel
p. I know that my sister can be a little bit stubborn,” he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes when he saw the look of disbelief on Nero’s face.
Yeah, stubborn was a word, but not the main one he would use to describe her.
“All right, kid. Matteo will show you to Maria’s room,” Nero said, figuring, what the hell.
The truth was, he hadn’t gotten anywhere with Maria. He hadn’t even tried. Every time he saw her, the only thing he could see was her in bed with that little fucker. Why he cared was beyond him, and he wasn’t willing to examine it.
Watching the kid leave with Matteo, Nero thought to himself that this might be best. If the kid got her talking like a normal person, then she’d want to go home, and he wouldn’t have to deal with this any longer.
***
“Wendy? What are you doing here?” Maria asked in a hushed tone, rushing over to her and pulling her into a hug. “Do you know what Nero would do to you if he realizes who you are?”
Pulling back from the embrace Wendy snapped. “Screw Nero. I was worried about you. When I found Jason in your apartment, I was going to go to the police, but he stopped me. He said that the guy who did that to him was your husband.”
“Oh, God, Jason. Is he all right? I was so worried that they went back and finished him.” Maria hoarsely whispered as the pain that had filled her since that night turned to relief that she fought not to let overwhelm her. In her heart she had truly believed that Nero had killed him.
“He’s fine, but he’s worried about you. The only way I could stop him from coming here after you was to come myself. Luckily, when I contacted Nico, he was just as worried about you and was willing to help.”
“No, he can never come here. Nero would kill him.” Maria gasped out in fear digging her nails into Wendy’s arms. Seeing the pain that filled her friends face Maria quickly released her. “How did you find out who I really was?” She asked as she fought to calm herself. Just the thought of what Nero would do to Jason if he came here terrified her.
“Your husband told Jason who he was, so it was easy to figure out who you were. I contacted Nico online to find out if you were OK, and he wanted to meet. After he told me that he hadn’t been allowed to see you, we got worried, so we just showed up, hoping that we’d get in.” Wendy answered as she rubbed her arms.
Looking to her brother, Maria went to him and gathered him in her arms. “Thank you,” she whispered emotionally.
“Maria, I never left you. Never. I’m so sorry that they made you marry Paulie. I need you to forgive me.” Nico whispered back as his arms tightened around her.
Pulling back she took his face into her hands. “Nico, I never blamed you for that. You had no say and couldn’t have stopped it.”
“No, not that. It’s my fault that you are married to Nero. I found you and told Angie. I had no idea what she was planning to do.” He ramble as she fought to make sense of his words.
“Nico I don’t understand. What does Angie have to do with me marrying Nero?”
“Maria didn’t Lucca tell you when he came to see you? It wasn’t the family that set this marriage but Angie.” He said causing her world to spin. No he couldn’t be right. She wouldn’t have done this. Maria opened her mouth to call him a liar but the look on his face stopped the words from leaving her lips. Nico seeing the despair enter her face as the truth sunk in soften his tone. “The whole family is angry with her. Lucca told her that if she interfered again, he was done with her,” he said, surprising Maria. Lucca would do anything for Angie. He must truly be sorry for this she thought numbly. “The whole family is finally starting to realize the truth.”
“What truth?” she asked in confusion.
“That Angie is the reason for all of our problems.” Startled by what he was saying, she remained quiet, his words making a sick kind of sense. Seizing on her silence Nico continued. “Think about it. Everything that has happened to all of us started when she came into our lives, Maria.”
“She can’t really be blamed for some of this, Nico,” she said slowly, but the words were more automatic than anything else.
“Yes, Maria, she can. I know that she was your friend, and even now you feel a certain loyalty to her, but think about it. Really think. For the first time in years, you were happy, and what did she do? She ruined it for you. Wendy told me that you and Jason were going to get married. That you were going to have your own life before Nero showed up and ruined it for you. Think, Maria. Who sent Nero? Angie did. She forced Nero on you, just like she forced Tori on Dom. Why would she want us to marry with the Genoveses unless in some way that benefited her? You know as well as I do that she was forced to marry Lucca. She fought the marriage until he threatened war. We know that she says Alexa is Lucca’s child, but do we know for sure? Why would she have hidden Alexa after they married? There was no need. Maybe what she had really been longing for was her lover. Maybe she and her lover had come up with a plan to infiltrate our family and destroy it from the inside.”
“Nico, that’s insane.”
“Is it, Maria? Is it? Why would Nero marry you? He received nothing for it. It in no way benefited him or his family, yet here you are as his wife. A wife he doesn’t want but is willing to take because Angie told him to.”
“Why would she want me to marry into a family that nearly destroyed me?” she asked, more to herself, but Nico seized on her words.
“Why, indeed? Why would she want it unless she was more involved with the family than any of us realize. Maria, when Lucca confronted her about Nero marrying you, she slipped. She said that she has helped Nero for years. For years, she has helped her enemy’s brother, Maria. Maybe it was because there was something there that none of us ever realized.”
“Angie and Nero,” she whispered in disbelief.
Stepping forward, Nico gripped Maria’s shoulders, his eyes taking on a gleam. “Yes, it makes perfect sense. Don’t you see? She couldn’t have married him while there was a contract to marry Lucca, and she couldn’t kill Lucca without being the suspect. What she could do is set it all up so when she did strike, her lover would have a foothold inside our family to seize control. With us all dead, no one would think twice at Nero being chosen to watch over Angie and the children. Maria, the woman waited and slowly took vengeance for more than half of her life. What is a few years to her to get what she wants? Time means nothing to her.”
“Oh, God, Nico, what can we do? No one will believe this,” she said, pulling free of Nico and turning around. Her head was spinning. Each word that Nico said made too much sense. Bile rose in her throat. She’d let Angie into their lives. Or did she? Did Angie do what Tori had done? Had Angie really known who she was all along? Was she just a weak link that had been exploited not once but twice?
Gentle hands took her shoulders, and Nico said softly, understandingly, almost forgivingly, “I’ve already talked to Dom about it. He didn’t believe it, either, but at least someone knows if something happens to us, though that isn’t what I’m worried about at the moment. There is time to stop her. What we need to do right now is get you out of here.”
“Nico, Nero won’t let me leave the house,” she whispered in a choked voice, not trying to hide the pain that these revelations had brought.
“Yes, he will, but you have to stop acting like this and leave your room. You need to pretend to be happy and cheerful. You need to pretend to be your old self. Then we’ll make our move and get you to Jason,” Nico told her in a firm voice, turning her around to face him.
“Nico, I can’t go to Jason. Nero would kill him.”
“No, he can’t. Jason has powerful friends that can get your marriage to Nero annulled. They can protect the two of you, and once you and Jason are married, Nero won’t be able to do anything about it. Our family will stand behind your decision, and Nero and Angie will be powerless to stop it. It will give us the time to expose them for what they really are.”
Staring at her brother, Maria saw his sincerity, his beli
ef that she could do this. This wasn’t just about her; it concerned her whole family. There was no way that she would let Nero and Angie get away with what they had planned, and if it meant that she could finally find her own happiness, it was even better. “All right, what do you need me to do?”
Chapter 7
They did it. She couldn’t believe that they had made it. By now, Nero knew that she was gone, but it didn’t matter. They were across the border, and he had no power here. A car had met them at the airport, and it was taking her to Jason. Her heart pounded with excitement. Jason had friends that would help them, friends he said that could get Nero to give her a divorce so that they could be together.
Happiness filled her when they finally pulled through the gates. Armed men moved around the grounds, but she wasn’t worried. Nico had said that Jason’s friends were powerful and could protect them. Following one of the armed men into the house, she burst away from him when she saw her Jason.
Smiling, he took her into his arms and laughed before setting her down.
“We did it!” Maria said excitedly, looking up into his beloved face.
“Yes, you did, and I couldn’t be happier. We are all so happy that you are here.”
“We?” she asked in confusion.
“Yes, Maria. We,” a voice said from behind her, causing her to freeze in fear. Silent tears fell down her face as she looked closely at Jason’s smile. It wasn’t the happy smile that she had fooled herself into thinking it was, but a mocking one. Oh, God, what had she done?
“I think you broke her, Caterina,” Jason said as he brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb. Leaning close, he let his lips touch her ear and whispered, “And I was so hoping to finish what we started.” He laughed, causing her to jump back in revulsion. All joy from moments ago was gone, along with her hope.
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