“Fine, then I’m coming with you.” He states with a humph.
I turn back to the mirror to finish up my makeup. “No, you’re not. I already told you I’ll be on my best behavior and be careful. You’re starting to act like Nico.” The elevator buzzes as someone waits for access to get in. I push up on my toes placing my lips to his cheek, leaving behind red lipstick before brushing past him out of the room.
Liliana and Marina both meet up at my place before we go out. Before leaving, Marina pulls out a bottle of top shelf whisky as she pours three shots. “Gotta toast the night off right.” She says passing us each one.
“I don’t think I’m going to be drinking tonight.” I turn and look at Liliana.
“What, why not?”
“I just don’t feel super great is all, I don’t think it will sit well.”
“Come on, I’m sure it will be okay,” She shakes her head.
“No really, I can’t.” She takes on a slightly pale color to her face. I reach out touching her shoulder.
“Lil, if you're not feeling good you don’t have to go out, I understand.”
She shakes her head. “No, I’m not missing your bachelorette party, G. I’m coming.”
“Okay, just don’t pass out on me alright? Let me know if you start getting worse.” When I look back up Marina is watching Liliana with a calculated look.
“Here, one of you take mine too.” Liliana pushes hers between us.
“Go for it.” Marina nods at me to take it. Reaching down I take the first one, cringing slightly at the sharp burn as it warms my throat. Grabbing the second Marina tilts the bottle out to me, and I clink my little glass to it. “To a night to remember...or forget.” She gives me a wicked grin before putting the bottle to her lips as I toss back the liquid once more.
***
We pull up to an alleyway, and I look around. "Umm, you sure you got the address right?" I say glancing around again to see if I missed something obvious. Marina laughs as she pushes the door open.
"Yes, I'm sure. Come on." She slides out and starts walking down the alley. I look around again and get an eerie feeling as we walk through the small space between the buildings. She stops in front of a metal door painted with graffiti. I glance around again unsure she hasn't lost her mind.
She reaches out pounding loudly on the door twice as it echos back down the alley. A second later the door opens and a large man stands blocking the way. Music spills out around us as I feel the bass thumping through the asphalt below my heels. After a moment of speaking to the man he steps aside letting us in. We file in, immediately taking stairs down, drawing us further underground. The music gets louder with each step and I begin to feel the vibrations of the bass thumping in my chest. When we reach the bottom of the stairs we step down a short hall, coming to a black curtain in the doorway.
"You ready?" Marina yells out over the noise. Pushing it aside we step through into a large open space, packed with bodies as they move and jump along to the music. It's dark with blue lights flashing around illuminating the area just enough to see.
"This is fucking awesome!" I shout back to her. A pleased smile pulls on her lips. I grab hold of Liliana's hand as we push through the crowd heading to the bar. Even though Nico sent her with four guards, I don't want to risk getting separated. With it being so dark and packed even her guards might have a hard time keeping an eye on her.
As we get up to the bar, we try to wave down the bartender to get his attention. There are so many people packed around, he doesn't take notice. "What do you want?" Marina leans over shouting to me.
"I don't care, I'll take anything at this point." She nods before placing her hands on the bar and pushing herself up. Leaning over the counter, with her ass up in the air, she reaches around before grabbing a bottle of something and sliding back down. Pulling down her dress that had bunched up, she held up the bottle to me. My wide eyes dart back in the direction of the bartender only to see he still hasn't even looked our way.
Popping the top off, she takes a drink from the bottle before passing it to me. Holy shit, this bitch legit doesn't give a fuck. Shrugging it off, I grab it from her hands as I put it to my lips taking a long gulp. It sears my throat and I cough, handing it back to her. "That's terrible." She grins at me before grabbing my hand as she moves us like a train over into the sea of moving bodies.
I begin dancing as the alcohol begins to relax me, loosening me up. After a few songs of shaking around, Liliana grabs my hand, pulling me to her. "G, I'm so sorry but I think I need to leave." I stop and look at her pale with discomfort etched across her face. Concern grows at the sight of her.
"Okay, I'll walk you out to your guards." She nods as I grab hold of Marina's arm. "Hey, Lil isn't feeling good. I'm gonna make sure she gets to her guards, okay."
"Alright, meet me back at the bar. Eastside?" I nod to her as we step away instantly getting swallowed in the mass of people. I spot one of her guards along the west wall by the entrance and I begin pushing our way to him. As we break through and he sees Liliana he comes rushing to our side.
"She isn't feeling well. I need you to take her home." I call out to him. Pushing his headset in his ear he speaks into it before reaching down, grabbing her and lifting her up in his arms. I follow them down the hall and up the stairs before they walk out the door into the alley. The entire time worry gnaws at me at what is wrong.
When the door closes shut behind them, I make my way back down the stairs to find Marina.
21
DAVEON
I don't like the idea of Marina and Gianna out together. Those two are a bad idea waiting to happen. I shake my head trying to clear my head from this nagging worry I can't seem to shake. They will be fine, not only can Marina hold her own and then some, but Gianna isn't bad at self-defense either. They also have the four guards that Nico sent with Liliana. I try to convince myself I'm being paranoid.
Wanting to get out of the loft, I head up to Nico’s floor with a bottle of bourbon. When the doors open I hold up the bottle, greeting him. Stepping aside, he lets me in and grabs a couple of glasses before we head to the balcony and sit down. We sit in silence as I light a cigarette between my lips. "Where's Ciro at?" I ask between breaths of smoke.
"He's been pretty busy lately. I've been having him watching this Bravata group that keeps getting awfully close to our territory." He shrugs. "I told him he could send someone else to do the stakeouts, but he insisted on doing it himself. You know how he is." I nod, understanding.
"So, what's been your fucking deal lately?"
"Meaning?" He fixes me with a look at my blatant disrespect. He should know better by now when we are alone. He is just my brother—no Capo or titles.
"You know what I mean. With Liliana, even I can see you’re being a bit fucking much." He runs a hand through his hair, sitting forward he leans his elbows on his legs.
"She's pregnant." I momentarily forget the cigarette is lodged between my lips as I sharply inhale at his words. I cough instantaneously like a fucking amateur.
"I'm sorry she's what?"
"Pregnant, Daveon." He looks up at me with a strained look on his face.
"But I thought she was on birth control?" I say in disbelief.
He shakes his head. "She said she thinks she might have missed some after everything that happened with Dario."
"Is this a bad or good thing, because I'm having a hard time telling right now."
"Fuck, I don't know. I mean, I planned on it later on. Much later on, but not right now. I don't even think I know how to be a father. You know as well as I, mine wasn't worth a damn so what's the odds I will be any better."
I'm shocked at this revelation. "I know what kind of man your father was and if it’s any consolation, your nothing like that cruel fuck. If you treat that kid half as good as you do Liliana, you have nothing to worry about. You're not him." He turns his head up at me, fear paining his eyes. "Man, that wasn't what I was expecting you to say, can't belie
ve she is fucking pregnant. I figured you'd say something about how you just got all crazy protective and manic again for no reason."
"I never got crazy and manic. What the hell are you talking about?"
"Yeah, okay. I'm pretty fucking sure you were ready to paint the city red searching for her and would have if Elijah hadn't found her when he did. Then after it all, yeah, you got a little overprotective."
"I guess if your ever so blessed to have something happen to Gianna, you might actually shut the fuck up and understand." I shrug it off.
"Maybe, but that won't happen."
"You hope." The nagging feeling that I had pushed from my mind returns at his words. His phone ringsdrawing both of our attention to it. Jerking it up he answers it in a rush.
“Yes.” His brows crease as he listens.
"Is she okay?" My pulse jumps at his words and I tense before he relaxes slightly. "Okay, hurry home." When he hangs up I watch him expectantly.
"Liliana wasn't feeling well so her guards are bringing her home." My worries dive farther at realizing both her and Marina are now left alone...together…at a club.
Fuck. Finishing my drink, I decide to head back down to my loft so that Nico and Liliana can be alone when she gets home. As I step into the loft my phone begins ringing in my pocket. Elijah's name stretches across the screen. I answer, not sure what to expect.
"I've been trying to reach Marina but she isn't answering.” His voice is pinched and angry. “I know it was a job for you so I figured I'd let ye know. That guy you had me watching before, the one from Chicago. He was just seen here in New York somewhere downtown about thirty minutes ago." I freeze in place as my body tenses.
"Enzo?"
"Yeah, that fucker."
"Where exactly was he? Do you know where he went?"
"Do I look like the paparazzi, Daveon? I don't know where he went, I was just letting ye know he is here. He isn't my problem to look out for."
"He would only come here for one reason." I grind out between clenched teeth. "He is here for Gianna, and this becomes your fucking problem too because Marina is with her right now."
He goes silent on the line before a flurry of curses ring through. "Mac soith. An bhean fucking sin?"My own anger rises with his.
"English, Elijah I don't fucking speak Irish!"
"Where the fuck are they, where did they go? I'm working on mapping where this guy is now. It might take a minute since it's dark if he knows what he is doing, but seeing how we didn't know he was here until just now, I'd say he does. We may want to head over to them now."
I'm already in the elevator as he says it, about to land on the bottom floor. "Already on it. I'll send you the club's name. I'll meet you there." I text him the name of the club Marina said they would be going to. What Lies Below
Jumping in my car as I race downtown. It's not every day someone like Enzo makes it into our city without our knowledge, but then again this man is known for getting away with shit.
My hands tighten on the wheel, turning white under the strain. Wishing it was his neck instead of my steering wheel, as I'd love nothing more than to wrap my hand around it and watch his pathetic life slip away. I should have fucking killed him when he first put his hands on her. My regret is like a bitter poison running through my veins, making my blood boil under my skin.
With one hand on the wheel, I grab my phone dialing Gianna in hopes she picks up. The ring is piercing in the otherwise still and quiet car. Each unanswered ring grows quieter and quieter in my ears until it becomes a muffled background noise compared to the sound of my blood pumping through my veins. When it finally hits her voicemail. I jam the disconnect button on the screen, clenching it tightly in my hand to avoid throwing it across the car.
Images of Enzo with his hands over Gianna flash through my head. If he so much as touches her, I will run him through with a knife. I will make it painful and slow, I still have that ring he gave her. Maybe I'll use it like I had planned. I roll my shoulders trying to ease the tension building as I press my foot down further on the gas.
22
GIANNA
Wobbling back down the stairway, I become aware of how much I've had to drink. My foot slips on one of the steps and I throw my hand out gripping the rail. Despite my slow reflexes I manage to catch myself, laughter bubbling up at my clumsiness.
"You couldn't have made this easier for me, Gianna. Way to take away all the fun." A cold unsettling voice echoes up the stairway, freezing me in my place. My eyes frantically dart around searching for the source of needles pricking my skin. They land on a figure leaning against the wall at the bottom. I blink, disbelieving, while instinctively taking a step back onto the step behind me. Seeing Enzo is like a cold bucket of water being dumped over my head. I feel myself sober up slightly, trying to focus.
He doesn't move from his relaxed position on the wall as he watches me. "I thought I was going to have to search that damn club for hours trying to find you. You made it easy, too easy for my taste. I was looking forward to the chase, but you had to go and ruin all my fun." He has a cruel edge to his voice. "I wonder though. Are you going to try to run? Maybe my night isn't ruined after all." He pushes up from the wall sounding hopeful.
"What are you doing here, Enzo?" I ask, finally finding my voice.
"I came to take back what is mine." His eyes narrow on me. "So the question is, are you going to just stand there and allow me to take what I came for?" He tilts his head, a manic grin twists his lips up. "Or are you gonna run?" His voice drops low as he takes a step forward. My eyes glance up to the doorway a few steps above me before darting back down to him. He smiles wider. "Good choice."
He leaps forward grabbing the railing as he propels himself up towards me. Whipping around I throw myself forward, flying up the few steps before slamming my body into the door. I ignore the aching pain in my shoulder as it bursts open into the dark alley. Not looking back, I run down the alleyway heading to the main street. If I can just make it out of the alley someone will see me. Pushing forward I hear Enzo’s feet slapping down against the pavement. My heart beats erratically at the sound of his steps behind me.
Flying out of the alley I make a sharp turn down the sidewalk. A man is walking up ahead on his phone. "Help!" I call out trying to gain his attention. He turns in my direction lowering his phone from his ear. Looking behind me he sees Enzo trailing me. When I get a little closer, he reaches out, grabbing my hand as he jerks me behind him. Taking a protective stance in front of me he blocks me from Enzo.
"Get the fuck out of the way." Enzo sneers at him.
"Sorry man, looks an awful lot like she's trying to get away from you for some reason, so I'm not gonna be moving."
"She belongs to me, so hand her over."
He shakes his head in front of me. "You'll have to go through me to get to her." I watch as Enzo's body relaxes, getting eerily calm. He shrugs moving his hand behind him.
"If you insist." Thrusting his hand forward he aims as a gunshot thunders down the street. The man stumbles back a couple of steps bumping into me as he holds his stomach. I reach out trying to steady him in front of me before Enzo draws his gun up once again, shooting him once more. The man's weight slumps back into me, knocking me off balance as we fall to the ground, his body over top of mine. Panic rises like bile in my throat as I push and claw my way out from under him. Enzo reaches down twisting my hair into his fist as he jerks me up to my feet. I clamp my mouth shut, unwilling to let him hear me cry out. Placing his hand over my mouth he stops me from calling out for help once more as he drags me down the next alley. He slams me back against the brick wall, and pain rushes through my head as my vision dances.
Through my daze, self preservation kicks in as I thrash around. Kicking his legs and pushing at him. "Get your hands off me!" I instantly hate the cracking in my voice as my anxiety rises. Reaching out he clasps my throat pushing me back and up into the wall. His grip is hard enough to pinch my airways making me struggle to br
eathe. He takes a moment to gaze down at me, unconcerned as my hands try clawing desperately at his to release my neck.
He releases me and my feet plant themselves back on the ground. My hand instinctively reaches to my neck as I gasp for air. “You know, I’m going to love stealing back what was taken from me. What was mine to take from the beginning.”
My lips pull up into something of a smug grin as I right myself, looking back at him. "Even if I was still yours, you couldn't take it. I had given it to another well before our engagement was broken. I never belonged to you." I spit out at him. His eyes narrow as he studies me, unsure if I'm bluffing. A moment later his eyes turn hard and cold. Taking on an evil quality that causes me to shiver under his scrutiny.
"You little whore." He seethes out. His hand is quick as he reaches back. Only a moment later my face is thrown to the side at the force of his palm against my cheek. "You deserve everything you get and when I'm done, I'll kill you because that is what I would have done once I found out about your disobedience." He doesn't shout but instead speaks in a low even tone.
My panic freezes me, and I can't remember any form of self-defense Daveon had taught me. The only thing my mind grasps is Daveon teaching me how to throw a punch. Throwing my body into the movement I feel as my fist connects with his face before he stumbles back. Taking the opportunity to get away from him, I dart back towards the sidewalk. I don’t make it but a few feet when I'm sent flying forward towards the ground as Enzo tackles me in my escape. I hiss as my knees and hands catch my fall. The instant burn of the exposed raw flesh makes my eyes water.
Forcing me over, he straddles my hips, pinning me to the ground under his weight as he forces my hands up over my head. The loose debris of the asphalt digging into my exposed skin beneath me. My hips buck wildly in a feeble attempt to catch him off balance. "The more you struggle the hotter this is for me." He breathes out as he leans down brushing his lips against my neck. My skin crawls under his touch as he sloppily moves his mouth around. Leaving behind a wet trail, he licks the perspiration from my skin.
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