King of Diamonds

by Renee Rose

  I stand still in the bathroom, the phone pressed too hard against my ear. “Okay. Thanks.”

  “You okay?”

  “No. But I will be.” I hang up and take a long shower. It’s time to come back to the world of the living.

  I have some decisions to make.

  Chapter 15

  Nico

  My private investigator found a plane ticket in Sondra’s name to Michigan on the night of the wedding. I rent a car in Detroit and drive an hour and a half to Marshall. I’m wearing a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved button down. It’s my attempt at removing the mafia from my appearance. Figuring out how to at least get through Sondra’s parents’ front door.

  I’ve been shot at. Had the crap beat out of me. Made million dollar deals. Nothing’s made me sweat like this.

  I figure I have only one shot at this, and I don’t know if I can pull it off. When I get to Marshall, I stop to buy flowers, but then I decide they’re too cliché. Sondra doesn’t need flowers or money from me. She needs… I don’t know what she needs, but I suspect it’s somehow baring my soul.

  Which I’m willing to do.

  I show up at her parents’ house and ring the bell. A pretty woman in her mid-fifties answers the door. She wears an expectant smile, which fades as she takes in my face. “You must be Nico,” she says. There’s disappointment and judgment in her voice. I definitely have my work cut out for me.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  A man who must be Sondra’s father appears behind her.

  Well, it’s time to eat humble pie. “I know I hurt your daughter, but I’m here to make it right. I’d just like a chance to talk to her.”

  “She’s not here,” her mother says.

  My chest tightens. Am I going to call bullshit? I know she came to Marshall. “Where—”

  “She went on a walk.” Her mother lifts her chin toward the sidewalk behind me.

  “Oh.” Relief pours through me. Every cell in my body wants to bolt out to that sidewalk and follow it all over town until I find her. But I haven’t even won the battle with her parents yet.

  “May I come in?”

  Apparently they’re too much the nice Midwesterners to refuse me entry. Her mother opens the screen and both of them back away from the door. I step into their sweet, middle-class home and have a seat when her father waves me to the sofa. He clears his throat and offers me something to drink, which I refuse.

  “I want you both to know I’m serious about your daughter. Of course, I’ll honor her decision, but I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Have a family, even.” My voice chokes a little and I clear it. “I’ll take good care of her. And I’ll support her career one hundred percent. She’s a smart, talented woman and I know she’ll succeed at anything she tries.”

  The tension has gone out of her parents. I don’t know if I’ve won them over, but I’ve at least softened them. It’s a start.

  “Well, I don’t really know what happened between you two, but Sondra’s been heartbrok—”

  “Mom.”

  I surge to my feet at the sound of Sondra’s voice. She’s standing outside the screen door. I forget to wait for an invite as I stalk around to the front door and throw it open. “Sondra.”

  She’s pale. Dark circles under her eyes mar her beautiful face. “What’s going on?” she demands. She gives me an up and down sweep of her eyes. “And what are you wearing?”

  “I’m trying to fit in,” I murmur and step out of the house. “May I walk with you? Or would you like to take a drive?” My brain revs up, trying to come up with something more appealing to offer, but she says, “Yeah, okay.”

  Relief nearly drops me to my knees. “Walk or drive?”

  She looks at the rental car—the Ford Explorer was the best I could get—and raises her eyebrows. “Let’s walk.”

  “Okay.” I take her hand, not sure if she’s going to shake me off, but she lets me. Hers is clammy and cold. “Sondra, I never fucked around on you or any other woman. You need to know that.”

  “I know.”

  My step falters. She sounds so quiet, so certain. “You do?”

  “Yeah. Corey talked to Tony and Sal and Leo. They all said the same thing you did.”

  “I should’ve told you about the problem. To be honest, I spent my whole life keeping it under the rug where I didn’t have to think about it. A dilemma for tomorrow—know what I mean?”

  She looks up at me and I swear I see sympathy in the softness of her eyes. I draw a breath and barrel forward. “Jenna Pachino came to Vegas because her father sent her to force my hand, but she wants no part of this arranged marriage. We agreed she should run away for a while until I get things resolved. I gave her money to disappear. That’s all that’s between us, I swear to La Madonna. That’s the most we’ve ever talked. The only time we’ve been alone in a room together. Before that, we avoided each other like the plague.”

  “I don’t want to talk about her anymore, Nico.”

  My heart stops. Restarts unevenly. I halt and turn her to face me, hold her other hand like we’re a bride and groom at the altar. “Do you want to talk about us?”

  She nods. “I heard what you told my parents.” Her voice is choked.

  My throat closes. “I want to marry you, amore. I want to figure out how to make this work. And it’s fucking complicated. Would you—” I draw a breath. “Would you want me if I had nothing? No casino, no family?”

  Surprise flares in her eyes. She licks her lips. “You could create it all again. You could create anything.”

  Now I’m surprised. I expected resistance, major convincing. She’s going easy on me.

  “Does that mean—are you considering? Are you willing?”

  Sondra

  I didn’t know how badly I’d want Nico to hold me. To promise the moon and the sun or maybe just to take charge and carry me off. Tell me I’m his and he’s tying me to the bed until I swear it.

  But I have to be strong right now. I have to be a big girl and choose for me.

  “I don’t know,” I whisper.

  Nico drops to his knees, right there on the sidewalk. Tears blur my vision. “I need you, Sondra. I didn’t have a purpose to living before I met you. You brought light where there was only darkness. You give to me—receive me with no walls up. I don’t know how you do it, but I can’t live without you.”

  “Get up, Nico,” I mumble between trembling lips. I try to tug him back to his feet. Tears track down my cheeks.

  “I don’t even know what I can offer you, but I promise it will be everything I have. Everything.”

  “Yes. Yes. Nico, I want you.”

  He falls back and drags me down to his lap. People driving by are looking at us like we’re lunatics and I totally don’t give a crap. “You want me?” His voice is torn, broken.

  I hold his face between my hands. “Yes. I do.”

  The hardness returns to his face, but it’s not frightening, it’s thrilling. Because it’s steely determination and force. The same force that makes me quiver every time he sets his sights on me.

  “Marry me?”

  “Yes.”

  He gathers me and pulls us both up to our feet. “Good.” He holds my hand and starts pulling me toward my house. His shoulders are squared, his walk brisk, like he’s heading to battle. “There’s just one major wrinkle to iron out. After that, I’m sure we’ll figure out the rest together. Okay, baby?”

  “Yes. Okay.”

  We arrive in front of my house and he goes straight for the car. “I have a bag of your things already—from the casino. Go say goodbye to your parents. Tell them we’re going to buy a ring and we’ll be in touch with a wedding date.”

  He winks at me and leans against the vehicle.

  I don’t mind seeing him restored to his cocky, bossy self. In fact, I rather love it, as much as I treasure knowing he humbled himself before me.

  Nico Tacone, the powerful man who needs me.

  Son
dra

  Nico’s quiet on the drive and he won’t say where we’re going. At first I think we’re driving to Chicago, until we eventually pull up at a Federal Correctional Institute in Pekin, Illinois, and I realize we’re visiting his dear old dad.

  Nico turns to face me in the vehicle after we park. “I swear to Cristo, I will never ask this of you again. But I want him to meet you. I’m gonna try to get his blessing for our union.”

  Nerves flutter in my belly, but I nod.

  He nods back and we get out. “I’m on the approved visitor list. I have a contact who should be greased enough to let us both through.” We walk up to the check-in area and I watch Nico make eye contact with a guy who comes hustling forward. There’s a brief interchange, and suddenly we’re at the front of the line, being searched for weapons and escorted into the visiting area.

  Don Santo Tacone comes in wearing his orange prison uniform. He’s an older version of Nico, but without any of the life in his eyes. They are cold, flinty orbs and when they flick over me, the cold shiver of death runs down my spine.

  Nico produces a couple of paperback books—already checked by the guards—and pushes them under the glass divider.

  His father doesn’t even look at them. Instead he stares at me. Hard. “Who’s she?”

  “My fiancée.”

  His brows flick. “The hell she is.”

  “I’m not asking.”

  My stomach twists in a knot. I’m sweaty and cold, scared for Nico. Scared for us.

  His father’s eyes narrow and he shifts his focus to Nico. “You would choose her over family?”

  Nico blinks rapidly, then nods.

  Don Santo directs his attention to me, looking me up and down again critically. “Why?”

  Nico swallows. “She’s...the missing piece to me. I need her.”

  “You don’t make decisions that affect this whole family. Only I make those. You are nothing without us,” he spits.

  Nico’s never looked more sober. “Perhaps not. But I’d still have her.”

  His father gets up and walks out.

  I want to puke. I don’t know what Nico expected from this meeting, but I somehow don’t think it went according to plan.

  We get up and leave. Nico doesn’t speak until we’re in the vehicle.

  “So, now what?” I ask, my voice shaky.

  Nico doesn’t look at me. His face is a hard mask as he starts the car, staring straight ahead. “So now either everything’s fine or there will be trouble.”

  I choke on my own spit. “What kind of trouble?”

  He reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Nothing will happen to you. This is just between family.”

  “Nico. H-how long until things are settled?”

  “Oh, very soon. I’d give it no more than forty-eight hours.” He takes the exit toward Chicago. “So we’ll let things cook. The resolution will come out soon. In the meantime, I’m going to buy you the biggest fucking diamond in the Windy City.”

  “I don’t need a diamond,” I murmur, fear squeezing my heart.

  I’m not sorry I chose Nico. Not after what I just saw. He’s willing to alienate himself from his entire family for me. But I’m definitely scared. Totally out of my element.

  “You’re getting a diamond.” Nico’s mood seems to lighten. “You’re going to let me spoil you this time.”

  His love seems to wrap around me and squeeze. “Okay,” I murmur. Whatever makes him happy.

  We end up finding a pear-shaped diamond at Tiffany’s. When we get back to the Explorer, three guys are leaning up against it, arms folded in full tough guy stances. Nico goes rigid, but his step only falters for a second.

  “Give me the keys,” one of them orders. He resembles Nico, but older.

  Nico tosses him the keys.

  His brother—I’m assuming it’s his brother—hits the fob to unlock the doors and the two other guys throw open the doors. “Get in.”

  Nico helps me in the backseat and slides in beside me.

  “Put her on your lap,” one of the guys growls as they sandwich us in the backseat. One of them has a gun pointed at us.

  His brother searches the glove box and under the seat. “You didn’t bring a piece?” There’s a mocking tone to his voice, like Nico got caught with his pants down.

  “I didn’t,” Nico confirms.

  His brother looks in the rearview mirror. “What the fuck are you wearing?”

  Nico doesn’t respond. His brother drives the car and when we head out of the city, one of the guys produces two blindfolds, which he ties around our heads. I was moderately freaked out before. Now I’m ready to piss myself.

  The Explorer slows down and pulls off on what must be a dirt road. I hear another vehicle following behind us. Nico’s arms band tightly around my waist, as if by holding onto me, he’ll be able to protect me from whatever’s about to happen.

  We stop. The car behind us pulls in, too. My blindfold gets pulled off, but Nico’s doesn’t.

  A fourth guy comes out from behind the wheel of a black Range Rover. The doors fly open and they drag us out. His brother restrains me. One of the other guys produces rope and ties Nico’s wrists behind his back, then they force him to his knees.

  And then they take turns punching him in the face.

  “Nico!” I scream, struggling against his brother’s hold.

  Nico attempts to lunge to his feet. “Junior, you touch one hair on her head—”

  “I’m not hurting her.” Junior almost sounds amused. “I’m just restraining her.”

  It’s true. His hands are huge, like Nico’s, but he hasn’t grabbed with bruising force. He wrapped my arms around my waist to restrain me, holding me with little effort.

  Nico calms slightly.

  “This is the girl you’re willing to give up everything for?” his brother asks. One of the thugs punches Nico in the face again and drops of blood fly from his mouth.

  I scream.

  “Yeah.”

  “Everything? You think she’ll still want you when you’re poor?”

  “I want him, just let him go—” I thrash my legs around, trying to pull free.

  “You can’t have her if you’re dead.” All amusement leaves his voice—the cold threat hangs menacingly still in the air.

  “No,” I scream. “Don’t kill him. I’ll leave him alone. I’ll go away. Please…I’m sorry. Let him go. I won’t interfere.”

  Nico doesn’t move. He stands on his knees, head held high, unmoving, even when the thugs punch him in the ribs.

  “Hmm? You’d rather be dead than live without her?”

  Nico spits blood from his lips. The lower one is split. He nods. “Yeah.”

  “Noooo,” I scream. It echoes through the trees. My throat rasps.

  This is all my fault. He did this for me. I had no idea what it would cost him. What he’d be risking.

  Junior cocks his gun and holds it to my head. “What if I kill her, too?”

  Nico’s face contorts beneath the blindfold, rage twisting his features. I’ve never seen him look so horrifying. He attempts to lunge to his feet. The two soldiers grab his shoulders and push him back down, laying punches into his unprotected gut.

  “I will fucking destroy everything you’ve ever loved,” Nico snarls.

  Junior gives a mirthless chuckle. “That would be hard to do from the grave.”

  “Believe it,” Nico spits.

  Junior releases his hold on me. “I believe it.” He lifts his chin at the goons, who abruptly step back from Nico. Junior walks forward and pulls a knife from his belt.

  “No, please!” I rush forward and lunge for Junior’s arm, but one of the soldiers catches me around the waist first.

  “Easy with her,” Junior warns.

  Easy with me? My brain scrambles to understand why, but then Junior reaches past Nico and uses the blade to cut the rope tying his hands.

  “Where’s Jenna Pachino?” Junior asks.

  “I gav
e her money to disappear for a while. Tony’s gonna let her know when things are settled.”

  “They’re settled. I talked to Old Man Pachino. We have a new alliance. You’re off the fucking hook.”

  Junior grasps Nico’s face with both hands, and lifts him to his feet. He yanks off the blindfold and kisses his brother on each cheek. Then he turns and stalks back toward their Range Rover. I think I hear him mutter, “Welcome to the family,” as I run past him to Nico.

  Nico spreads his arms and catches me in them.

  I weep, squeezing him for all I’m worth.

  “Easy, baby. Not so tight.”

  Oh Christ. I yank away. He probably has cracked ribs. Bruised, for sure.

  The car doors shut—all four men have climbed inside the Range Rover, leaving us alone.

  “It’s all right, come here.” He pulls me against him, kissing the top of my head. “Are you hurt?”

  “Me?” I squeak.

  “Are you?” His voice sharpens, like there will be hell to pay if I am.

  “No, not at all.” I draw a shuddering breath against him, my tears moistening his blood splattered shirt.

  His large body relaxes. He rubs my back and strokes my hair. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

  “It is? What’s happening?”

  “It was a test. Or maybe a reckoning. A little of both, I guess.”

  I tip my head up, blinking my wet lashes to see his bruised face. “A test? Did you know that?”

  He shrugs. “I was about sixty percent sure.”

  Sixty percent sure he wouldn’t die for me.

  My knees wobble and I lean into him. “So you passed?”

  Nico laughs through bloody lips. “Yeah, baby. Everything’s fine. We’re going to get married. You’re going to redecorate the Bellissimo. My little brother Stefano’s gonna help me run the casino and I’m gonna focus my hours on making you happy.”

  I nuzzle my face into his chest. “I already am happy,” I murmur.