by L A Cotton
Dominic Cabrioles was nowhere to be seen.
I cast Nicco a sideways glance, but he didn’t take his eyes off Lombardi.
“Now,” Massimo said. “Let’s discuss business.”
“That’s not how this works,” Nicco said. “You came into my territory and kidnapped my cousin, and you want to talk business? You have some big balls, my friend.”
Lombardi chuckled, darkly. “Excuse my brashness. Your cousin was but an incentive.”
“That’s my sister you’re talking about,” I growled.
“Matt,” Nicco warned. “I’m sure Mr. Lombardi realizes what a mistake he made by dragging an innocent into this. I’m sure he wouldn’t want to find the full wrath of the Family at his doorstep all because he didn’t do the right thing when he had the chance.”
Nicco was like another person, sitting there, issuing veiled threats to Lombardi. This wasn’t my best friend, my cousin, the guy I’d grown up with. This was Niccolò Marchetti, the boss of the Marchetti crime family.
The Boss of Dominion.
Lombardi regarded him, narrowing his eyes slightly, no doubt trying to assess the young man seated before him.
“I’m sure you can understand, I didn’t expect to get your attention without making a grand gesture as it were.”
Grand gesture?
The guy was fucking delusional.
“Drago,” he snapped his fingers. “Release the girl.”
He dragged Bella up by her arm, and I was up and out of my seat, running to catch my sister as she stumbled forward. “Shh, Bella. Shh.” I hugged her tightly, my eyes finding Caitlin over her shoulder.
Her gaze was full of apologies, regrets, and explanations. None of which I had time for right now, given the terrified girl clutching my sweater.
“I have someone waiting outside to return Arabella to our family,” Nicco said.
“Fine, bring them in.”
Nicco sent the text and seconds later, Jay appeared. Gently, I pulled the duct tape off Bella’s mouth and cupped her face. “I need you to go with Jay, okay?”
“N-no, Matt, I want to stay with you. I want—”
“Shh, Bella. I need you to listen to me. Go with Jay and do whatever he says. I’ll be right behind you, I promise.”
I hated myself at that moment, but she needed to hear the words and I needed to say them, even if it was a promise I wasn’t sure I could keep.
“I don’t understand,” she cried. “What about Caitlin? We need to—”
“Go,” I nudged her into Jay’s waiting arms. “I’ll see you soon.”
I dipped my head, silently indicating for him to take her. Her shrieks pierced the air but slowly tapered out as they moved further out of the room.
Seconds ticked by, each longer than the last. Until Nicco’s cell phone eventually pinged, and he let out a long breath. “They’re safe.”
“Despite what you might think, Mr. Marchetti. I am no monster.”
My eyes involuntarily flicked to Caitlin. I was sure she would have something to say about that, but I managed to swallow the words.
Bella was safe. Jay would be taking her far away from here and Lombardi’s grip.
I could finally breathe a little easier.
Nicco wasted no time getting down to business. “You had your men approach Zander DiMarco, but I can’t work out your true motivation. Was it only to get to Erin, or was it to make inroads into our territory?”
All while he spoke, I watched Caitlin, gauging her reaction. But she gave nothing away, her green eyes devoid of emotion.
Fuck, Tink, what did he do to you?
“I’ll admit, I have searched a long time for Erin. It wasn’t until a few months ago her mother finally confessed that she had the means to contact her.” Lombardi sat back in his chair, crossing one ankle over his knee. “Of course, I didn’t expect to find her under the protection of someone like DiMarco. But I quickly realized that I could use that to my advantage. For weeks, I watched that spineless creature obsess over her. It was pathetic really. But love is a man’s only weakness, and I knew that in his own way, DiMarco loved my firefly.”
My firefly.
He had a pet name for her.
I was going to puke.
Staring straight ahead, I tried to rein in the storm of emotions battering my insides.
“My plan was to use his feelings for Erin to leverage my organization’s foothold in Providence. But then he almost killed her.”
Lombardi’s whole demeanor shifted. Gone was the amiable businessman, replaced with a deadly monster. His hand curved around the arm of the chair, gripping it so tightly the blood drained from his knuckles.
“I couldn’t believe it when we lost her again. Gone, from right under our noses. Until we picked up security footage of you.” He pinned me with a hard look. “Leaving the hospital with her.”
Fuck.
All this time we were worried that Zander would discover the truth, but we had been worrying about the wrong person.
“You’re not an easy bunch to track down,” Lombardi shifted on his chair. “But nothing is impossible to find, you just have to know where to look. And I have always been intrigued by the Marchetti and their stronghold in Verona County.”
“And here we are,” Nicco said.
“Here we are indeed.”
“What do you want, Lombardi?”
“I want what you have, Niccolò. Power. Legitimate business revenue. We both know you’re going to put a bullet between DiMarco’s eyes for trying to cross you.” His eyes locked on mine again. “And for… hurting her. The way I see it, you’ll need a new partner to run things in Providence and I want to be considered for the job.”
“And what makes you think I would ever consider doing business with the man who kidnapped my cousin?”
“You’re a reasonable man, Niccolò. I took a risk with Arabella, yes. But I needed to get your attention. Would you have considered sitting down with me otherwise?”
No, he wouldn’t.
Because Massimo Lombardi was scum. His lack of morals and values made him a dangerous man to work with. And he knew it.
The faint smile touching his mouth told us as much.
“My reputation leaves little to be desired.” I snorted at that, and he added, “Okay, very little to be desired, which is why I’m looking to clean things up. Times are changing and we have to change with them.”
“What’s in it for us?” Nicco asked.
I shot forward in my chair. “You cannot be serious,” I shrieked. “He’s a sleazeball. You can’t trust him as far—”
“Matt.” Nicco glared at me. “If you can’t keep your opinion to yourself, you’ll have to leave.”
I slumped down with defeat, flicking my eyes to Caitlin again.
Erin. Her name is Erin.
She stared at me, but I didn’t attempt to decipher any of what I saw there, dropping my gaze instead.
“One of my top guys, Dominic Cabrioles, knows a thing or two about business, especially running a successful string of clubs. We can provide security, a high caliber of girls, and investment. You help me clean up my reputation, and he’ll make your family a lot of money. I can also take care of DiMarco.”
“He’s mine,” I snarled.
“Easy there, Bellatoni. That kind of rage isn’t healthy for a guy like you. But I can’t blame you for wanting to defend Erin’s honor.” He glanced over at her. “She really is something special.”
This asshole made my skin crawl and I wanted nothing more than to lunge for him and wipe that smirk off his face.
“It would seem we have much to discuss,” Nicco said.
“I’m glad you think so.” Lombardi exhaled a steady breath, his eyes flicking to the door. “Once Dominic arrives, we can iron out the details.”
“And what of… Erin?” Nicco asked.
“She’ll remain under my protection, of course. I’m sure since discovering her true identity, you don’t want her to remain with you
?”
Me.
He was asking me that question.
“I…” Nicco shot me a hard look, and I choked out, “you’re welcome to her. Whatever I thought we had, it’s over.”
“Excellent.” Lombardi clapped his hands on his knees. “I think this relationship could be very lucrative for both of us.”
“Indeed.” Nicco nodded, while I sat there, numb.
Chapter 29
Caitlin
It’s over.
The words echoed through my skull, over and over.
Matteo couldn’t even look at me. And I didn’t blame him. Everything he thought he knew about me was a lie. I’d lied. I’d led him down a path that didn’t exist, because the woman he fell for, the woman he met all those months ago, she didn’t exist.
I was Erin Walsh. Daughter of an abusive drug addict and pawn in her boyfriend’s sick games.
I’d spent most of high school doing Massimo’s bidding, entertaining his friends. He’d drag me around New Haven, to bars and clubs and seedy back rooms, and have me perform. My life wasn’t my own, my body wasn’t my own.
One night, things had gotten out of control. One of his associates had tried to touch me. I’d managed to fight him off, but he’d roughed me up pretty bad.
I was sixteen. Ostracized by my classmates at school for being Liv Walsh’s daughter and Massimo Lombardi’s pet. That’s what they’d called me. His pet. Teachers were too scared to report it to child protective services, and no one cared enough to ask me if I was okay.
I was all alone.
So I ran.
I had a small amount of cash saved up, so I used it to buy a bus ticket out of New Haven. I had nothing but the clothes on my back, some extra supplies crammed into a rucksack, and the instinct to survive.
For the first year, I’d moved from town to town, never staying in one place too long. I slept in store doorways, on park benches, and in shelters. Once I knew Lombardi’s men weren’t following me, I started staying put for longer. I’d bus tables, collect empties; anything to make a few bucks. It’s surprising how little you can live off when you have to.
Then one day, right before my eighteenth birthday, Zander found me.
I knew his offer was probably too good to be true, but the sad fact was, I needed a steady job if I was ever going to get an apartment. And he wasn’t concerned about my lack of social security number or ID.
The door opened, pulling me back to the present, and Dominic Cabrioles stepped inside. He smoothed his suit jacket and dipped his head. “My apologies,” he said. “I was taking care of some things.”
“Dom, join us,” Massimo had someone bring in another chair. “We have much to discuss.”
I risked glancing over at Matteo again. He seemed agitated, unlike Nicco, who was a picture of calm.
“The girl?” Dominic asked, sitting.
“Has been safely returned to them.”
He gave Nicco a small nod, running a hand over his head.
He was new. Or at least, he hadn’t been with Massimo when I’d known him. I’d never laid eyes on Dominic before that night at DiMarco’s. Part of me wondered if Massimo knew how he’d acted that night or if it was all part of his ruse to test Zander. Either way, being in the same room as him again made my skin crawl.
“Do they understand why we had to take the girl as well?” he asked Massimo.
“Sì, they do. And hopefully we can all move forward and discuss business.”
“I’ll need to discuss this with my uncles,” Nicco said. “I’m sure you can understand they will have concerns about aligning ourselves with the Lombardi, especially after you took Arabella.”
“Of course, of course. We should sit down in a week, when tempers have cooled. Dominic, take Erin straight back to New Haven. I’m sure she’s eager to be reacquainted with her momma. Take Carrick and Thiago with you.I’ll follow with Drago, Grayson, and Miller.”
“Very well. Gentleman.” He addressed Nicco and Matteo. “We shall talk soon.”
Nicco stood, clasping Dominic’s hand. “To new allies.”
My heart withered in my chest. They were going to let them take me. Just like that.
Deep down I’d known it would happen, but part of me clung to the hope that Matteo would fight for me.
You lied to him. What did you expect?
I stared at him, pleading with him to look at me. If this was the last time I ever saw him, I at least wanted to try to tell him everything I was feeling.
But he didn’t glance my way. In fact, he very obviously, very purposefully avoided looking anywhere near my direction.
Defeat slammed into me, making me choke on a whimper. Luckily, it couldn’t escape my duct taped lips. Neither could the yelp of pain as Dominic grabbed my arm and wrenched me to my feet.
“We meet again, Red.” He smirked, and bile washed in my stomach.
I didn’t take my eyes off Matteo, desperately hoping to get one final look at him.
Look at me. Please just look at me.
We finally reached the door and Matteo looked over, our eyes connecting for the briefest moment.
Then he was gone, and I was being led out of the building toward a black SUV with my heart in tatters and my pride in disarray.
“Mr. Cabrioles,” one of the guards said.
“Get her in the trunk.”
Trunk?
“Are you sure that’s—”
“Do you have a problem following orders?” he growled.
“N-no, sir. We shall secure her immediately.”
“See to it that you do.”
Without a second glance at me, Dominic climbed in the SUV.
“Let’s go, sweetheart.” The guy snorted. “Guess you’ve got a long way to go to get back into the boss's good graces.”
Another guy popped the trunk and I stared at the dark, small space before glancing back at the building.
“No one’s coming to help you,” the guy barked. “In you go.”
Oh God.
He was right.
No one was coming to save me.
Least of all Matteo.
Curled up on my side, I focused on the purr of the engine instead of the erratic beat of my heart. We’d been travelling for what felt like forever, but realistically, it couldn’t have been more than thirty minutes. Every minute slower and more drawn out than the last.
My heart was broken. Shattered by the only guy who had the power to mend it.
But I’d expected nothing less. The Marchetti were criminals, yes. But they had a code. They had principles. Family was everything to them.
Once Matteo found out the truth about me, I’d known everything would change.
The things I’d done—the things I’d been forced to do at the hands of the man who had raised me for all those years. Like it or not, I was tainted. First by Massimo, and then by Zander.
Matteo needed a woman by his side who was strong, not one who had enough emotional baggage to fill a plane.
It didn’t matter now; he’d let me go. He and Nicco weren’t prepared to go to war for me, and I couldn’t blame them.
I wasn’t worth it, I knew that.
But I wasn’t sure I could go back to this life, not after all I’d done to leave it behind. Once I’d seen my mom one last time, I would find a way to end it. Maybe I should have done that in the beginning. But I was young and naïve back then. I thought that maybe, just maybe, the universe had other plans for me.
I was all out of hope now.
Matteo had given me a glimpse of how good things could be. He’d shown me what it could feel like to be loved and adored and treated with respect. And it was everything.
But it wasn’t my story.
Tears pricked the corners of my eyes, emotion balled in my throat. But I would not cry.
The SUV slowed to a stop, and I strained to listen. We couldn’t already be back in New Haven, could we?
Fear snaked through me. Had I missed something? Had Massimo been lyi
ng when he ordered Dominic to bring me back to New Haven? Was that code for get rid of her?
Oh God. Was Dominic going to kill me?
I swallowed down the rush of bile up my throat. Doors opened and slammed shut, heavy footsteps hitting the asphalt. I could just make out the rumble of voices, but they were too far away to decipher the conversation.
A heavy thud rocked the SUV and I screamed; the sound trapped behind my sealed lips. There was another thud and then eerie silence.
What the hell was going on?
The trunk popped open, light spilling inside. Dominic’s face came into view, and he said, “Come on, we need to move if we’re going to make the drop.”
Drop?
He helped me out of the trunk, and I scanned our surroundings, my eyes almost bugging out of my head at the two dead bodies.
I stared up at his, my eyes wide with fear.
“I’m going to remove the tape. But you have to promise not to scream, okay?”
I nodded slowly, confusion saturating every cell in my body.
He tried to be gentle, but my lips smarted against the strong adhesive.
“W-what is—”
“Shh. I need you to be quiet, okay? We don’t have long, and I need to deal with this… mess.” He gently took my arm and led me around to the front passenger door. “Get in and wait for me.”
Dominic opened the door and helped me inside, not offering to cut the restraints binding my wrists and ankles. Did he think I was a flight risk, or was I still a prisoner?
My head was spinning as I slumped against the cool leather seats.
“I’ll be right back.”
“W-wait,” I said as he went to shut the door. “Why are you doing this?”
His eyes narrowed. “I’ll explain everything soon.”
I nodded, watching through the rearview as he rounded up the dead bodies of his men, and loaded them into the trunk.
When he came around to the driver’s door, I caught the glint of his pistol as he climbed inside. “Who are you?” I breathed, my body trembling.
Dominic looked at me and gave me a strained smile. “A friend.”