CLASS ACT (A BRITISH ROCKSTAR BAD BOY ROMANCE)

by Julia Gardener

  Her eyes were almost as weary as mine. She must have barely slept for however long I was unconscious. “Kelly… how long was I out?”

  “A week and a half,” she said sighing in relief. “After the battle, we needed to get you help. The hospital was too far away. So we took you and the other wounded men to a nearby veterinarian who lived near the docks.”

  I would’ve laughed but the pain in my chest didn’t agree with me. I caught a reflection of myself in the metallic casing of the medical equipment. I looked like a mummy. “That’s the downside of having a fight in the middle of nowhere.”

  “What were you thinking?” Kelly said, her look of relief turning into a glare. “Fighting Petrov when you had him cornered…”

  “That’s why I have you, Kelly,” I said with a smile. “You do the thinking for me so I don’t end up doing something stupid.”

  She didn’t return my smile. “You actually died for a moment. We thought you gone. I thought I lost you after all we’ve been through.”

  Even raising an eyebrow hurt. “Died?”

  “Your heart gave out when we took you to the veterinarian,” she answered, holding back tears. “We gave the man some hush money so he’d operate on human and keep it a secret. When he first saw you, he was ready to declare you dead, Jackie. I took some chest paddles from nearby and tried to resuscitate you. After five minutes, I managed to revive you. Don’t ever do that to me again!”

  “I’m sorry for putting you through that, Kelly,” I said. Tilting my head, I saw an elderly Asian man in the room with us. He wore a look so unassuming I would’ve ignored him if it wasn’t for the unusual circumstances. “Who is he? And where am I?”

  The strange man smiled. “We’ve been in contact before. However, this is the first time we’ve actually met face to face.”

  “I’ve heard your voice before,” I mused, trying to jog my memory. “Are you one of Mr. Lee’s men? We’ve talked about missions before over the phone.”

  “I am Mr. Lee,” he said to my shock. He didn’t look anything like I expected. Then again, that was a virtue in his line of work. “Not too many people have the pleasure of hearing my voice. You’re one of the few men I can count on to trust. It would be a pity to lose you, especially after ridding me of a man like Seymon Gregori. He was bad for business.”

  “We went to Mr. Lee to get you and the other severely wounded men proper medical attention,” Kelly said. “I thought of the idea once we stabilized you at the veterinarian. Mr. Lee had the resources to nurse you back to health. We couldn’t transport you to a hospital without all of you ending up questioned by the police. Half of you are wanted by the FBI. Besides, we needed a place to hide you. We were afraid any Black Fang survivors would take revenge.”

  “That was smart of you,” I replied, before turning my gaze to Mr. Lee. “A man like you doesn’t give charity. What’s the catch?”

  “It’s free of charge,” he said with a smile that made me feel uncomfortable. “I might need a favor from the new Don of the Pastore family.”

  My heart skipped a beat. “New Don?”

  Kelly looked down at the floor. “Your grandfather didn’t make it. He died trying to protect me. I’m so sorry, Jackie.”

  There was no point in shedding tears. My grandfather was a man living on borrowed time. He died on his own terms. “He always wanted to go out in the blaze of glory…”

  I was now the last of my line.

  “You are now the leader of the most powerful Italian mafia family in this country,” Mr. Lee said. He knew I would make a powerful ally. “Your father’s second in command, Frank Pesci, is holding a regency council until you return to full health. Afterwards, you will take control of the family.”

  It was a lot to process. Frank was a good and honest man as far as underbosses went. He’d make a much better leader than a hitman like me. “What about the Black Fang?”

  “The Black Fang is dead,” Mr. Lee answered. “Both figuratively and quite literally. There were only a handful of straggler from the battle. The rest of the organization is being tracked down.”

  “Most of the underworld thinks that you died in that battle, Jackie,” Kelly elaborated. “Except for Frank, not even the Pastore family knows if you’re alive or not. We had to lie in order to keep you safe from any revenge plots while you recovered.”

  Mr. Lee chimed in. “You were an urban legend before. Now, you’re just the legend who took down the Black Fang.”

  “What about the other Russian gangs?” I asked. “Are they moving into protect what remains of Gregori’s empire? They can be tightknit to a fault.”

  “Quite the opposite,” Mr. Lee said gleefully. “They’re leaking information about the last Black Fang holdouts. It gives the impression the Russians have solitary when they’re quite happy to see that Gregori is gone for good. They’d carve out the man’s empire for themselves if they didn’t have to keep up appearances.”

  I nodded. “I’d imagine the Irish and the Armenians are eating what’s left over. Those two only liked Gregori for his money.”

  Kelly sighed. “So it’s over…”

  I rose up and the bed with what strength I had. “It’s not that simple. Someone will come after us, Kelly.”

  “What do you mean Jackie?” she asked, fear in her eyes. “The Black Fang is dead. Who else could be after us?”

  “It could be some it was a Black Fang survivor from the battle,” I replied. “Maybe it’s someone who worked with Krause. Or maybe it’s the next Gregori. Twenty years ago, he was a small fry who felt slighted by the Sicilian mafia. He’s dead now but it he spent the next two decades of his life hurting as many people as possible. Maybe that survivor will spend the rest of his life trying to make us miserable. Who knows what kind of enemy we’ll face tomorrow.”

  She sighed and rubbed her forehead. “You’re right. I can’t take that risk. I still have family and friends they could go after.”

  “You have to disappear,” I sighed, sinking back into the bed. “A new name and a new identity. It’s the only way you can be safe. Mr. Lee can arrange this.”

  Kelly held back tears. “I know this day would come. Even if we made it against all odds… I’d still have to leave you.”

  “Whoever said anything about leaving?” I said with a smirk. It hurt like hell to smile but she deserved one. “We’ll disappear together.”

  My lover looked stunned. “We?”

  Even Mr. Lee was surprised at that idea as well. “You plan on leaving as well?”

  “I’m coming with you,” I revealed to Kelly’s shock. Soon, it turned into delight as she gave me a gentle hug. “Like you said, most people think I’m dead. I’d prefer that it stayed that way. Let Jackie Baccalieri the hitman die. Maybe a better man will live on in his place.”

  Kelly broke away and asked. “What about your role as the new Don? Who will lead the Pastore family?”

  “What’s good being a Don when it’ll just place you in danger?” I said. Kelly would never be at peace if I took the mantle of Don. My enemies would target her to get to me. No amount of power was worth losing the woman I loved. I turned to Mr. Lee. “Transfer my tab to Frank. He’ll be in charge of the family. The men respect him and he’s always been my grandfather’s right-hand man for decades. Let him run the show from now on. That’s a direct order from me. No, consider it my dying wish.”

  “I could always use a hitman, Jackie,” Mr. Lee offered. “I could arrange another identity for you to use as my personal assassin.”

  I locked eyes with Kelly. She wasn’t up to the idea. That made two of us. “I can’t be a hitman anymore. I’ve lost it.”

  The love of my life stared back at me. “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve lost it,” I repeated. “I’ve lost my killer instinct. I can’t be a killer without it. I don’t want to hurt or kill anymore.”

  Kelly bit on her lower lip. “Did killing Petrov do it?”

  “No, it was protecting you for these past
weeks,” I whispered. “Using my skills for a good cause instead of winning some turf war I didn’t even care about. After avenging my mother and saving you… I just don’t have it in me anymore.”

  Kelly didn’t say anything. Instead, she brought me in for a sensual kiss. My body still hurt my moving so much but I held back my discomfort to kiss her.

  “I’ll handle the details,” Mr. Lee said, carefully digesting the idea. As far as I could tell, he seemed satisfied with my decision. “I shall leave you two alone for the time being. Arrangements will be made for your disappearance. Only Frank will know the truth. When you’re feeling better, I will just need to know where your plan on moving to.”

  “Thank you Mr. Lee,” I said, watching him leave the room. I spoke again when I was sure he was out of earshot. “Not what I imagined a criminal mastermind to look like.”

  “He can be strange at times but he’s been solid for us,” Kelly giggled. “Rest up Jackie. You’ve been through hell.”

  “I certainly look the part,” I joked. “I wouldn’t mind going through hell a few more times as long as you’re with me.”

  She rested her head against my shoulder. “Where will we go now, Jackie?”

  I reached out to grab her hand. “It’s up to you as well, partner.”

  “How about somewhere we don’t have to worry about shootouts?” she joked before turning serious. “I want somewhere we could settle down and… maybe even start a family…”

  The two of us could do with rebuilding the families we had lost. In the military, all I did was destroy and kill. When I got back home, I did the same as a hitman. It was time I started to build something for a change.

  I thought back to my childhood. Those were some of my happiest memories. I recalled living a simple life with my mother. I could build something like that with Kelly’s help.

  I smiled and kissed her. “I can think of a good place.”

  “This will be your room,” the bellhop said, opening the door. We stepped into the spacious hotel room after him. “As you’ve requested, there is a seaside view. It is quite beautiful this time of the year.”

  The beautiful Mediterranean Sea greeted me as I peered across the balcony. I had always thought Jackie’s eyes would look like the sea. I was glad to know that my suspicions were right.

  “Grazie,” I said to the bellhop. I pulled out few Euro bills out of my purse and handed it to him. “For the help you’ve given us.”

  The young man quickly pocketed the money. “Thank you very much, Mr. and Mrs. Connell! Your Italian is very good.”

  I smiled at Jackie as he dropped off our luggage. “My husband taught me well.”

  The bellhop exited through the front door. “We’re at your service if you need anything.”

  My husband rolled his eyes at the bellhop left us alone. “You gave him a month’s salary. Knowing the locals, he’ll probably spend it all the racetracks and a few bottles of Nastro Azzurro.”

  “A day’s work for a day’s pay,” I giggled. “Come on, live a little Mr. Connell. We’re on vacation.”

  “I’m still not used to being Jackie Connell the tourist,” he laughed taking a seat on the bed. “I’ve been Jackie the hitman for years. I guess it’s something I’ll have to learn.”

  “It was my mother’s maiden name,” I mused. It only had been a few months but my old life felt like it was thousand years in the past. “I guess it’ll live on through us. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Jackie stretched. “Fake name or not, you’re my wife. I’d rather receive something from your side of the family than bring over the skeletons from mine. Besides, we’re still Jackie and Kelly. I don’t know if I could live with changing my first name.”

  I massaged his shoulder. “Are you feeling better?”

  “Just the jetlag… err… boat lag,” he said, completing his stretches. Jackie had made a miraculous recovery after his near death experience. Nonetheless, I made sure that he took it easy. “I’m back to full fighting strength thanks to your skills. Not that I’m looking for a fight.”

  I sighed. “I hope I never have to patch you up ever again.”

  “You never know,” he joked. “This island can be a dangerous place. You’re just seeing the nice part that they show off for tourists.”

  “You visited Sicily before, right?” I asked. “I remembered you mentioned visiting a few places when we were on the plane to Morocco.”

  “It was back when I was just a boy,” he replied. “My mother took me with her to see my grandmother. She said the island was home to some of the most corrupt men in Europe but it was her home.”

  “I guess we have a long to-do list as long as we’re in Sicily.”

  He lied back on the bed. “For now, let’s just relax.”

  To his surprise, Jackie enjoyed the mundane aspects of married life. He liked waking up next to me in the morning. He loved making breakfast with me. Even I found myself enjoying the small-talk we made over dinner.

  His life as a hitman never gave him time for things like this. That phase of his life was over. He had lost any and all desire to hurt or kill.

  “Maybe France next?” Jackie mused. “It’s not too far from Piedmont.”

  “How about Russia?” I smirked. “We could do with seeing the nicer side of the country.”

  Jackie laughed. “Not sure I want to visit a cold country, especially after every Russian I know has tried to kill me.”

  “Hey, it’s a perfectly fine tourist destination!” I replied. “I’m sure we’ll meet some nice Russians. I’ve always wanted to see the Kremlin. When will Mr. Lee finish forging out new identities?”

  “He is finalizing the paperwork,” Jackie said, looking serious. “We already have our fake social security cards and passports but the birth certificates need more work. In a few weeks, he’ll find us a permanent spot to live in. We just have to decide on a place.”

  “Think he’ll throw in some death certificates for free?” I giggled, lying down on the bed next to him. “How are things with the Pastore family? Is it even called the Pastore family without a Pastore at its head?”

  “Frank’s trying to make the whole enterprise seem more legitimate,” he replied. “He’s investing into more businesses that aren’t just fronts for laundering money. It makes sense considering the police and FBI are on high alert after the Gregori incident.”

  I gave him an incredulous look. “Really?”

  “Well, as legitimate as the Italian mafia can ever be,” he chuckled. “Honestly, I’m not too concerned about my past life. I’m more worried about my future, especially how I’m going to spend it with you.”

  “Where do you want to settle down?”

  “Anywhere,” he answered, placing his arm around me. “As long as you’re with me.”

  I pulled him in for a kiss. He draped a hand over my body. It was as if held onto me for dear life. I couldn’t blame him. We had almost lost each other not too long ago.

  He kissed me and whispered. “Just don’t fall out of bed again.”

  I playfully slapped him on the arm. “Hey, we were on a boat!”

  Jackie replied with a kiss. “Well, we don’t have to worry about any waves today.”

  “Remember Morocco?” I said, kissing him back. Mr. Lee had us enter Europe through Morocco and then a boat ride. “It looked so calm… I just never imagined I’d see a real desert in North Africa. Or end up sailing to Sicily.”