The Mafia And His Angel Part 2 (Tainted Hearts)

by Lylah James

  “Viktor, track her phone,” I ordered. He nodded and took his phone out.

  I rubbed a hand tiredly over my face as I looked around the room. “Phoenix, call in the other men. We are leaving as soon as we have Ayla’s location.”

  I was still talking when I caught a glimpse of the cake Ayla baked for me the night before. Walking over to the dining table, my chest tightened with an unyielding pressure. All I could see was her sweet smiles. I heard her laughter, her melodious voice. And I felt her soft kisses.

  When I reached the table, I froze, my eyes going to the item next to the cake.

  I heard Viktor swear behind me before he spoke. “Alessio, her phone—”

  I tried to suck in a breath, but I couldn’t breathe. I clenched my fists together as my heart fell. Screaming out in rage, I took Ayla’s phone and threw it at the wall.

  Without thinking, I threw the cake too. It splattered against the wall. I couldn’t stop. My anger was fueled further with the thought of my Angel being with Alberto and having no way to find her.

  The thought of him hurting Ayla drove me insane.

  My vision was covered with a red layer as I seethed. I destroyed everything around me. Nobody stopped me, because they knew I would destroy them too.

  My body trembled with the need to kill. I was caught in the bloodlust.

  There would be bloodshed. People were going to die, even those who were innocent. There was only death for those who would be in my path.

  “This is war,” I growled, my voice as sharp as razors. My chest was heaving, my breathing ragged as I imagined blood around me.

  I wanted to watch Alberto’s blood pour out his body as he breathed his last breath. I needed it.

  My blood boiled under my skin, fiery with a searing burn, prompting me to kill. Death. The monster roared, and this time I unleashed it. I embraced the darkness inside of me.

  Because this was war.

  Alberto started it.

  And I was going to end it.

  Chapter 30

  Nikolay

  My car came to a stop in front of Alberto’s beach house. I sat silently for a second, contemplating what to do and what was happening.

  Whenever we had a meeting, he would call me to his clubs, but never to his estates. But now, I was sitting right outside one of his houses. He called me, asking me to meet him urgently.

  And I came without a second thought.

  Not because I wanted to. It was because I had to.

  I couldn’t stand his ugly face. Every time I saw him, I had to repress the urge to cut his fucking body into pieces and feed it to the dogs. My hatred toward Alberto held no bounds. I was disgusted by the very air he breathed.

  And I wished that every time I saw him, I had the power to kill him and watch the life slowly leave his eyes as I ripped his fucking black heart out.

  But I couldn’t do any of that.

  I leaned against my seat with a sigh. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my raging thoughts and the need for bloodlust. I was here, and I had to get my job done.

  Although one question burned through my thoughts.

  What was he doing in Florida? I didn’t tell him about Boss’s trip.

  That was a big fucking coincidence that he would be here at the same time as Boss.

  Shaking my head, I cleared my thoughts and stepped out of the car. The door was already opened, so I walked inside without knocking. I didn’t have to. His men would already know I had arrived.

  I saw a maid cleaning the kitchen, her back to me. “Where is Alberto?” I asked, my voice grating.

  She jumped almost five feet in the air before turning around, her hand over her chest. “Umm…he was in his office the last time I saw him,” she squeaked, her eyes filled with alarm.

  “Where is his office?” She pointed silently to the end of the hall. Without a second glance, I followed her direction.

  When I reached the end of the hall, I saw a man standing in front the door, guarding it. I nodded toward the door before speaking. “I need to see Alberto. He called me.”

  “Who are you?” he asked, his hand reaching for his gun.

  “Nikolay.”

  Recognition flashed in his eyes. “He’s not here. Boss went out about an hour ago. He had something to take care of.”

  “I will wait for him,” I announced, sending him a chilling glare, daring him to refuse me. The man huffed and opened the door for me.

  “He should be back soon,” he said, nodding toward the room. I went inside, and he followed me, closing the door behind him. Of course, he would follow me. No way would he have left me alone in Alberto’s office. To him, I was an outsider.

  What he didn’t realize was that I was also the insider.

  I didn’t sit down. Instead, I paced the office.

  Something felt wrong. Alberto would never call me to his house, especially if he wasn’t here. And most importantly, what was he doing here? At the same time as us.

  Did he have more spies than we thought?

  I rubbed my hand over my head in frustration and tried to suppress the growl that threatened to escape.

  I was still pacing when something caught my eyes. It was just a small glimpse, but it was enough for me to stop dead in my tracks.

  No fucking way. Fuck no.

  I stomped to Alberto’s desk and took the picture frame in my hand. I thought it was my eyes playing tricks on me. Maybe it was. I blinked several times, but the picture was still there. She was still there.

  I was looking into her green eyes.

  Ayla.

  My mouth fell open, but I quickly snapped it shut, my jaw grinding with the force. I stared at the picture, my mind going blank for a second.

  “Who is she?” I asked out loud, although I already had my answer.

  “Boss’s woman,” the man simply replied.

  My fingers tightened around the picture frame. “What’s her name?”

  “Ayla Abandonato. The bitch ran away months ago. But Boss just found her. That’s where he went. She was hiding with the fucking Russians all this time. Can you believe it?” he said in disgust.

  My stomach dropped, and I froze, my muscles locking tight at his words. This couldn’t be happening.

  She was an Abandonato. And Alberto’s woman. Was she the traitor?

  My chest tightened at that thought. No. I didn’t believe it. There was no way she would betray us.

  I stared at the picture. Ayla looked so different here. Her eyes weren’t glowing, like they did now. They were bleak, almost lifeless. She didn’t have a smile. Her face and posture were stiff.

  This Ayla looked like the one I had met the first time. When she was dirty, injured, and so fucking scared. The one who was broken.

  Alberto was the one who broke her. He was Ayla’s tormentor.

  The man’s voice sounded like he was under water as he continued to speak.

  “Probably fucked every man there too. That’s what she’s good for. Though I’m not going to complain. Her pussy is one the best. She fit my cock like a glove.”

  My mind raged, and I saw red. Placing the picture down, I reached for my gun. He didn’t have a chance to react or reach for his gun. I saw his eyes flare in surprise as I pointed my gun at him. And then I pulled the trigger.

  One shot. One bullet, right in the middle of his throat. That was all I needed to kill him.

  He sank to the ground soundlessly, his blood surrounded his seizing body. There was blood all over the office and the wall behind him, where some of his flesh had been splattered.

  No one fucking talked about Boss’s woman like that. I would never show mercy on men like him.

  Without sparing him another glance, I walked out of the office and got into my car. My vision was blinded with Ayla’s picture. The broken look on her face.

  And then his words rang through my ears.

  The bitch ran away months ago. But Boss just found her. That’s where he went. She was hiding with the fucking Russians
all this time.

  “Fuck!” I bellowed, punching my steering wheel. I had to warn Alessio. I tore out of the driveway and called his cellphone at the same time.

  But he didn’t pick up. Which never happened. He always picked up.

  My shoulders ached with tension, and my throat felt suddenly dry. I kept my eyes on the road and drove mindlessly while trying to call the others.

  But nobody answered their phones.

  I swore loudly, throwing my phone on the seat beside me. The road was packed. I would never get there in time. Alberto left an hour ago. He should have arrived by now. Or maybe he was waiting to attack?

  That would have been the perfect time. There were not enough men to protect Ayla or Boss.

  Fuck no.

  I couldn’t let that happen. Boss couldn’t lose Ayla.

  Not now. Not ever.

  He wouldn’t survive it. Because I knew, if Ayla lost herself, Boss would lose himself too—he would break.

  And I couldn’t let that happen.

  I punched the steering wheel again, and pain shot through my fingers. Quickly making a U-turn, I changed the route. For the next thirty minutes, I broke every traffic rule.

  When I reached the beach house, I stepped out quickly. The driveway was eerily quiet. But death hung in the air. It was almost chilling.

  I ran up the stairs and went into the house but froze in my steps at the sight in front of me.

  The house was a mess. Completely destroyed.

  Phoenix and Artur were sitting on the couch, their heads in their hands, their posture defeated. Viktor was leaning against the wall, his eyes closed, his face twisted in pain.

  Both of Boss’s hands were braced against the wall. His face was turned away from me, but I could see his tensed shoulders. His whole body was rigid.

  And I noticed something else, too.

  Ayla was nowhere to be found.

  The realization almost brought me to my knees.

  I was too late.

  Chapter 31

  Ayla

  My eyes blinked open as I slowly gained consciousness. My head throbbed, and my muscles ached. My whole body was hurting.

  When my vision finally cleared, I let out a gasp. My body froze, and suddenly nausea assailed me. I had to swallow back the bile that was working its way from my stomach and into my throat.

  I couldn’t move my arms or legs. I felt trapped. I was trapped.

  Alberto had me. I was completely at his mercy.

  My chest tightened, and I choked on my sob. How did this happen? Everything was perfect, but I had been thrown back into the darkness again.

  Tears fell silently down my cheeks as I thought about Alessio. I loved him so much that my heart ached at the thought of never seeing him again. He was my everything, and now I was alone again, without my savior.

  I was living my nightmare again.

  I tried to raise my arm but was horrified to find out that I couldn’t. I tried to move my legs, but I couldn’t.

  They felt heavy, and there was no mistaking the coldness of steel wrapped around my wrists or ankles. I moved again, and the sound of metal jiggling filled the darkness.

  I was chained.

  Panicked, I tried to move. I wrenched my arms and legs but only cried out in pain when the metal bit into my skin.

  I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes in despair. My hands and legs were manacled to a damp stone wall. I was shackled to the wall like a slave.

  My throat constricted as I fought to breathe. My vision swam with dizziness, and my head tilted against the wall as I tried to keep my eyes open.

  I heard footsteps approaching, and my stomach cramped. I whimpered in fear. My pulse thudded painfully against my temple and throat. My chest felt heavy under the pressure of my panic and fear.

  I trembled against the wall, waiting for my impending fate.

  And then suddenly, I wasn’t in darkness anymore. The light was on, and my eyes closed instantly at the sudden glare. I flinched away and pushed myself harder against the wall, as if it could protect me.

  I tried to cover my face with my hands, but they were yanked down cruelly. My eyes snapped open, and I was staring right into Alberto’s eyes.

  I cried out in pain as he tightened his fingers around my arm. When he smiled, I flinched.

  “Shhh, love,” he said in my ear, his tongue licking down my neck.

  Fear rendered me immobile. His fingers wrapped around my hair, and he pulled my head back until I was staring at him.

  “Did you really think I wouldn’t find you?” he hissed, his face red with rage. “You can escape, but I will always find you.”

  My heart sank. I knew this day would come. I was childish to think I was safe.

  Alberto looked crazed as his hand twisted in my hair. I winced as my scalp burned like fire.

  “Did you let him fuck you?” he asked, grabbing my chin. His fingers dug into my skin, and I had to bite my lips to stop myself from crying out. “Of course you did. He fucking touched you. Did you forget that you’re mine?” Alberto snarled in my face. I cowered back and shook my head.

  How could I forget? I was, after all, chained to my past. But for a small moment, I had let myself believe I was Alessio’s.

  Alberto stared at me for a second. He watched my tears slide down my cheeks, and I saw his eyes shining with delight.

  He released me and stood up. I slumped against the wall, my body suddenly weak. Alberto walked backward and sat down on the chair placed in the middle of the room. He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, looking dangerously intimidating.

  I quickly looked around the room, but it was empty. There were no windows, and the room looked unfinished.

  When realization dawned, I sucked in a harsh breath. It wasn’t a room. It was a dungeon.

  My eyes snapped up. Alberto’s lips curled as he speared me with a chilling glare. I trembled against his gaze and glanced down. I couldn’t look at him. His face was a reminder of every bad thing that I had gone through.

  “You ruined your father’s plan,” Alberto started. My eyebrows furrowed, but I didn’t look up. “All this time, he kept you hidden so the Russians wouldn’t find out about you. And now, they know about your existence.”

  I peeked up at him through my hair that was half covering my face. Alberto shook his head. “You were a fucking liability. A weakness. If they knew who you were, they would have come after you. Did you ever wonder why you were never allowed out of the estate?”

  I didn’t answer. It didn’t matter what my answer was. Alberto would say whatever he wanted.

  “Because you are a dead woman. You died in a fire twenty-one years ago.”

  My head snapped up, my heart throbbing at this new revelation. Alberto laughed at my expression, his face sinister. “But that’s what the world thinks. Your death was fabricated, so your father’s enemy wouldn’t come after you.”

  Suddenly, his face changed. The anger was back full force. “But you fucking ruined all of that. You had to escape. And you had to end up with those Goddamn Russians. Now, they know the truth.”

  Shaking his head, he smiled. It was malicious, and I shuddered. “But I think it all played out well.”

  I didn’t understand what he meant. I only saw his smile. The same one that haunted my memories. I would never forget that smile.

  Alessio. Where are you? I silently begged. I needed him. I felt like I couldn’t breathe without him.

  I saw Alberto get up from his chair and walk over to me. Kneeling down, he grabbed my face. “What are you thinking about, love?”

  He tsked when I didn’t answer. “Don’t tell me you are thinking about Alessio?” he taunted to my face.

  I swallowed hard as his words hit me right into the heart. He chuckled, his face right next to my ear. “Did you forget? He gave you to me.”

  No.

  He didn’t give me away. He loved me. I knew that. Alessio would come for me.

  “He handed you to
me like you were nothing. Do you really think he’s coming to save you?” he whispered into my ears.

  I closed my eyes tightly, trying to block his torturous words. I didn’t believe him. I didn’t.

  I believed in Alessio. In us.

  “Love, look at me,” Alberto demanded.

  I didn’t have any other choice but to look at the devil. He had all the control. When I finally opened my eyes, I saw Alberto’s face soften. His eyes changed to a lighter shade as he looked at me almost lovingly.

  “Don’t you see? I’m the one who cares about you,” he said, trailing a gentle finger down my cheek.

  Fear rocketed through my chest, squeezing me until I couldn’t breathe. I knew what he was doing. Alberto always did that. He would change right in front of my eyes. Going from a monster to a gentle man.

  He did that to play with my mind. To trick me into believing what he wanted. To make me believe he actually cared.

  At the beginning, it worked. But now I knew the truth. It was all a game to him. There was not even an ounce of humanity in him. He was a monster.

  “Everything I have done is for us. For you. I have always protected you and kept you safe so my enemies wouldn’t hurt you,” he continued.

  I tried to shut him out. I really did, but his taunting words rung through my ears, refusing to leave.

  “Alessio doesn’t care about you. He never did. But I do. I’m here for you.” Alberto leaned forward and placed a kiss on my cheek. His lips moved to my lips, and he kissed me. Almost sweetly and apologetically. “You’re my queen.”

  I whimpered and shifted away. I thought he would hit me, but he didn’t. Alberto rubbed a finger over my cheek instead. “You’ll see that he never cared. He’s not coming for you, Ayla.”

  I wanted to scream. Stop it! Please stop it.

  He was lying. Alessio cared. I was his Angel. He would come for me. I trusted him.

  Alberto continued to whisper in my ears as his hand wandered up my bare thighs. They went under my dress, his touch soft. But the softness was deceiving. The softness only held the promises of pain.

  “It’s okay. It’ll be okay. Now that you are home, you are safe. He can’t hurt you.”