by K. I. Lynn
“A whore?” Antonio hissed. “You brought a whore into the family?”
My lips drew up into a smile as I looked at him, a giggle escaping. I wasn’t sure why it made me laugh, but it did. The dysfunction of the Ferrante family, the over-the-top antics, was amusing. Insinuating I was a whore for no reason was simply laugh inducing.
“What’s so funny, whore?” Valentina asked, mimicking her older brother. Her lips turned down as she looked at me with disgust. “Ugh, I’m going to have to burn that outfit.”
“I would hold your tongues, all of you,” Giovanni warned. “I was lied to about one of our products. Important information withheld. It was in Domenico’s right to kill Roman, but make no mistake, I would have done it myself for Roman’s grievances.”
Everyone settled after that revelation. They knew the kind of person Roman was, and if their father was saying he would have pulled the trigger himself, it was justified.
Valentina sniffed as she mourned the passing of her brother, while Antonio’s jaw clenched.
“I was told there was a stripper that Maurizio wanted. One he wanted to break. I assumed he’d had a bad experience. What both he and Roman told me was a series of lies to gain a boost of power within the organization, or to get rid of a loose end. They failed to tell me the girl was Arabella Vitale.”
I turned to him when he omitted my real last name and was met with his steely gaze. There were some secrets he wanted to remain secrets, it seemed. He wanted them to feel the power that came with my Vitale lineage. Even though the truth would eventually surface, I knew that his point came through loud and clear.
There were shocked gasps, and more grabs for guns, but Giovanni had had them stripped upon entering the dining room—hence all the yelling before they entered.
“You have lost your mind!”
“Kill her!”
“You can’t allow this!”
All of the Ferrante children were up in arms, as was Renata. However, Giuliano sat at the end of the table with a smile on his face as he held up a glass of wine.
“Does this mean I finally get to retire, brother dearest?” Giuliano called over all the yelling.
It clicked then—Giuliano was the underboss. It was his position that Domenico was taking, and it was obvious
Giovanni held his glass in the air. “Enjoy the beach and the cabana boys, brother.”
They both drank, ignoring the screams that I couldn’t even make out anymore. I looked to Domenico, his jaw locked tight. Every muscle was coiled, ready to spring, ready to take down the first person who came near either one of us.
He was more high strung than I’d ever seen him before, and I knew it was due to his siblings.
After a few minutes of us sitting there, they finally settled down.
“How can you be in bed with the enemy?” Antonio spat at Domenico.
His lips curled up in a sinister grin. “Very easily. Her thighs are quite soft.”
“Arabella is not the enemy,” Giovanni said in an attempt to silence his boisterous family.
“How can he just sit here with what he’s done?” Valentina yelled as she crossed her arms in front of her and glared at Domenico. Her eyes flickered to me, and I stared back. She didn’t like that I didn’t back down, and she returned her gaze to her brother. Domenico glared back, an eyebrow cocked as if he was begging his sister to start something. Eventually, she looked away, upset she wasn’t able to get us to bow to her superiority.
I looked around the table and noticed something missing…there were no spouses. Not a single one of them wore a wedding ring. Were they all that dysfunctional?
“Question…do any of them work? Make their own money?” I asked. For the first time in years I wasn’t running, wasn’t trying to be free. No, I was taking back that which I’d been denied, and that which I’d used every day for years—my power.
I held the power in the room, and that knowledge surged through me.
We were the new rulers, and I wanted to make damn sure they knew from the very beginning who ran their world.
“I work for the family, bitch,” Antonio spat.
“Watch your tongue before I cut it out,” Domenico growled.
“Anytime, whelp. You think you’re the indestructible la Bestia, but you’re nothing.”
I thought maybe his words would rile Domenico, but instead he sat there, a deep chuckle from that wicked grin. “You’re all talk, Antonio. You always have been. A hothead with a gun. How many of your episodes have I had to clean up? How many of your whores have I had to make disappear?”
“That’s your job as the help.”
Domenico leaned back, the smile never dropping. “Go on, princess.”
I turned back to Antonio. “And what do you do? For the family?”
“What the fuck does it matter to you?”
I looked down to my fingernails. It was meant to be a pausing gesture, to make him stew, but it only highlighted how desperately I needed a manicure. “Because my money isn’t going to let any of you continue in this lifestyle of overindulgence. I will not coddle you or be your piggy bank.” I turned to Valentina. “Especially not you.”
Giovanni chuckled. “You’re just as brash as I remember.”
“What is she talking about?” Renata asked, finally calmer than earlier.
“A toast.” Giovanni held his glass up. “To Giuliano. I hope you live out the rest of your years in the paradise you’ve so yearned for. Thank you for being a trusted and loving brother all these years. To Giuliano.”
“To Giuliano,” Domenico and I spoke before taking a drink.
“Who is becoming the underboss?” Antonio asked, finally listening to the words being spoken.
Giovanni sat back and pulled a gun from his jacket and set it on the table in front of him, his hand resting atop. “The three of you have been such disappointments. I don’t blame you for it, but I do blame your mother.”
“Giovanni!” Renata spat. “You don’t speak about our children that way.”
“It’s never been a secret that our marriage was one of convenience, Renata, dear.”
“Perhaps, but you cannot tell them such things.”
“I can and I will, because what I am going to say next is very important, and if anyone at this table disagrees with my word, which is law in this family, I will put a bullet in them right here and right now,” Giovanni said. “Roman deserved Domenico’s justice. It was long overdue, and I know there are scars that litter his skin from each of you.”
“Not me!” Giuliano chuckled as he drank more, becoming quite tipsy.
“Domenico is my successor.” He paused and looked at all the faces at the table. Antonio shook with anger, his expression locked down as he worked to rip his napkin in half. Valentina looked distraught, while Manetto stared on in confusion.
Renata’s hands were white knuckled on the edge of the table. “You can’t be serious, Giovanni. You can’t mean you appointed the murderer of our son as your successor.”
“I am extremely serious, and I did. He has shown great characteristics of a leader. He has the loyalty and respect of the men, and instilled fear in those Roman turned against him. He knows when to be diplomatic and when to explode in physical rage. He thinks before he acts, calculates before he moves. He is the best and only man for the job.”
“And her?” Antonio bit out.
“Oh, I wouldn’t touch her. That is your queen. She brings with her the whole of the Vitale organization. They will be married shortly—”
“As soon as possible,” Domenico interjected.
Giovanni nodded. “They will be married this weekend, and we will begin merging the families. Domenico and Arabella are your new rulers. You will abide by their word as if it was my own while we transition over the coming years. Death by my hand to anyone who opposes or even thinks of harming them.”
“You always loved him more than us,” Valentina sniffed. “All Roman wanted was your attention.”
“Al
l Roman wanted was what he couldn’t have. His actions nearly sent us into war with Vitale,” Giovanni corrected.
The air was thick, and everyone held their tongues, though Antonio stewed as he glared at Domenico.
“I’ve already lost one son today. Tell me, am I losing any more children?”
“No, Father.”
“No.”
“No.”
“Good, but know this—if Domenico or Arabella is injured, you get nothing. Not only do you get nothing, you will be kicked out with only the clothes on your back. If any one of you tries to cause a revolt, anyone involved will be gunned down. There will be no dissension in the ranks.”
It was clear they weren’t used to such ultimatums, but they were used to obeying Giovanni.
“Renata, this extends to you as well. However, if you wish to continue throwing knives at my son, you can go crawling to the Volkovs. I’m sure you remember how they like to marinate their women in vodka.”
The name sparked, and I remembered Domenico issuing me a similar threat the day I bolted from my cage. By Renata’s response, it was a serious one. Her expression fell, and she dropped her head in defeat.
It was acceptance by only a thin thread, and I wasn’t sure it would last. But that thread was all that we had at that moment.
The days passed quickly as Domenico and I took hold of our new roles. The Ferrante household was strained, to say the least. The uneasy acceptance from his siblings ratcheted up the tension, and my presence didn’t help.
The household held a buzzing energy that I was desperate to get a reprieve from. I knew it would take a while for everyone to accept Domenico’s new position as well as our marriage, but I also knew it was only going to get worse when it was announced to the rest of the organization.
Giovanni didn’t seem concerned, especially not after his ultimatum.
After my encounter with Salvatore, I knew we were going to have an uphill battle of trust with the Vitale side. They didn’t know me, and to some it mattered that my mother was a Vitale, but to others it didn’t. Salvatore was going to be a problem that would have to be dealt with if my grandfather hadn’t already.
I didn’t wander the house without Domenico or a guard, so while I waited for Domenico to finish his meeting with a still-healing Marco, I decided to give Giovanni a visit in his study.
“Big day,” he said when I entered.
I nodded. “Bound to be one of the most memorable of my life.”
“The first often is.”
“Who was your first?”
He leaned back in his chair. “An associate who crossed the family. In the middle of a weekly poker game.”
“What did he do?” I asked.
“He stole money and bragged about it. During the game he was in high spirits, and every time he looked at me he had a little smirk. For an hour I let him think he’d gotten away with it, but really it was me working myself up to doing it.” He studied me. “Do you think you’re ready?”
I gave him a strained smile. “I honestly don’t know. I never thought it would be something I would ever do.”
“Domenico will be with you if you need help.” He stood and picked up a frame from his desk and walked around to me. “I know this is quite an adjustment for you after the last few years, but I know that you will rise and the two of you will be a force no one will challenge.”
I smiled at his praise and blew out a breath. It wasn’t a life I was ever expecting to have, but I had love, and that made it all worth it.
Giovanni presented the frame, and I was struck by the blonde beauty in the photograph.
“She was to me what you are to my son.”
“Is that his mother?” I asked, noticing some of the similarities. Domenico’s hair was a dirty blond and lighter than his father’s, which I guessed was once as dark as his other children’s.
He nodded. “My Ileana. She should have been my wife,” he said as he looked longingly at the framed photo. “I was already married with two children when I met her. We Ferrante men accept duty over love, but when we do love, it is fierce and eternal.” He looked up to me. “Domenico has that same ferocity when he looks at you.”
I smiled. “He’s quite intense in all things, and it’s one of the many things I love about him.”
“Am I interrupting?” Domenico said as he entered.
Giovanni smiled at his son. “Not at all. I was just introducing Ari to her mother-in-law.”
Looking past Giovanni, I noticed another frame on the shelf behind him. It was hard to see, but it was Giovanni with Ileana, and a much younger Domenico sitting on his lap. That was his heart’s true family. Renata was an obligation, and while I was certain he loved the children he had with her, it paled to his feelings for his second family.
I reached out and slipped my hand into Domenico’s. “She was beautiful.”
He nodded. “She was. Are you ready?”
I drew in a deep breath. “As I’ll ever be.”
The anticipation of finding that last piece of the puzzle left by my mother had far surpassed simple curiosity. It had become a dire need, akin to taking a breath.
Malcolm wouldn’t tell me about anything other than hinting it was money, but I knew there had to be more.
There were no guards with us, but about halfway into our trip downtown, I spotted a black Escalade a few cars back. Domenico confirmed that we were being followed, but it didn’t seem to bother him.
“They’re just making sure nothing happens to us.”
I pursed my lips as I glanced at the mirror again. “Are we ever going to be able to go out on our own again?”
“Probably not. I told you, it’s just a different type of cage.”
“At least I get hot showers and cute boots,” I said as I glanced down at the high-heeled, knee-high black leather boots.
That made him chuckle, a sound that made my chest clench. A relaxed Domenico was a beautiful sight.
We pulled into a parking garage and found a space before walking into the lobby of the high-rise office building that held Asher Holdings.
Finally, I was going to find out what my mother didn’t want my father to know about.
When we reached the top floor, the butterflies in my stomach kicked up. Thankfully there was no wait, and we were ushered into Malcolm’s office.
“You came,” Malcolm said as he rose from his desk. “And you brought a still-alive Domenico with you.”
“I should take that shot as the favor I owe you,” Domenico said as he held out his hand.
Malcolm gave him a strong shake. “Just a jab between friends. It really is a miracle he let you out alive.”
“Precious cargo,” Domenico said as he pulled me tighter to him.
Malcolm sat back down. “Would you like something to drink?” he asked and we both shook our heads and thanked him. “I take it things have settled down in the Ferrante camp?”
“More or less,” Domenico said with a nod. “Speaking of, I will be taking over management of some of our overseas accounts.”
“Moving up, la Bestia?” Malcolm asked.
“Why ask questions you already know the answer to?”
A grin slid onto Malcolm’s lips. “Confirmation.” He picked up his phone. “Mariah, I need you to retrieve a safety deposit box. Two-two-eight-nine.” He hung up the phone and held out his hand. “Please sit.”
We took the two chairs opposite his desk, but I stayed on the edge. “What did she leave me?”
I had a feeling he’d revisited the account after we talked, and so there was no point in drawing it out further.
“Your mother left you many things, the least of all being an offshore account worth almost ten million dollars.”
My eyes widened as I attempted to process the number. Where would she even get access to that kind of money? With my father constantly watching her, I couldn’t imagine it possible.
“How?”
“It was money that had been accruing since she was you
ng. An account your father was not aware of and did not have access to. When she came to me…I knew something wasn’t right. She insisted your father could never know what the contents were, which was why I couldn’t show you all those years ago.” The door opened, and his secretary walked in with a box. “Thanks, Mariah.”
She smiled, then the door closed again.
“She also left you this. I am unaware of any of the contents. It hasn’t been opened since she left me the key years ago.” Malcolm handed over the box, then reached into his desk and retrieved the key.
My hands shook as they ran down the sides of the box. The butterflies kicked up again as I turned the key and pulled open the lid.
Tears welled in my eyes as I recognized the top contents: my baby book and my teddy bear that I thought I’d lost sat on top along with an envelope with my name on it.
I picked up the letter, transfixed on my mother’s handwriting, and slid my finger under the seal.
Arabella,
My sweet, precious daughter, I’m sorry that you are reading this. I imagine your father will insist he be present, but these items aren’t for him, they’re for you.
I don’t know how much time has passed when you read this, but you must know one thing—I love you. With my whole heart, my whole soul, I love you.
Are you free? I hope so. I hope you are soaring through the clouds, that you find love and happiness.
I know you’re mad at me for leaving you. I wish I could have stayed, but I’d had enough. He broke me, tore me down, used me to his advantage, and threatened me into compliance.
You have always been my strong little girl, so fierce. You are a Vitale through and through. I wish I had half your strength, but I never have, and what I had has been beaten from me over time.
Over the last year I’ve stolen away precious things. Hid them where he could not get them. They are for you, kept safe until it was time.
Tell your grandfather I love him. I love him so much and I wish I’d been able to break away, but Maurizio threatened to kill you if I did, and I couldn’t risk that. You never knew, but I tried to smuggle you out when you were thirteen. He found out and told me that if I ever tried to take you to my father’s again, he would kill you. That was why we never went back. I couldn’t even call him because your father was keeping tabs on all phone activity.