Alpha Prince (Twisted Royals, #1)

by Sidney Bristol

  “What? Why?” Owen frowned.

  “Because you’re a Lucchese,” Ian said. “Taylor mentioned that it mattered. Like...bloodlines.”

  “Yeah, bloodlines.” Vito nodded. “The Commission was putting pressure on her to step down. I’ve avoided working for the family, so I can’t say for sure. I talked to an underboss, who told me that the boss wanted Julia out of the picture and they wanted to know if I was interested in coming on and working for them. Taking over from Julia. Given what the guy said, it led me to believe they wanted to squeeze her out and put me there instead. Fucking bullshit, is what it is.”

  “All because of bloodlines?” Owen asked.

  “Yeah.” Vito shrugged. “It was no secret they wanted to use Taylor, since she’s got Colombo blood in her—marry her to someone’s son, keep it in the family—but when she disappeared, they looked at me.”

  “And that matters?”

  “It does right now. Hard to say what’ll matter in a few years. These things with the family change.”

  “Okay.” Owen continued scribbling notes while his partner watched on, never moving, just looking. “Anything else you can tell me?”

  “The day we left New York, the underbosses wanted to talk to me, but Julia tagged along. They weren’t happy she was there. Danny—that’s the underboss—asks me to ride with him. He tells me Julia’s sent her guys after Taylor, that Danny knows where she is and that Julia’s going to kill her. I...” Vito sat forward, elbows on the arm of the chair, lips working soundlessly. “Taylor’s the only person in our family that’s ever gotten me. We both wanted out, we didn’t want this life, she was just better at it than I was. I went back to the house, I was going to confront Julia about it. I don’t know what I thought I’d do, but—something. Julia comes in, shoots me, and then we’re on a plane here.”

  “Do you know what Julia was doing in the time you weren’t together?” Owen asked.

  “No, but something had to have happened to set her off like that. You guys know something?” Vito asked.

  “I’ve been in contact with the New York PD,” Owen said by way of an answer that wasn’t much of an answer. “We’re going to have to figure out how to prove that Taylor was here. They want her arrested.”

  “What? No. Don’t be stupid.” Ian tightened his hold on Taylor’s hand. She groaned in her sleep.

  Was she coming around?

  Ian leaned over the side, peering at her face.

  “I know, we just...need proof. I’ll work on it. You just worry about Taylor.” Owen hooked his thumbs in his pockets.

  Taylor sucked in a breath and moaned.

  Ian leaned forward, holding his breath. She scrunched up one eye and shifted a bit.

  “Hey, everythin’s okay,” Ian muttered.

  She turned her face toward him.

  “Taylor? Hey, cousin.” Vito edged closer, bracing his arms on the side of the bed and reaching for her other hand.

  Taylor turned toward Ian, then stopped, her face creasing in pain.

  “Easy, you got a little banged up there,” Ian said. “Your cousin’s here. We’re all okay, just waitin’ for you to wake up.”

  Taylor squinted up at him, her lips downturned into a frown. She blinked at him, then Vito and the others. She mumbled something that was unintelligible. Ian chuckled and bent his head once more to kiss her brow.

  She was alive, awake, she’d be okay. That was what mattered.

  Ciro sat at the bus stop, staring at the yellow line in the middle of the road.

  Julia had said she’d come for him, that he should sit tight and wait, but how long did he give her? He’d been here for hours.

  Was she setting him up?

  He’d always admired Julia’s tenacity, but he’d never felt the barbs of her schemes before. He’d seen them hooked in other people, how she jerked them around, and he’d laughed.

  It couldn’t possibly happen to him.

  Right?

  Had he put his faith in the wrong person?

  Julia would always think about herself first, that much he knew. But this whole plan was going down in flames. Everything he’d carefully arranged—worthless. And now they were flying by the seat of their pants, possibly right back into the flames.

  Maybe it was time to head home, tail between his legs, and go to Danny.

  The way Ciro saw it, Danny stood the best chance of being promoted to boss. He was a smart guy. Ciro could do a lot for himself under a guy like that.

  But what about his involvement with Julia and this circus?

  He could always claim that he’d just been doing what he was told, that Julia was a mad woman. The way things were going back home, who knew what an enterprising mind could do?

  Yeah, that was likely his best bet. He’d hitched his wagon to Julia early on because he saw potential and drive that matched his own, but she’d screwed up. He still didn’t know the extent of what she’d done, but it was enough to send her fleeing everything she’d built.

  The next bus slid up to the stop and Ciro got on.

  If Julia ever came to pick him up, if she intended to make good on her promise, he’d never know. It was time Ciro looked out for number one—himself.

  24.

  Ian punched the button to ignore yet another incoming call from his boss. His main concern right now was in keeping Taylor safe.

  Chloe and Delilah were enjoying their sleepover at a friend’s house, none the wiser that their lives were in danger. Chloe hadn’t suspected much when he made the suggestion, which he was grateful for. Danger had never followed him home. Despite their closeness, Chloe was an innocent, with no idea how vicious the world could be.

  The guys had all gone home. Vito had to return to his room for a visit with the doctor. Owen had more questions, but those would wait for later.

  Ian knew he should be thinking about what the next move was, how to keep Taylor safe, but all he could do was stare at her. He was so fucking happy she’d pulled through. She’d heal. She’d be fine.

  Taylor, on the other hand, was busy flipping channels and sucking up apple juice like her life depended on it.

  “I’m so hungry.” She glanced at him, sticking out that lower lip and pouting like she thought it might get her something. “Can’t you sneak me something? Anything? Please?”

  “The doctor said no food for another couple of hours.”

  “If I wanted a Guinness, you’d totally get me one.”

  “That’s a clear liquid.”

  “Is not.”

  “It’s clear enough.” He shrugged.

  “I’m starving.” She eased back onto her pillow and sighed.

  “Anythin’ hurt at all?”

  “Only when I breathe.” She closed her eyes.

  He covered his mouth to try to keep from chuckling.

  This was the way it’d gone since she’d woken up.

  She asked for something to eat, and instead of food, the nurses gave her more liquids. After Taylor sucked down whatever the latest offering was, she’d whine a bit and pretend to sleep before starting it all over again.

  He’d watched it going on four times, but it wasn’t old yet.

  She was alive, hungry, and stubborn about getting her way. Her and Stacey really were quite similar. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t seen it sooner. The physical resemblance wasn’t as strong, but their personalities, their quirks—one and the same.

  What with Owen not disclosing anything about the investigation, there was nothing for Ian or Taylor to do except sit back and wait. Vito was getting treatment, Zach had finally touched base about coming to the hospital with the files and at some point, Ian hoped his FBI contact would come in to discuss the meat of the case with Taylor. She was going to be a crucial witness in whatever went down.

  Someone tapped on the door.

  Taylor’s eyes popped open.

  “You can come in if you have food,” she said.

  The door swung open and a nurse wheeled Vito back in.


  “I tried to bring you something, but they told me not to.” Vito shrugged and grinned.

  Since Taylor’s begging hadn’t worked on Ian, she’d turned her charms on her cousin, who seemed more sympathetic. Ian couldn’t shake the feeling that Vito wasn’t his biggest fan, which shouldn’t bother Ian this much. Except it did. Taylor had two people that mattered to her, and if he intended to pursue something with her, he wanted all of her—and those important to her—on board.

  Ian was glad the guy was doing better, but he could have gone for a little less cousin time. Vito had barely left. Ian knew he was jealous, and that the other man’s cool composure toward him was making it worse. Ian couldn’t help it. Inside, he was frantic to do something, prove to Taylor that he really loved her. That she could trust him. If only she’d love him back.

  Where the hell had this come from?

  “You guys starting a party without me?” Owen stepped into the room and grinned.

  “Any developments?” Ian couldn’t be bothered with smiles or pleasantries, not when there was still a very real threat to his family and Taylor.

  “That FBI guy you’ve been talking to is going to come by in a little while.” Owen turned his gaze on Taylor. “I’m hoping he can talk to the two of you.”

  “If I get food, I’ll talk to anyone,” Taylor said.

  “I’ll see what I can make happen.” Owen winked at Taylor. “Hey, Ian, can I talk to you for a second?”

  “You can only have him if you bring me something to eat,” Taylor said.

  Ian pushed to his feet, loathe to leave Taylor alone for even a moment. It seemed whenever she was out of his sight, something else happened to her.

  He followed Owen out into the hall a little ways.

  “What’s goin’ on?” Ian searched the detective’s face. “Somethin’ bad.”

  “Not necessarily. The bullets at a crime scene in New York trace back to a gun Taylor owned. Now, the registration wasn’t complete, and given she was here and not there, it’s a pretty strong case in her favor.”

  “But?”

  “But they want to relocate her to New York for more questioning.”

  “No. Sendin’ her back is suicide. She’s safer here.”

  “I agree, but this is going to be a federal case. I’ve only got so much sway. I’m more of a go-fer than anything.”

  Ian scrubbed his hand over his face.

  “What about Vito?” he asked.

  “As of right now, Vito’s a victim. He could be called on as a witness, but a lot will matter on how involved in all of this he is. Has Taylor told you anything?”

  “About Vito? No. What do I do about Taylor?” Ian had to keep Taylor safe. He’d already broken his promise once, he couldn’t do it again.

  “Just...be with her. She’s going to need someone in her corner.” Owen stared at Ian with those cool blue eyes of his. “You care about her.”

  “Yeah. I do. That’s what makes all of this so fuckin’ hard.”

  Taylor was going to starve to death.

  Plain and simple.

  It wasn’t the bullet or a collapsed lung that would end her, it was starvation.

  “I don’t know if I’ve ever been this hungry in my life.” She punched the buttons, laying the bed back a bit.

  “Are they gone?” Vito twisted in his chair, peering back over his shoulder.

  “Yeah, probably out there talking about me.” Taylor didn’t know what Owen was going to say about her, what she’d done, but she didn’t like it. Ian would probably tell her if she asked, but she didn’t want to have to ask. She wanted them to say it to her face and not behind her back.

  “Hey, I brought you something.” Vito pulled a shiny red apple out from under the blanket draped over his lap.

  Taylor gasped and reached for the apple. Vito laughed and tossed it at her.

  “I tried sneaking half a sandwich out, but they caught me. They didn’t see that, though.” He grinned.

  “You are my favorite cousin ever. Oh, my God.” Taylor bit into the apple, the sweet, tangy juices hitting her tongue. She groaned and clutched the fruit to her chest.

  “Thanks, Vito. Seriously. You just saved my life.” She glanced at her cousin.

  He had his chin propped in one hand, just watching her kind of weird like.

  “What?” She wiped her chin on the back of her hand.

  “Nothing.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing. Nothing.” He straightened.

  “What’s going on, Vito?”

  “You just...I’m glad you’re okay,” he said.

  “I’m glad you’re okay, too. I don’t know what I would have done without Ian.” She sighed and stared at the ceiling. “Probably died already.”

  “What’s the deal with him?”

  “Long story.” She shook her head. “Basically, we met at a bar, I let my mouth run away from me, and then he shows up as the security consultant for George and he’s been looking after me ever since. I keep trying to tell him to go away, but he doesn’t listen.”

  “I bet I could make him understand a thing or two.”

  Taylor chuckled and patted Vito’s hand on the rail of the bed.

  “I think I’m the one who needed to understand a couple of things.” She kept staring at the ceiling, seeing her life’s choices laid out on the square tiles.

  Ian had called her on her shit. He was right, she’d set herself up as this solo person, taking on the world by herself. And where had that gotten her? In trouble. A lot of it. She’d been so busy trying to protect herself she hadn’t realized she was the one losing out. Alienating herself had made the problem worse instead of better. No one was saved or spared because of it. If anything, it put the person she was closest to in more danger.

  She’d make it up to Vito.

  Somehow.

  Some way.

  “When we get out, where do you want to go?” Vito turned his hand over, threading his fingers through hers.

  “I don’t know. I think I’d like to stay here, but is that a good idea?” She wanted a chance to tell Ian that he was right, but with Julia out there it wasn’t exactly good timing.

  “Probably not. We could go to Florida? All the beaches and sand. Could be a good change of scenery.”

  And yet, Taylor didn’t want to go. Her heart was here, with Ian. Leaving, even if it was for her safety, felt like the wrong move in the big picture. Danger would come and go. Eventually, Julia would get caught on the wrong side of someone and she’d be gone. Taylor couldn’t live her life on the run. Ian had shown her that.

  She bit into the apple, mulling things over.

  It kept coming back to the same thing; she wanted to see what could happen with Ian. Maybe nothing, maybe everything, but she couldn’t let this one go. He was different. They were different together, in a good way.

  And then there was Stacey.

  Vito didn’t know about her yet. Taylor didn’t want to talk about her half-sister until she’d made up her mind. If she listened to her gut, there wouldn’t be any waffling. She wanted to give Stacey the kind of life she hadn’t had. Full of love. Laughter. Safety. It might not be the silver spoon existence she’d had with George, but stuff didn’t buy happiness. Taylor’s mother was a prime example of that. She’d been miserable eating expensive food, wearing designer clothing and living in a house most people wouldn’t dream of affording.

  There was a lot to be said about love. It might not put food on the table, but it made a difference.

  Someone knocked at the door.

  She shoved the apple under her blanket and swallowed what was in her mouth.

  Owen leaned in, his baby blues jumping from her to Vito.

  “Hey, Vito, can we get you to weigh in on a few things?” he asked.

  “What about my food?” Taylor asked.

  “Working on it.” Owen gave her a thumbs up.

  “Sure.” Vito clumsily maneuvered his wheelchair out of the narrow space.

 
“I’ll bring him right back, I promise.” Owen moved in and grabbed the back of the chair, wheeling Vito out.

  Something was different with Vito. Something she couldn’t put her finger on. Whatever it was, she’d have to figure it out later. One problem at a time.

  First, they’d catch Julia. Then, Taylor could bring herself to tell Ian how she felt. After that, she’d play it by ear.

  What would a life be like here? What would she do?

  It would take a little bit of time to transfer her teaching credentials legally, which would put her out of work until the summer or fall. That wasn’t ideal, but she could always get a retail job or something else to support herself. What about Stacey? They’d need to do the DNA test and prove their biological relation so she could take custody of her little sister and then what? For all the years Taylor had spent teaching, she hadn’t raised a child of her own. She’d have to figure out day care, a place to stay, how to juggle them both. And then fit in a relationship. If Ian even wanted a part of that sort of life.

  It would be...exhausting.

  Ian wouldn’t stick around while she learned the ropes, would he?

  God, it was all so confusing.

  If he didn’t, maybe Florida would be a good idea. Somewhere sunny and warm, where Stacey could play with other kids.

  She rubbed her hand over the lump on her head and bit off some of the apple.

  The door opened without warning. A man in slacks, a button-down, and a white doctor’s coat smiled at her.

  Shit.

  Caught red handed.

  “They said I could have it,” she said around the bite of apple. It was a lie, but she’d rather not get scolded by a doctor.

  “It’s okay.” He chuckled and came closer. “I’m not going to bust you. How you feeling?”

  “Okay.”

  “Yeah, you gave everyone a scare last night.” He peered at a clip board.

  Taylor didn’t know what to say to that, so she just shrugged.

  “The cops come and talk to you, yet?” He had that familiar New York accent. It wasn’t all that strong, but she could still hear it. Instead of being comforting, it put her teeth on edge.

  “Yeah, earlier.” She shifted and glanced at his chest. Didn’t most of the doctors and nurses she’d seen wear some sort of a badge?