Deadly Vows

by Haley Stuart

  That is all it takes for Matteo’s resolve to snap. I finally reach the stage and jump on in my small dress, sprinting toward Matteo.

  “Matteo, don’t!”

  I don’t reach him, though. Luca snatches me before I can do anything. I try my hardest to struggle against him. I try my hardest to scream anything at Matteo to get him to pay attention to me, to get out of that evil haze Luca has drawn him into.

  “Matteo, no! This isn’t you!”

  But it’s too late.

  As the North Mob watches in excitement and pride, I can only watch in horror as Matteo pulls the trigger.

  Chapter 28

  Elise

  Excited shouting erupts throughout the room, with everyone following what they hear instead of what they se. But I am up close and personal. And I see Matteo coughing up blood. And Ari is still in her position, completely unscathed. She has a malicious smile on her face as she watches Matteo. Matteo drops to the ground on one knee, clutching his side. I scream in horror as fear envelops me.

  I wrench myself from Luca’s grasp and sprint to Matteo, falling next to him. I immediately run my hands up his body, trying to find the source of the blood. He has been shot. There is a hole in his tux, and blood is staining his clothes. Tears well up in my eyes as I press the wound.

  “Luca!” I shout.

  I turn to look at him through teary-eyed vision, and he is looking frantically through the crowd. The crowd finally takes notice that it is Matteo on the ground, covered in blood, and not Ari. Luca’s eyes focus in on someone in the crowd, and horror crosses his vision. He doesn’t waste a second as he sprints in my direction, jumping right in front of me just as the sound of a gun goes off. He drops to the ground, and a long string of curses erupts from his mouth.

  He reaches for his gun and pulls it out, aiming into the crowd. I can’t see what he is aiming for because I immediately look back at Matteo, and he is beginning to convulse.

  “No, no, no, no! Matteo! Hang in there, stay with me, please!”

  His eyes are filled with tears as he stares at the ceiling. He is not focusing on anything I am saying.

  Luca’s men immediately begin to clear the room, leaving behind Nicolai and Romelo. And Stefano. He is holding a bloody arm as he stares at Luca in hatred. Luca is holding his chest and is breathing heavily, but he keeps his gun raised as Nicolai and Romelo restrict Stefano.

  Luca turns to me, breathing heavily as he crawls in my direction. His hand is over his chest, and there is blood spilling heavily from his wound, flowing over his fingers. I keep my hands pressed into Matteo’s wounds as Luca comes closer to me. I can only stare with wide eyes as a lazy smile slowly spreads over Luca’s face. He reaches out and touches my cheek lightly before his hand runs down my face. He collapses face-first onto the ground in front of me. I don’t know what to do.

  I frantically search the room.

  “Nicolai!” I shout in panic.

  He looks up from Stefano in shock as he takes in Luca’s slumped form in front of me. He immediately runs toward the stage. He finally reaches me.

  “Press his wounds!” My voice is shaky and filled with panic as I speak to Nicolai.

  He takes over Matteo’s body, and I crawl to Luca, rolling over his body. His eyes are shut, and his chest looks really bad. I immediately reached for his holster, pulling out the knife he always keeps by his ribs. I immediately begin cutting at my dress, wrapping it around Luca’s wounds and tying it tight. I can hear my frantic breathing.

  With shaky hands, I move back to Matteo and does the same while speaking to Nicolai.

  “Check Luca for a pulse.” I put my fingers under Matteo’s chin, checking for a pulse. I breathe a sigh of relief when I find one. It is very faint, but it is there.

  “We need to call an ambulance. This is too much even for Dr. Shotwell.”

  I am speaking to Nicolai, but when I turn around, I see Romelo on the floor. Two of Luca’s men are on top of him, pressing their knees into his back. That is when I realize. They are working for Stefano. A shot goes off, and Nicolai grunts in pain, falling to his knees. I frantically look around in panic, not knowing what to do. Stefano is holding the gun and walks slowly toward Luca, pure hatred in his eyes. He is standing before Luca’s body with a look of rage. He aims his gun.

  “How’s this for weak, Capo?”

  In the next instant, I don’t think. I reach for the gun Matteo is holding, and as soon as it is in my hands, I fire. My shot is obviously not fatal, as Stefano stumbles and looks at me in shock, as if just realizing that I am there. I vaguely register Romelo wrestling the other men for his life and his capo’s. They must’ve let their guard down when I’ve shot Stefano.

  He immediately raises his gum, aiming it at me, and I can hear Arianna behind me, encouraging him. Tears well up in my eyes. The last bit of hope I have for Ari dissipates in that moment. I don’t think twice as I pull the trigger again. Stefano does at the same time, except Nicolai, in his weakened state, has managed to knock him sideways. My shot hits Stefano in his chest, and his shot hits my arm. I cry out in agonizing pain as the bullet goes skimming, tearing at the flesh atop my arm.

  I can hear shouts from everywhere—Romelo shouting as he puts all the force he can to fight off those traitors, Nicolai as he pushes through his bullet wound to knock over Stefano, Stefano as he hits the ground with another bullet wound in his chest, and Arianna behind me, screaming for her husband.

  And as if it were a miracle, the doors burst open and reinforcements arrive. They immediately restrain everyone. I look at Matteo’s still form. And Luca’s. And I look at Ari. She is screaming at me with such hatred and rage. She is calling me names and telling me how much she wishes I were dead just like my parents. I walk even closer to her, drowning out her shouts. My whole body is numb. I slowly raise the gun, aiming it at her, and she immediately grows silent, as does the whole room.

  “Elise,” I hear Nicolai’s uncertain voice say, but I ignore him.

  “You … you killed my mother … my father … my brother’s mother …” The tears are rolling fat down my face. “You used me, used us … for the sake of the family. You used your own husband …” The gun begins to shake in my hand. “You lied to me, all these years. I protected you! Look at what you’ve caused!” I shout.

  Arianna has been my best friend. My closest family. But all of it has been a ploy for her. And now my brother may be dead. Everything that I’ve gone through is her fault, because she can’t keep her mouth shut.

  “Luca was right, you’re better off dead.” I pull the trigger.

  The shot doesn’t hit Arianna, though. Someone comes up behind me, grabbing my hand and forcing it toward the ceiling. Arianna is screaming, and she looks at me in shock.

  “You don’t want to do this. This isn’t you, Mrs. Pasquino.” I recognize Romelo’s voice behind me. He is still holding on to my arm, and I slowly release the gun into his grasp.

  Then the sobs come. Louder and louder, until I am screaming in agony.

  * * * * *

  “Best of wishes to you. We hope the capo recovers soon.” I give another weak smile.

  One week. That is how long it has been. And neither Matteo nor Luca has regained consciousness. I spend my nights at the hospital. I can’t leave in case one of them wakes up. People have been showing up to show their respect, in hopes that my husband will recover, but I know it is all out of fear.

  Between the two of them, Luca’s wounds are worse. The shrapnel from the bullet has caused not only flesh wounds but also the arterial veins to his heart to be damaged. Any later and he would’ve been dead. The great and powerful capo of the North has almost died. Not by his fault, though. I haven’t forgotten. Luca has jumped in front of me. Luca has taken a bullet for me. Which is why it doesn’t sit well with me if he dies and I have done nothing to save him. Because that should have been me lying on the stage. The fact that Luca has been standing where I have been kneeling … if he weren’t in front of me, I would
’ve been shot in the head. I owe him my life.

  Just because Luca’s wounds are worse doesn’t mean Matteo’s aren’t almost fatal too. His ribs are broken from the impact of the bullet, one puncturing his lung. They have to keep him on a ventilation system until he is able to breathe on his own.

  “You can go home and get a quick shower if you want, Mrs. Pasquino. I can take over here until you get back.”

  I look up from my thoughts to see Romelo standing in the doorway. I check my watch. I spend an hour in each of their rooms, waiting for them to wake up. And when visiting hours are over, Romelo takes over for me so I can go and change and get some clean clothes to come back and stay the night in.

  “I actually brought some clothes this time, Romelo. Thank you, though.” I give him a small smile.

  Romelo is the one I have always been skeptical about. He follows Luca around and sticks to him like glue and always follows his orders without hesitation. But he has saved me from myself and has been watching over us in the hospital.

  “I actually think it’s my turn to sleep in Luca’s room tonight.” I always alternate between rooms.

  He nods at me. “I can take over here.”

  I give him a smile and make my way past him to go to Luca’s room. Once I enter, the rhythmic beeping assaults my ears again. I make my way over to the windows, pulling them shut. I catch a glimpse of Luca as I pass his bed, and I stop. I walk closer to him so that I am standing over his body.

  If I haven’t lived it, I would have never thought Luca is capable of the things he has done to me since our marriage. His usually pushed-back hair is falling in his face, and his lips are slightly parted in his sleep. His face is free of any emotion, which makes him look more human than he usually does, with that constant blank expression he wears. How can someone be so evil? If I want to, I can end my suffering and probably that of countless others. I can end his life. Right here. But I just can’t do it.

  I walk to the cot the hospital has supplied me with and lie down, waiting for sleep to overcome me.

  Chapter 29

  Luca

  “Luca, listen to me very carefully.” I look at my father with wide eyes. He is speaking to me as if he has something very important to say. I live to please my father, and now he is giving me something important to do, and I will not fail him. “Today, I want you to do something very important.”

  We are sitting in the shadows of the car. A woman walks past us with a little girl that looks to be about four years old. She is yanking the little girl along, causing her to fall and stumble, unable to keep up with her mother’s frantic pace.

  “We have been given a very special opportunity by our brethren in the South, and I want you to carry out this mission.”

  I nod, feeling the pride swelling in my chest. Papa has been training me for this all these years, and now he is going to finally let me become a man.

  “Now, look, mi figlio. Do you see that woman? She has done something very bad to upset the capo. He wants her dead.”

  I look at him, confused. “But why, Papa?”

  My father slaps me across the face. I can taste the blood welling in my mouth. But I don’t dare cry. I just spit the blood out in the car, showing him I feel no pain. I am strong.

  “Don’t question me, boy.”

  I make sure to wipe my face of emotion. Papa feeds off fear. If I show him no fear, he won’t continue to beat me. I nod.

  “I want her disposed of. And you know what to do when it’s over.” I nod. Dispose of the body. Except the capo has strange instructions for us. I then remember something.

  “What about the girl? The little one?”

  My father responds immediately, “He wants her back. But not without bruises.”

  I nod. I don’t understand the capo of the South’s thinking. He wants his wife dead and his daughter brought back to him? But I am not one to question things. I follow orders. If I pull this off perfectly, I will have Papa’s unconditional pride and love.

  I hop out of the truck with my gun and knife. The woman is frantically looking around, pulling the little girl with her. The poor little girl is tripping over her own feet, trying to keep up. I don’t hesitate. As soon as I am in close-enough range, I aim for the woman’s head and fire. I smile to myself.

  “Bull’s-eye,” I murmur aloud.

  The woman falls flat on her face, pulling the little girl with her. I hurry over to the little girl because she is screaming now.

  “Mommy? Mommy!” She spies me and immediately begins crying to me. “Please, is your mommy or daddy around? Something’s wrong with my mommy.”

  She is staring at me with big almond-colored eyes that are red and puffy from the tears, her dark hair blending in with the night. I don’t speak as I step closer to her, taking the butt of my gun and ramming it into the side of her head. She collapses.

  I check my watch. I have about four hours until the girl regains consciousness. The mother is bleeding profusely from her skull, tainting the dirt below her. I pick up the little girl by her coat collar, looking at her unconscious face, which causes me to hesitate.

  Then my father’s words flash in my head. I ball my fist up and swing at her unconscious body.

  * * * * *

  I am jolted awake in the bed, breathing heavily. That memory always causes me panic. I quickly take in my surroundings. Where the hell am I? There is a monitor next to me, and there are IVs in my arm. I immediately yank them out. I don’t like being pumped with anything. I look around and finally figure I am in the hospital. The last thing I can remember is Elise’s panicked face, then nothing.

  That bastard Stefano has gone back on his word. He has shot Matteo and tried to kill Elise. She will have been dead, too, if I haven’t been there, jumping in front of her.

  I quickly survey the room, and to my utter surprise, she is sitting in the chair near my bed, her feet balled up and a hospital blanket draped around her. I smile as I take in her form. She has grown so much from that little girl all those years ago. The thing is, that memory has never seemed to bother me up until now. I’ve had a hand in everything that has happened to Elise. I’m the one that has killed her mother and beat her to a pulp when she has only been four. Of course she doesn’t remember any of it, because it is so long ago.

  She is in my hospital room. I struggle profusely but eventually get out of the bed, trying not to make a sound. I bite my cheek, trying to focus on something else other than the excruciating pain that is erupting throughout my chest. If Elise is in here, that means Romelo or Nicolai are somewhere outside the door. I try not to make a sound with my weak body as I pass Elise. I step into the hallway and see Romelo standing near the door.

  He turns when he hears the door creak a little, and shock appears clearly on his face when he sees me.

  “Capo!” He immediately makes his way toward me with joy in his expression. He falters a little as he nears me.

  “Are you okay? Do you need something? Has Elise seen you yet?”

  I shake my head and open my mouth to speak but immediately cough from the dryness of my throat. Damn, how long have I been asleep?

  I point toward the sitting area, wanting to be away from the doorway just in case Elise awakes and tries to come looking for me. We finally reach the sitting room, and Romelo comes toward me with a water bottle. I take it from his hand and drink it down until the bottle is empty.

  “What the hell happened?” My voice comes out rough and groggy. Probably from the lack of use. “How long have I been out?”

  Romelo looks at me and takes a deep breath before answering. “A week and a few days, Capo.”

  I tense in my seat. I have been out for almost two weeks? That means I have been in the hospital that long. Which means there is now a file on me. Damn.

  “What exactly happened? And where the hell is Nicolai?”

  Romelo looks a little uncomfortable, and I brace myself for the bad news I am sure to come. “Elise gave Nicolai leave. He was shot.”
r />   I can feel the white-hot rage boiling up inside me as Romelo tells me everything that has happened.

  He tells me how Stefano has shot Matteo and me and how we should have been dead but we are two lucky sons of bitches. He tells me how Nicolai has been shot and how Elise has torn her dress to staunch both Matteo’s and my bleeding. I can feel my heart softening at that. Elise could have let me bleed out in that room, but she hasn’t. She has tried to save me. I am shocked when Romelo tells me that Elise has shot Stefano and almost shot her cousin at point-blank range. She hasn’t killed Stefano, thank God. She will probably hate herself when the anger retreats after she realizes what she has done.

  She does end up saving us, though. All the traitors are captured and taken downtown to our underground cave. Once I am well enough, I will go and visit all of them. How the hell do I keep getting rats in my family? Something has to be done, and soon.

  “Has Matteo awoken yet?” I ask as I stand to go back to my room.

  “No. Your wounds were greater, but him being his age and the extent of his wounds … well, it’s a miracle he’s alive at all. They’re keeping him on a breathing machine until he wakes and is able to breathe on his own.”

  I cock an eyebrow at him in confusion.

  “His ribs were shattered and punctured his lungs.”

  I nod. Damn. “I want to be out of here tomorrow. I hate hospitals.”

  Romelo nods and helps me walk to my bedroom.

  I step in to find Elise still asleep. Good. I quietly get back into the bed and ignore the pain shooting through my chest. I stare at Elise’s beautiful form and finally let sleep overtake me.

  Chapter 30

  Elise

  “We cannot recommend that, Mr. Pasquino. We have to keep you at least seventy-two hours after you wake to make sure your vitals are nor—”

  “I don’t give a damn about what you recommend! You can’t keep me here if I don’t want to stay. And I don’t.”

  My heart jumps, and my eyes fly open to see Luca sitting up in his bed, his face contorted in anger at the nurse. She slowly backs out of the room, mumbling something about paperwork, and leaves us alone. Luca’s eyes immediately turn to me as he sees me awake. His anger immediately dissipates from his face. I can only sit there and stare at him. I don’t know what emotion to feel. Luca is alive and acting as if he hasn’t been shot.