Russo: His Untold Story (Blacklisted #3)

by Maria Delaurentis

  I lowered him to the ground quickly, slipping my hand over his mouth and nose, while my other continued to squeeze at his throat. He had stopped struggling long ago, but I had to be sure. The other guy would come out soon enough and I had to be ready for him. I quickly checked for a pulse, saying a quick prayer when I realized there was none. Maybe the schmuck would be forgiven in the eyes of God, but somehow I couldn’t believe that.

  I pulled his body away from the door, propping it up against the dumpster. I didn’t care that it was found, the police wouldn’t be surprised and the likelihood that they would bother investigating was slim. Even if they did—there would be nothing to find. I slipped back to the doorway, my back pressed to the wall as I waited for the second to return. Within minutes I was repeating the process, draining the life from another scumbag. As I did the last time, I checked for a pulse. I said another quick prayer, propped him up next to his buddy and took a moment to breathe. Donnie would be next, and I planned to take my time. Donnie fucking Rossi was the piece of shit that started the fire in my restaurant. He was the reason my parents were gone, the reason all of this was happening. He answered to Genovese, and I know it was Genovese’s call but he would get his.

  I slipped out of the alley and saw the truck idling by the curb. A . 38 sat nestled in the waist of my jeans, my fingers twitching as I neared the truck. I was careful to crouch behind it, not wanting to show up in Rossi’s mirrors. Once I made it to the door I locked my hand on the gun and ripped it out, sliding into the seat behind Rossi. Before he was able to speak I held it against his neck, my voice rough as I mumbled “drive”.

  I could feel Rossi’s shoulders tense, but he didn’t say a word. The truck was suddenly moving, and I’m sure he knew what was happening.

  “It wasn’t personal, Micky.”

  “Don’t fucking call me that. It was personal. You knew them.”

  “You know if I hadn’t carried it out Genovese would’ve had me killed.”

  “You can’t escape death. Head out to the woods, Donnie.”

  He cried. I’ll never forget hearing the sound of a grown man crying like that. When we got to the woods he parked his truck and I could hear him saying a Hail Mary. The Madonna couldn’t save him now. I knew this was too personal… too close to me. But fuck, did it feel good to beat my fists into his face until he was unrecognizable. I had the gun if I needed it, but I never ended up using it. When he was unconscious I pulled my knife off my holster and slit his throat, wiping the blood on his shirt after. I tucked the knife back in my holster and stood over Rossi’s body, my eyes glazing over as I thought of my parents again. They were good people, they had never deserved this. I said no prayer for Rossi, and when I buried him at the foot of a large tree I spit on the shallow grave. Even Hell wasn’t good enough for him. I was covered in dirt, and blood and all I wanted was to see my girl. My girl, who was I kidding? She was going to leave the second I let her, as much as I hated it.

  Fuck. I hoped she wouldn’t go.

  four

  When I walked in the door she turned instantly, and I could see the attitude written all over her face.

  “How’d the terminating go, Arnold?” she asked, the sarcasm dripping from every word.

  “Great actually, I killed three of them. Go turn on the shower for me?” I stretched as I walked towards her, noticing the flecks of dirt that were falling off of me. I probably looked insane right now, but she seemed more irritated then scared. This girl always had a problem with me, but I guess I couldn’t blame her.

  “How about you turn the shower on yourself?” She was really testing me today, but girlie, this was the wrong day for testing somebody.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I said turn the shower on. Yourself.” She was seething, and it was fucking adorable—but that didn’t excuse the bullshit attitude. I was doing everything I could to keep myself from shaking the attitude out of her.

  “You want to try again, Brie? Perhaps with a little less fucking attitude?” My fists were tightening as my skin began to warm up. Was it so much to ask that she stop sassing me? Before I could bother to process the idea anymore I felt my nose smashing into my face, the bone cracking beneath a small, warm fist.

  Had she really just hit me? I took a second, realizing the pain was starting to radiate through my face. She had really hit me. I looked at her for a moment, the horror and shock blatant on her face. This girl was full of surprises. I shook my head and began laughing, amazed by the turn of events.

  “You’re something else you know that? After all I put you through, you still got a little fire don’t ya?” I chuckled and sunk down on the arm of the couch. She was so much like my mother it killed me. She was betrayed by multiple bosses, followed, kidnapped—but she didn’t sway. She was a hard bitch; there was no better way to put it.

  “You remind me a lot of my mother. She would never take shit from my dad. But she was respectful to him as well, Brie. That’s all I want from you.” I closed my eyes for a moment and reached up, gripping my nose and setting it in one quick motion. She seemed kind of disgusted but hey, she was the one that broke it.

  “Thanks for setting me straight, bambina. Perhaps I’ve lost sight of myself recently.” I sighed and leaned back against the couch, my mind wandering through the last month and a half. What was I doing to this girl? Was revenge worth traumatizing her? Dragging her into all this? What would my mother have to say if she could see me now? Though the second I considered my mother’s smiling face, the ideas were lost again. I needed the revenge. I needed to know that their deaths weren’t for nothing. I looked up at her, smiling a little before I spoke quietly.

  “I’d still like it if you went and turned the shower on for me, please?” I grinned, knowing she couldn’t resist me asking nicely. I watched as she turned on her heel and headed to the bathroom. God, she’d make a perfect wife. She came back a few minutes after, letting me know it was ready for me. I kissed her forehead and made my way to the bathroom, shutting myself in. I grabbed a garbage bag from under the sink and opened it, tucking the mucked up clothes into it once I got them off. I lifted my head to the mirror, groaning a little when I saw the bruising forming from my fresh wound. I deserved it, I couldn’t be mad at her for hitting me after everything I had done to her.

  When I came out more than half an hour later that little minx was in the kitchen, beautiful smells drifting throughout the apartment. I couldn’t have made her more perfect if I tried—and all I could think was she would leave when this was all done. She’d never stay with a crook like me; some asshole who dragged her into all this mess. Some fuck who went off killing anyone he deemed deserved it. No—I wasn’t good enough for her, I never could be.

  She beckoned me towards the kitchen, had me sit and served me as if I wasn’t the biggest fucking schmuck in the world. We didn’t talk until she asked about what happened, and I was honest about it all. I didn’t want to hide anything from her—I just wanted her to trust me, I wanted her to want me the way I wanted her.

  When I finished describing it all I looked at her, curious what was coursing through her mind. I bet she wanted to run—but she knew she couldn’t, she was my prisoner.

  “Are you scared of me, Gabriella?”

  “No, I don’t feel like I am. I understand why you did the things you did. I may not personally be able to take a life, but I understand why you did it.” Madonn, why did you send me this girl now? Why not a year later, when all of this was behind me? She was so fucking intoxicating; pulling me in when she wasn’t even trying. She was moving away from me but I wasn’t going to let that happen—I needed to touch her. I followed behind her, wrapping my arms tightly around her form before I asked again.

  “Are you positive you aren’t scared?” My face was inches from her ear, and I could smell the shampoo she had used that morning. She always smelt so fucking good, I couldn’t understand how some $3 shit from the store made me this crazy.

  “I’m not afraid of you.” Tho
se words were all I needed to hear. I carried her to my room, and showed her just how much I wanted her to say. I worshipped every inch of her, the sounds she made… the way her lips dropped open. I would never let anything happen to this girl, whether she wanted me around or not.

  As hours passed my stomach grumbled, alerting me to the fact that I had worked off that meal she made me. When I told her I was hungry all she could do was laugh, her face lighting up like a little kid. How was I going to keep my sanity when she was gone?

  Days passed and blurred together. I rarely let her sleep alone now; I always wanted her near me. I knew I was confusing her, what I was doing was no good for her and I didn’t care. I was a selfish fuck, if it hasn’t been evident yet. I was starting to create new ideas in my head, new ways to make this work, new ways to show her she was more to me than a piece of ass during this deluded situation.

  “You need to let me get outside, Michael.” She wasn’t asking. She hadn’t been outside in over a week and I knew it was probably starting to get to her. But she didn’t know what I had planned for her yet—she didn’t know that she’d get to do more than talk a lap around the warehouse. I wanted to end this and end it fast. After days of surveillance I knew Genovese’s empire was starting to crumble. Guys were gettin’ nervous now that a few of them had turned up dead. Genovese’s obsession with my beautiful girl had made him stray far from the path. He wasn’t taking care of business and people were starting to notice.

  “Actually, I was thinking the same thing. Brie can you be completely honest about something?”

  “Yeah? What’s the problem?”

  “Do you still want to help?” I knew what I was asking her was wrong. I was making it seem too simple, too easy—but if she knew too much it would never work. It had to be this way.

  “Yes, I do. Not just for what he’s done to me, or those other families—I want to help you find peace.” God, she was way too good for me.

  I took a deep breath, trying to make everything come out as natural and care-free as possible, but inside I was burning up. The plan that I had was dangerous, I knew that. But if everything went as it should this would all be over in a matter of days and everyone could find peace. I couldn’t tell her all of it—it had to seem authentic… she had to be scared.

  “I want to take you to the casino… his casino.”

  “Alright, let’s do it.” She gave me that beautiful smile, her eyes full of excitement. ”When are we going?”

  After a delicious dinner and a short, but tolerable conversation about me opening another restaurant I was sending her off to the shower—but not before slapping that cute ass of hers. A restaurant; I knew the idea had been sitting in the back of my head but I hadn’t addressed it for a while. The idea of being back in the business made me happy—it made me feel close to my parents again. However, with everything ahead of us it was hard to be optimistic, all I could think about was what I was walking her into, and if this was going to be a horrible mistake.

  When the shower shut off I watched her scurry across the hall, a towel clinging to her perfect little body. I knew what she was going to put on; I had picked out the dress myself after following her around for quite some time. I knew she wasn’t into the whole glam thing—but I knew it was gonna look perfect on her. As she had become more comfortable around me she had made little requests here or there—mostly girly shit but I was more than happy to appease her. The few hundred bucks I spent on her couldn’t even remotely compare to what her attention was worth to me.

  I showered quickly, my mind racing in a distracting blur of strategy. The whole goal of tonight was for him to see us—for Genovese to see the girl that had been haunting him for so long now. I had purposely printed copies of the fake hotel reservations, but made sure to leave the real reservation a secret. If all went to plan, Genovese would see us, get curious and ask his valet about my vehicle. He’d go through it himself so no one knew what he was doing, he’d find the reservation, show up at the hotel and be incredibly disappointed. The room was already decked out in surveillance gear, and I’d be able to show Brie all of it. What she didn’t know is we’d be staying there also. Truthfully, that was only the tip of the iceberg of things she didn’t know… but she’d find out soon enough.

  I clenched my fists as I thought of the last part of the plan; the kidnapping. Genovese was going to ask the front desk about us, and everyone knows that money talks. He knew my name, as well as Gabriella’s. He’d be able to find the spa reservations I had made for her. He would know just where to find her, and he would take her without a second thought. It would be terrible, and the idea of her being around him for one second made my blood boil—but this is where the fun came in. I had my own guys ready and waiting, all wanting a chance to get back at the big bad wolf. I had carefully plotted out little issues to arise throughout all of Genovese’s businesses. A theft here, a fight there, fraud issue here, money missing there—all things that would require Genovese’s time. I figured the longer I kept him busy, the more time I had to get Gabriella out of there safely. I knew I was walking her into the Lion’s Den—but I was going to protect her. Nothing could go wrong… I’d strangle him with my bare hands if he laid a finger on her.

  I dried my hair and pushed it back so that it stayed out of my eyes. I dressed quickly, settling on a fitted black suit and gray button up beneath it. When I finished with my tie I slid on a pair of black shoes and polished them quickly. Taking a glance in the mirror I smirked a little and strolled out to the living room, waiting for my girl to make her appearance.

  I couldn’t form words. She strolled out of the room as a transformed woman. The dress clung to every curve, her soft skin peeking out from the slit that ran up her leg. I could see a little of the heels she wore, and I was suddenly reconsidering everything. Madonn, this girl was fucking indescribable. She was a fucking vision, and I was the schmuck setting her up.

  “You’re so beautiful—I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. You look absolutely breathtaking.”

  “You don’t look so bad yourself.” I could see it in her eyes; desire. She was so wanting and it killed me that I couldn’t feed into it right now. I fought with myself silently for a moment, wondering if I really had to go through with this. I could whisk her away right now, take the money I had and live a beautiful life with her. But no… that was running away, and I couldn’t do that—this needed to be finished.

  I placed my hand on the small of her back and led her out of the warehouse. I watched as she scanned her surroundings, always aware of what was happening around her. It was when she spun and glared at me that I realized I was getting more than I bargained for.

  “You have THIS; yet you insisted on tossing me in the back of that dirty rapist van?!” Oh yeah, that.

  “How many times am I going to apologize for everything, bambina?” I cooed, pulling her into my arms. I showered her skin in kisses, wishing I could take her back inside.

  “I’m so sorry. But let’s not forget you broke my nose?” I winked and arched a brow, eyeing her a bit.

  “Please—we’re nowhere near even.” She growled playfully but I could see the smile in her eyes, she wasn’t mad—not yet anyway. I opened the door and tucked her into the SUV before hopping in my own seat after.

  Time passed quickly as we drove into the city. Once we pulled up to the Blue Diamond Casino her eyes widened, her voice loud as her hands flew around.

  “He OWNS this place? What the hell is he doing messing with little local shops!?” Great question, some people are just too fucking greedy.

  “This is his legal business. He has lots of employees to pay, and a lot of red tape to get through. It provides a nice place for the illegal gambling they’re so fond of. Think about it, Brie. The guy looks great on paper—he provides a lot of money to the area, surrounding hotels, restaurants… he employs hundreds of people.” The thought of it all made me sick. Genovese looked like the fucking hero of the city, when really he was the reason parts
of it suffered so heavily. He ruined the livelihood of so many families and we were expected to praise him like he was the second fucking Jesus.

  I had to reel myself in; getting a hot head wouldn’t do me or more importantly Brie any good at this point. I turned to her, my eyes locking on hers as I spoke quietly.

  “Alright. I want you to know what’s going to happen so you aren’t scared.” I pulled the confirmation and the keys to the decoy room out.

  “We are going to leave this in here. Genovese is here today. He will see you at some point, as well as myself. We’re going to take the vehicle to the valet, meaning Genovese is going to have access to it. The reservation and keys will be found. It’s going to give them a way to access us—or so they think. It’s just a test run, to see what he’s willing to do. We’ll be at the hotel but not in this room. I’ve already set up cameras there to see who goes in. You’re just here tonight so he can physically see you; refuel his desires.” I didn’t mean to sound so frustrated as I said the last point, but the rest of the plan was weighing on me heavily. The feelings I had for her were starting to manifest themselves in ways I couldn’t describe. The idea of what would happen afterwards was making me feel sick.

  “What’s wrong, Michael? I thought you’d be happy this was going so well.” Her fingers tickled the hairs on my arms, her face full of concern. God, please stop feeling bad for me, Gabriella. I’m just a fucking monster.