by Cora Reilly
“I’m fairly sure God designed your body to drive men into insanity,” Remo said darkly.
Stifling the excited thrill Remo’s words sent through me, I retorted, “You believe in God?”
“No. I don’t. But looking at you, I could turn into a believer.”
I huffed. “There’s a cozy warm place in Hell reserved just for you.”
“I’ve burned before.”
I slanted him a look. He’d said the same words before, and I wondered what exactly he meant by it.
“You have a video call with your brother in five minutes, so you better hurry.”
I didn’t have a bathrobe to pull over my clothes, so I reached for a dress but Remo shook his head. “Stay as you are.” He grabbed my arm then paused, dark eyes roaming over me.
“I thought we were in a hurry?”
“You are. I’m not. I don’t give a fuck if you talk to your brother or not.” Despite his words, he led me out of the room, through the hallway and downstairs.
“Again in your torture chamber?” I asked, shivering violently when my bare feet hit the first stone step leading down into the basement. I wasn’t sure how the floor could be that cold when outside the sun was blazing.
I cried out when Remo lifted me in his arms. “Don’t want you to catch a cold. That would be a shame. I’ll have to ask Kiara to shop for clothes that fit you.”
I was frozen in his hold. “You can send me back to Minneapolis. I have enough clothes there.”
“I think Danilo wants you in Indianapolis, Angel, or have you forgotten?”
I realized I had. My wedding seemed so very far away, and it was the last thing on my mind.
Remo chuckled joylessly. His stupid manipulations were getting to me. How was he doing it?
I didn’t answer his question because he knew. My traitorous body mourned the loss of his warmth when he set me down on my feet in the cell where he’d recorded the last message to my family. I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly overwhelmed by the memories. My gaze flitted to my wound. With the Tylenol I barely noticed its existence and it was scabbing over. It wasn’t the pain or the cut that bothered me. It was the memory of Samuel’s and Dad’s expressions when they’d seen me in Remo’s hands. They were suffering more than I did, and that was the worst thing about all this.
Remo stepped up to me, his body a warm presence at my back, and he took my wrist, lifting it so he could inspect my wound. His thumb lightly traced my skin. He leaned in. “I won’t cut you again, Angel. Don’t be afraid.”
That wasn’t what I was scared of most. “You won’t?” I asked curiously, tilting my head so I could evaluate his face. Why would Remo say something like that?
Remo cuts deep. Hits hard. Kills brutally.
Remo dropped my wrist, something in his expression shifting, his guard slipping in place. “Time for your call with Samuel.”
He went to the screen on the table and turned it on followed by the loudspeakers. I moved closer when Samuel’s face appeared. My heart clenched violently at the sight. His hair was a mess, his expression haunted, and dark circles spread under his eyes. He probably hadn’t slept at all since my kidnapping.
Guilt crashed over me for not being as bad off as they all imagined. I could tell Samuel was struggling to keep his expression controlled. He wouldn’t show weakness in front of his enemy.
“Sam,” I said quietly, my voice shaking.
“Fina,” he got out. His eyes scanned me and the skimpy outfit I was in. He swallowed, a muscle in his jaw flexing. “How are you?”
“I’m okay,” I said. His brows drew together in disbelief.
“How much longer she stays that way depends on your Capo’s willingness to answer my demands,” Remo added.
What demands?
Samuel began shaking. I touched my palm to my chest, letting him know that he was in my heart. He mirrored the gesture then his eyes hardened as they settled on my forearm. “How bad is it?”
“Not bad,” I said.
I could see he didn’t believe me. He thought I was trying to protect him. I could feel Remo’s eyes on us the entire time, but I tried to ignore him.
“How are Mom and Dad doing?”
Samuel’s expression was cautious. He couldn’t tell me everything with Remo close by. “They are worried about you.”
“How’s Sofia doing?” I whispered, fighting back the tears.
Samuel’s eyes flitted to Remo, and I stiffened in turn. I shouldn’t have mentioned my sister in front of him.
Remo made an impatient sound. “I don’t kidnap children, don’t worry.”
“You only kidnap innocent women,” Samuel snarled.
Remo pressed up behind me, and Samuel’s expression switched from fury to dread. “Who says she’s still innocent?”
Samuel jerked. Remo gripped my hip in warning, but I didn’t care.
“It’s not like that,” I said fiercely.
Samuel’s eyes found mine, searching, and a flicker of relief showed on his face.
Remo grasped my chin, turned my head, and gave me a harsh kiss. I froze in shock, not able to believe he was doing this in front of my brother.
He released me abruptly. “How innocent she returns to you depends on your cooperation. Tell your uncle that, Samuel.”
I twisted out of Remo’s hold and looked at Samuel, my cheeks heating up in embarrassment.
“Take me in her stead. I’ll exchange myself for her.”
“No!” I shouted desperately, but Samuel wasn’t looking at me. I whirled around on Remo, wide eyed. A cruel smile played on his face. I caught his gaze. “No,” I said forcefully. His eyes lingered on my lips then dipped lower before they locked on mine once more and relief coursed through me. Remo wouldn’t exchange me for my twin. He wouldn’t release me. Not before he got what he wanted. I wasn’t sure what that was, but I had a horrible feeling it wasn’t something my uncle could give him.
“Serafina is worth too much, I’m afraid. Time to say goodbye.”
I turned back to my twin. “I love you, Sam,” I whispered. Words I’d never said to him when other people were around because emotions didn’t belong in public, but I didn’t care anymore. Let Remo see how much I loved my family.
A haunted look passed Samuel’s face, and he surprised me by rasping, “And I love you, Fina. I’ll save you.” For him to say those words in front of another man, his enemy, he must be even more worried for my life than I thought.
The tears spilled over then. Remo walked past me and switched the screen off. I didn’t hold them back. I let the tears flow freely, not caring if Remo saw them. Remo watched me with narrowed eyes. Maybe my emotions annoyed him. I couldn’t care less.
“I thought Danilo was the man who owned your heart, but now I see I was wrong.”
I wiped at my eyes. “He’s my twin. I’ve never been without him. I would walk through fire for him.”
Remo nodded slowly. “I believe you.”
REMO
Nino, Adamo, Savio, and I drove to the initiation together. My thoughts kept straying to Serafina. I’d locked her in the bedroom again, and Fabiano would keep an eye on her and Kiara while we were gone. I would have preferred to have him at the initiation as well, but someone needed to protect Kiara and make sure Serafina didn’t do something stupid. I doubted she’d find a way out of the bedroom, but if anyone could do it, then it was her.
Nino was driving and Savio and Adamo sat in the back. It reminded me of the past, the months we’d spent on the run from the Russians, part of the Camorra, and the other mob families. We’d been on the road almost constantly, never staying anywhere for long, and still our pursuers almost got us a couple of times.
Nino slanted a look at me as if he, too, was remembering those days.
We pulled up in front of one of our casinos on the outskirts of Vegas, where the initiation would take place. The parking lot was crowded with limousines. My soldiers were already there. I got out first, not waiting for the bell
hop to open my door, and stalked inside the casino with my brothers on my heels. The place had been closed since yesterday for the occasion. Inside familiar faces greeted me. Some of my men were nursing drinks at the bar. Others were engaged in conversation with each other. None of them were playing poker or roulette, even though the croupiers were there just in case. They knew it was a test. An alcoholic shouldn’t run a bar. And my underbosses and captains better not gamble or do drugs. Lower soldiers had more leeway.
Eleven Underbosses and their Consiglieres were invited for the initiation. Most of them were barely older than me. When I’d taken over power, I removed most of the old Underbosses and chose their young ambitious heirs or bastards. Similar to me and my relationship with my father, only a few of them had been sad to see their fathers gone. Only three cities fell under the rule of older Underbosses, who were loyal to the bone.
I shook their hands before we gathered in the center of the room. I put a hand on Adamo’s shoulder. He stood tall, for once his expression not betraying his emotions, but I could feel his tension under my palm. “Today we’ve come here to initiate my brother Adamo.”
The men nodded a greeting at him. They had all dressed in suits for the occasion, and my brothers and I had followed the tradition of dressing up. “As with every initiate, blood has to be paid.”
Nino dragged a struggling Mason toward us. Fabiano had locked him in the utility closet. Adamo tensed under my hand, and I squeezed his shoulder lightly.
Nino threw the asshole to the ground. He wasn’t in school anymore. A drop out, who’d managed to gather a posse of well-off, much younger kids around himself and introduced them to drugs. His father had been a Made Man before I disposed of him in my claim for power, but the son was even more useless than the father.
His mouth was covered by tape, and his eyes were wide with terror. I handed Adamo one of my guns. As an initiate, he wasn’t allowed to bring his own guns. Adamo pointed the barrel at Mason’s head. I was close enough to see the slight tremor of his hands. I squeezed his shoulder again, encouragement as much as a reminder not to show weakness, and then he pulled the trigger.
Mason slumped forward dead. Adamo shuddered under my hand and slowly lowered the gun, his expression hard, but in his eyes I could see the hint of conflict. It would get easier with time. The men nodded their heads in approval, and Adamo met my gaze.
“It’s time to get the tattoo.”
Nino came forward with the tattoo equipment, and Savio carried a chair over. Adamo sat down, rolled up his sleeve, and held out his forearm.
“I think it’s time for some entertainment while we wait for Nino to finish the tattoo.”
I clapped my hands, and one of the bartenders opened another door. A row of our most beautiful whores streamed into the room, half naked. Most of my men took me up on my offer, but a few chose drinks over female entertainment. I stepped over to my brothers. Nino was still outlining the knife. He was quick and accurate. I wouldn’t want anyone else do our tattoos. Even Savio stayed beside Adamo, but his eyes strayed through the room to look for a whore for later. Adamo’s jaw was clenched as he watched Nino ink him. The kill bothered him more than it had Savio, Nino, or myself, but like all of us, he would get over it eventually.
“Do you want a drink, Adamo?” Savio asked.
Adamo looked up in surprise. “Sure.”
“Whiskey, neat?”
Adamo gave a nod then winced when Nino started filling in the pupil of the eye. Savio came back with four glasses on a tray and handed one to each of us. I raised my glass. “Us against the world.”
“Us against the world.”
We downed the whiskey, and Adamo started coughing, not used to hard liquor. Nino lifted the needle with a frown. “I’ll mess this up if you keep moving.” He set his empty glass down and waited for Adamo to calm himself before he continued.
When the tattoo was done, Nino stood and I called my men over. The whores remained in the back. They knew they weren’t welcome. Adamo stared down at his inked arm. I held out the arm with my tattoo. Adamo closed his fingers over it, and I closed mine over his, causing him to hiss with pain. “Will you be my eye?”
“I will.”
“Will you be my knife?”
“I will.”
“Will you bleed and die for our cause?”
“I will,” Adamo said firmly.
“Today you give me your life. It’s mine to decide over till death sets you free. Welcome to the Camorra, Adamo.”
I released him and stepped back. Nino clapped his shoulder, and Savio did the same. Then my soldiers welcomed my brother into our world. Nobody paid any attention to the corpse lying in its own blood on the ground. The cleaners would remove it later.
Alcohol flowed more freely. Savio and Adamo sat together at the bar. A rare sight. Soon, two whores approached them, one latching on to Savio, the other pressed up to Adamo.
Adamo shook his head and after a moment, Savio disappeared with the two whores through the door behind the bar.
Nino joined me where I leaned against a roulette table. I’d exchanged a few words with each of my Underbosses. Most of them would return to their cities very soon, worried Dante might attack after all.
“I’m surprised you’re not fucking a whore.”
My eyes strayed to the gathered women, but none of them got my attention.
“I’ve fucked all of them before. It’s getting boring.”
Nino raised his eyebrows but didn’t comment. “We should go to Adamo.”
I nodded but we both stopped when one of the whores, C.J., sat down beside him at the bar and they began talking.
“Maybe she can talk him into losing his virginity,” I muttered.
Nino shrugged. “She’s a decent woman. He could do worse for his first time.”
I gave him a look. “Can you cut the compassionate bullshit?”
He smirked. “It’s got nothing to do with compassion. C.J. is a good, a logical choice for Adamo. She’s skilled and will try to please him. Plus, she will pretend he’s a good fuck. Pure logic.”
“You enjoy pissing me off with your logic.”
“It’s quite satisfying, yes.”
I shook my head at my brother. “One of these day, you, Savio, and Adamo will be my death.”
“The only thing that will kill you is your lack of control.”
My thoughts drifted back to Serafina, the sight of her in the skimpy nightclothes, the way her nipples had puckered in the cold. Fuck control. Fuck patience. I’d never wanted anything as much as Serafina, and yet I couldn’t have her.
Nino shook his head. “Exchange the girl for Scuderi before you’re in too deep.”
“I’ll exchange her the moment she lets me deep inside her.”
“Telling you ‘I told you so’ one day will be as satisfying as annoying you with my logic.”
“It’s my game, Nino. I’m the best player on the field. I will win.”
“There won’t be any winners, Remo.”
CHAPTER 11
SERAFINA
It was around lunchtime when someone knocked. I hadn’t seen Remo since he’d brought me back to my room after my call with Samuel yesterday. Savio brought me breakfast in the morning without a word. He was probably still pissed.
Kiara opened the door with a shy smile and two bags in her hands. “I bought clothes for you. I hope they fit.”
She stepped in followed by Nino. I hopped off the windowsill. My limbs were starting to feel sluggish from lack of use. I’d worked out almost daily before my kidnapping, and now all I did was sit around.
“I assume that means my stay won’t be ending anytime soon,” I said bitterly.
Kiara sighed. “I don’t know.”
My eyes moved over to Nino, who looked his usual stoic self, not that I had expected an answer from him.
Kiara held the bags out to me. “I got you sandals and a pair of sneakers. A few pairs of shorts, tops, and dresses. And underwear. I really hope I
got the right size.”
I took everything from her and went into the bathroom to change. The clothes fit, even if they weren’t my usual style. I left the bathroom wearing shorts and a top as well as the sandals.
“And?” Kiara asked hopefully.
“It all fits.”
“Why don’t you join me in the gardens? It’s beautiful outside, and I’m sure you can’t stand these walls anymore.”
I frowned. “I can’t stand this city, but I’d love to join you.” My eyes darted to her husband whose expression had tightened at her suggestion. “If he allows it.”
Nino gave a quick nod, but it was obvious that he didn’t approve.
I followed Kiara outside while Nino walked behind us to keep an eye on me.
“Let me get the salad I prepared so we can have lunch,” Kiara said when we arrived on the ground floor. I made a move to follow her into the kitchen but Nino grabbed my wrist, stopping me. “You’ll stay here.”
I wrenched my wrist out of his grip, narrowing my eyes at him. “Don’t touch me.”
Nino didn’t as much as twitch. “If you think about trying something, don’t. I don’t want to hurt you, but if you hurt Kiara, I’ll make it very painful for you.”
“It’s not her I want to hurt. She can’t help being married to you.”
“Indeed,” Nino agreed.
Kiara returned with what looked like a Cesar’s salad, her gaze flitting between her husband and me. “Everything okay?”
“Yes,” I said, because even if I hated the Falcones, Nino’s protectiveness was something I could respect.
Soon we were seated around the garden table, eating salad. My eyes began wandering the premises once more, but I knew there was no easy way to escape. To my surprise, Nino gave us more space. He settled on a chair in the shadows with a laptop he’d grabbed on the way out.
“I can’t imagine how horrified you must have been when you were told Nino Falcone was going to be your husband,” I said.