by Dee Garcia
Which is why I didn’t want him anywhere near me or Xander.
Necessary precautions were undeterminable until I could assess the situation from the inside, and I had a feeling that if he was AWOL as Daddy stressed, there’s a lot more to his trigger than simply a breach of my loyalty on two different accounts.
But what could it be? Just how dangerous was my brother?
The pilot’s voice filled the cabin from one moment to the next, prompting everyone’s attention to the front of the plane where the flight attendants had taken their positions. This was it. We were actually going home. Home, where a mountain of hostility awaited us. We weren’t only going to have to deal with Alessio. There was Matteo and Gio too, and God only knows where they stood in all this. Matteo probably gave three fucks, too wrapped up in his fuckboy world to care about anyone but himself, but Gio; Gio was more than likely angry with me too. I’d left him in recovery, kept him in the dark about Xander, when he was always the person I shared everything with. He could possibly hate me, just like Xander’s mom, who was also going to be another major obstacle to overcome. How would they react to Lil’ Bit?
In the midst of all my inner-chaos, as the usual rules and safety measures were relayed, a strong hand took mine in its grip. I knew that grip too well; my dad’s. It’d been so long since I held his hand and yet, feeling him at my side somewhat grounded me. I glanced up and was met with familiar brown eyes, eyes that now seemed older, more tired. He offered me the smallest of smiles and squeezed my hand, bringing it up to his lips.
“I promise you I’m going to take care of your brother, okay?”
Words failed me at his avowal. I wanted to believe him, but I didn’t know if I could. So, I nodded and squeezed his hand in return, reaching out my other hand for Xander’s. He was the reason I couldn’t put faith in my father, something I’d never lacked before. Daddy might’ve been the first man in my life, but Xander would be the last, and it was clear, based on my father’s harrowed expression, that Alessio was in fact more dangerous than ever.
That left me with one choice, and one choice only.
This wasn’t a “three strikes and you’re out” ordeal. I had to protect myself and those I loved. Should Alessio fuck up once, just once—and there’s a plethora of ways he could do so—I’d kill him. Those words had alarmed both Daddy and Xander when I’d spouted them off back in the hotel, but I don’t think they truly believed me.
I was so entirely serious, though.
I didn’t trust Alessio, not one tiny bit. One measly threat thrown our way, and I’d wash my hands of him forever.
The world might be better off without him anyway.
Yes, this is where we take a brief intermission…
Because it’s NOT the end.
The good news is? Part Two will be here next month!
Here’s a sneak peek…
The abrupt knock at my door startled me. I wiped my tear-stained face with quick, shaky hands and sat up in bed, wondering who it could be. Daddy usually poked his head in as he knocked and Xander didn’t knock at all. Couldn’t be Matteo either because he hadn’t really been home much lately. I’d seen him a handful of times, if that. Daddy mentioned something about him being hung up on some girl named Tahlia but that can’t be right, ’cause I mean, hello...Matteo—fuckboy extraordinaire. Personally, I think he was avoiding me, but that’s beside the point.
“Come in.” My voice wavered, and what came through that door—or who, I should say—was not at all what I was expecting.
Looking as polished as always, Alessio closed the door behind himself and took several tentative steps inside my room, running a hand through his dark hair as he cleared his throat.
“Hi, Petal,” he said softly, gauging my reaction.
“Hi,” I replied, unsure of what to say or how to act given the last several months. “You’re back?”
“I am, finally. How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Today? Decent.” It was the truth, but I didn’t offer more than that because I wasn’t sure what he knew, and I didn’t exactly care to hear one of Alessio’s lectures, especially when he was in no position to give one. “What about you? How are you feeling?”
“Today? Decent,” he mirrored my words, though they weren’t done so with ill-intent.
“That’s good, I guess. Right?”
Alessio nodded, and inched closer to my bed. “As I said to Xander a few minutes ago, I believe a congratulations is in order.”
“Xander’s here?” My eyes darted to the clock on the wall. What was he doing home so early?
“He just got here maybe five, ten minutes ago,” Alessio explained.
Daddy must’ve called him…
“And you spoke to him?” I hedged nervously, to which he shrugged rather nonchalantly.
“I suppose so, yes.”
That doesn’t sound promising. “I’m not even going to ask,” I said, truly not wanting to know what the hell happened between the two.
“Could’ve gone worse, if you ask me, but then again, Pa was present. Somewhat grounded us both. I see they’re getting along excellently.”
That rubbed me the wrong way, and he hadn’t even sneered it. But I could feel the way it seemed to bother him and that, in turn, bothered me. Immensely.
“As they should be,” I stated, “but I wouldn’t expect you to understand that.”
“Why not?” He sounded almost offended, ripping pure, hot anger through my veins in a nanosecond.
“Please, Alessio, don’t play stupid,” I uttered flatly.
“I’m not playing stupid, I’m simply asking why you think I wouldn’t understand.”
“I’m not answering that. You know damn well why.”
“Why are you getting upset?” he questioned, brows furrowed.
Right about here, I rolled my eyes. “I’m not getting upset, brother, I’ve been upset. Far worse than upset in various ways, if you’d like me to be completely transparent with you.”
“And you have every right to be. What I did was—”
“Blatantly immoral? Ridiculously unnecessary? Fiendishly stupid?” I could’ve gone on and on, but those choices seemed to hit the nail on the head.
“Yes.” He tipped his head. “All of the above, and then some. You have to understand, I wasn’t myself. I know that doesn’t excuse my behavior, but I’d like to apologize, truly.”
I legitimately had to stop myself from scoffing in his face. Bullshit; it was all complete and utter bullshit. Alessio didn’t do apologies. Remorse was not a feeling he connected with.
“What about now? Are you yourself now or is it all an act?” I queried, crossing my arms.
“One-hundred percent myself,” he affirmed, and this time, I did scoff. No amount of therapy could ever change Alessio…
“I don’t believe you.”
“Why ever not?” he pressed.
“Because you were perfectly yourself when you forced me to torture Xander for your sick and twisted pleasure. How am I not to assume you’re not going to do that again?”
Alessio shook his head, holding both hands up in surrender. “I’m not going to hurt him, Petal. Pa and I had an extensive conversation regarding Mr. Royce. He’s off-limits, and seeing as you two are expecting a child together, I have no intention of hurting or breaking up a family.”
Oh please.
“’Cause you know all about not hurting family, right,” I sneered, narrowing my eyes with purpose.
“It was a mistake, Eden,” he barked. “Why are you nailing me to the cross for it?”
“Because you nailed me to the cross first, then set it on fucking fire!”
“I said it was a mistake,” he roared, shining the spotlight on the Alessio I knew too well.
“No, Alessio, that was very much not a mistake! You wanted to hurt me!”
My brother huffed in full-on exasperation, throwing his arms up and all. “I’ve apologized to you, I’ve apologized to Xander! Hell, I locked mys
elf up to ensure yours and everyone else’s safety! What more do you want from me?”
Yeah, Eden, what more do you want from him? The man threw himself in the looney bin because of you, growled my dark passenger.
Of course she would. She’d been silent since earlier this morning, but now that Alessio was back, so was she. If she liked him so much better, why didn’t she just…I don’t know…switch bodies?
“Get out.” I pointed to the door, wanting him out before I fell into another hysterical episode, thanks to her scolding.
“Are you serious?” he snapped indignantly. “I’ve been gone for three months. Three months, Eden! I refused to leave until I had my shit together. Now, I come back to apologize, and this is what I get?”
“Yes, I’m serious, get out. We have nothing more to discuss. You seem to think a simple ‘I’m sorry’ is going to fix what you shattered. Newsflash, Alessio—that’s not how this works!”
Obviously, Eden, you’re at fault here, remember? If anyone should be apologizing, it’s you.
“We already lost Gio, Petal. We should be—”
“I don’t care,” I cut him off, trying my damnedest to keep my dark passenger at bay. “I said, get out!”
The door to my room flew open following my scream. Through it, rushed in Daddy and Xander, both of their expressions alarmed and confused.
“What the hell is going on in here?” my dad asked, mainly to Alessio, who shrugged frustratedly.
“Get him out of here,” I demanded, covering my face as she continued on with her assault.
Daddy to the rescue, huh? Coward. Can’t even own up to what you’ve done.
“Angel,” Xander whispered, crouching down in front of me. He took my hands from my face, forcing me to look him in the eye. “Are you okay?”
I’d had every intention of telling him I was fine, as I did every single day, but my head moved of its accord, revealing just how far from well I truly was. Daddy caught on too and promptly tipped his head for Alessio to take his leave. “Go, now, in my office. Xander, can I have a word with my daughter, please?”
Xander cut him a glance over his shoulder and nodded. “Of course. I guess I’ll go talk to him,” he said, in reference to my brother.
“I appreciate it, thank you,” Daddy answered, his stare trained firmly on me.
“I’ll be back, okay?” Xander squeezed my hand and I mouthed him an “Okay” in return, all but cringing once he shut the door behind himself.
Dee Garcia is a voracious fan of romance novels and a long-time lover of the written word. Her mission is to craft unique, compelling stories that will give her readers a place to briefly escape the trials and tribulations of everyday reality. With headstrong heroines who don't need a man to stand on their own two feet, Dee hopes to leave her mark in the Indie world, one plot twist at a time.
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X-394 (Book 1)