Made to Beg

by Piper Stone

  The red bulletin on the bottom of the screen was enough to grab my attention.

  FBI Investigating Mafia Connection

  “Fuck.”

  I jerked to my feet as the leading morning report was on the murder of the senator’s son, implications regarding my family’s involvement the follow-up to the blasphemous bullshit. My hand was still wrapped around the remote, issuing enough pressure I heard the crunch of the cheap plastic. Bristling, I turned up the volume, realizing that someone was playing a vicious game.

  The police had obviously provided enough information about the heinous crime that the reporter was eating up the untruths like candy. When that occurred, it usually meant the boys in blue were fishing, their assumptions that my organization had been involved fascinating.

  Or perhaps telling.

  Given the political status of the victim’s father, the FBI had naturally been called in. I rubbed my jaw, musing over the possibilities.

  The vivid pictures of Senator Spalding and his wife grieving as they were hounded by scores of local and national reporters was disgusting. And the few words he’d muttered while glaring at the cameras pushed a new level of resolve into my system.

  “I will personally hunt down the man who killed my son and bring him to justice,” William Spalding bellowed.

  I had the distinct feeling he was talking to me. There was no love lost between the senator and my family, although my father had taken the time years ago to engage in a limited friendship when the man had been the district attorney. Hell, our family had certainly been a huge help when it had come time for his reelection campaign. But I wasn’t my father, the deal made between the two of them.

  As the scene cut to the actual alley where the murder had been committed, the local reporter mentioning the possibility of a witness, I was floored. What the fuck kind of game did they think they were playing?

  With the implications that had been tossed out, it was only a matter of time before the FBI was breathing down my neck. Maybe I’d take the bull by the horns and challenge David Fox first.

  He owed me one, although he didn’t know it yet. I’d decided not to play the ace of spades almost two years before when I found out about his certain proclivities.

  Perhaps it was time for me to be the one to shuffle the deck.

  I didn’t bother retrieving my clothes. I had to get to her. I had to explain a certain portion of what I was thinking.

  Hell, maybe even what I was feeling.

  I’d never believed in love. There was no place for it in my world, but I’d left Cancun asking myself what if. The fact fate had brought us back together was both exciting and damning. However, my feelings needed to be on hold until the end of this war.

  “Sierra!” My voice bellowed in the stairway as I climbed the stairs. She’d closed the door to her bedroom. Hers. Hell, why the fuck had I positioned her anywhere away from me? I bristled, hissing under my breath. She was the only person possible of breaking through my tight level of control. I threw open the door, taking several exaggerated but necessary breaths as I stormed inside.

  “Just leave me alone, Lorenzo. I mean nothing to you. That’s obvious,” Sierra spouted, cowering away from me against the wall, desperately tying the sash on her robe. I could tell her lower lip was quivering, her eyes wild with... fear. The woman was still terrified of me. Hell, I’m not certain I blamed her.

  My actions were inconsistent, my emotions all over the fucking place. I wasn’t a man capable of having any kind of normal relationship. What did I have to compare it to? My father? Hell, he’d had more mistresses in his lifetime than enemies. How my mother had been able to tolerate his philandering was beyond me, yet she’d been compliant and sweet always, refusing to say anything bad about her own husband. For all who knew our family, we appeared happy, even normal to some.

  I knew better.

  My father was brutal, demanding total obedience from his wife and children. That’s all I knew, a training ground of sorts, and he was the only role model. My mother had been far too sweet but unable to counteract my father’s iron fist. Even Armando’s presence had been like an old boy’s club, both men frequenting BDSM clubs to satisfy their penchant for sadism. Fuck. Me. I’d turned out just like my father. Only Stefan seemed free of my father’s oppressive thumb.

  Or at least he had.

  My breath caught in my throat, a combination of extreme sadness and a numbing feeling, coldness wrapping around me like a stiff, wet blanket. “I’m never going to leave you alone, Sierra, but there’s been a change in plans.”

  “A change? Because I lied to you?” she asked, her lower lip quivering even as she took a rebellious stance.

  “For exactly that reason.”

  “Don’t you dare tell me that I belong to you even one more time. I will honor our deal, but we don’t have to be friends or even lovers. I’ll merely perform like a seal. You won’t even allow me to comfort you.” She held her head in her usual defiant manner before turning very slowly around to face the wall. The act of insubordination caught me off guard. I was thrown, several seconds slipping by.

  Then I closed the distance, only inches apart, every ounce of me longing to grip her by the shoulders, shaking her free of her despondence. That wasn’t possible. I was the cause.

  “My father called a meeting of our family, including several Capos. His favorite restaurant. Protected. The meeting secretive. No one knew we were there. Or so we thought.”

  She cocked her head, her mouth pursed yet remaining quiet.

  “Someone in my own organization betrayed us, gunmen entering the restaurant. They killed two of my men, injuring my father and...”

  I heard her slight gasp and when she turned to face me, there was such pain crossing her face. “What?”

  I fisted my hand, rubbing it against my leg, doing everything I could to curtail my anger. “My brother, Stefan. He’s in a coma, not expected to survive. He was innocent, not a part of my family’s business. He didn’t deserve to take the bullet intended for me. I should be the one lying in the hospital bed attached to tubes. Not him. Not the man who was the only good portion of this family.” I was sick inside, every muscle tense.

  She reached out, her fingers delicately touching my face. “You never told me you had a brother.”

  “Yeah, well, he’s been away for a few years in the Peace Corps. A good man. An honest man. Now, he’s clinging to life because of the fucking bastard.”

  “I’m so sorry, Lorenzo. I’m so very sorry but you are a good man. You simply need to start believing it.”

  That wasn’t going to happen. I leaned into her hand, closing my eyes and accepting the comfort for a few precious seconds. The warmth of her hands was stimulating as well as comforting. I gripped them, pulling them against my lips, pressing kisses on every finger. “I can’t protect you, not in the way I want.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “That means that you’re not safe here. Axel Movino has obviously figured out that you’re with me.”

  She sucked in her breath, her eyes darting back and forth. “But... You said you could protect me.”

  “Yeah? That was before when I also thought my family would be safe for the time being.”

  “My fault.” Her eyes opened wide, her face flushing.

  I tugged the flat of her hand against my chest. “I’m not blaming you. Axel doesn’t follow any code of honor. He’s likely been watching my house for all I know. He’s using the near massacre to move in on my family’s turf. An all-out war the likes this city hasn’t seen. I can’t risk losing you.” I was surprised the words left my mouth. “However, I doubt Axel will react quickly. He’ll need time before taking me on. I have important meetings to attend to. Dante will be here within the half hour. You will follow his directions without question. I’ve sent a soldier to your house to find out if I’m correct in my assumptions, but that doesn’t mean you can go back there even if it’s untouched. Dante has been instructed to take you to my v
ersion of a safe house. No one other than the two of us knows the place exists.”

  “And where will you be? You aren’t safe either.”

  I kissed her knuckles, allowing the touch to linger. The last thing I wanted to do was be away from her, but I knew what had to be done. Time was of the essence. “I’ll be fine, doll. I have a safety net of sorts. I’m going to say this. Do not try and escape. The streets are full of men looking for you. You’re a problem Movino can’t afford right now, not in his attempt to take over my family’s legacy.”

  “All right. If you say so.”

  “I’m serious.”

  She pressed her other hand against my chest, her fingertips kneading my skin. “I’m never going to be safe, am I? Even if you kill Axel, his men will follow through with his orders.”

  I was honestly surprised she’d issued the words without any emotion. “Likely, but there are methods of crushing my enemies that the cartel isn’t aware of. Have faith in me, doll. I made you a promise and I intend on keeping it. And trust me. I never lose.”

  “Don’t gamble with your life, Lorenzo.”

  I’d been a gambling man all my life. Neither fear nor anger was going to stop me. “You gotta trust me.” I backed away, holding my breath.

  “I wrote down a few notes on Axel, but honestly, most of what I know about the thug I learned either from certain stories in the press or warnings from my father. Nothing substantial.”

  “Anything might help,” I said in passing.

  “Remember something. I know there’s an amazing man inside clawing at the surface to get out. I’ve seen him, so you can’t fool me. Try and keep that in mind.”

  I wasn’t a decent man, not in any regard. Maybe she needed to learn that firsthand. My heart ached at the thought, but I made another promise to myself.

  Axel’s head would be on a silver platter within forty-eight hours.

  * * *

  The day had only proven to provide details I hadn’t wanted to learn. Business was down, several of our protected clients pretending they didn’t have the money to pay their weekly fees. All but one of the cocaine shipments had been pulled for no reason, which would piss off another set of customers. Another part of the game. My leadership was being challenged.

  At least Dante should have reached the cottage by now. I’d made the right decision to send her away. Too many things were spiraling out of control.

  One of my low-level soldiers had gone to her apartment. It had been trashed, anything of value stolen in an effort to make it look like a basic robbery. I knew better.

  I’d called a meeting of the alliance later in the day, a request I knew the others wouldn’t refuse, even if it was out of the ordinary. I wasn’t the kind of man to ask for help, even from men just as ruthless as I was. The setting was crude in comparison to the posh club in New York where we usually met, but time was of the essence. I also needed to make certain that no one was told of the get-together. In order to do that, I’d secured a location of one of the Francesco family’s oldest ‘clients.’ I snickered at the thought as I drove into the parking lot of the Italian restaurant, pulling my Porsche around back.

  The joint was off the beaten path, the owner the grandfather I’d never had, even attending my christening. Luigi was trustworthy. Or so I fucking hoped to God for his sake. There was too much at stake and it was hard to ascertain just who and how many of the business owners under my protection had been turned by the Movino clan.

  I walked in through the back, weaving my way through the kitchen.

  “Hey, hey. Long time no see, Lorenzo.” His grin was honest, his eyes twinkling.

  “Russo. What’s good on the menu today?” I asked as he performed the obligatory hug. Russo and I had gone to high school together, his love of food evident even then. We’d formed the three amigos, Dante the other member. Those had been good times. Russo had certainly made his father proud, the restaurant named after Luigi’s only son. My father had taken both Stefan and me here dozens of times after sporting events at school, the only time I’d seen my father relax and pretend he gave a shit about his two sons.

  “Everything! I will make certain you and your friends have a fine feast!” His laugh was boisterous, his face beet red from the extra weight he carried. I’d often envied his life, normal in every fashion.

  “That sounds wonderful, my friend. I’m looking forward to it. Where’s your father?”

  “You work too much, my friend. You need a wife, someone to keep you home at night, a house full of children.”

  I laughed, shaking my head. “One day, Russo. One day.” I patted him on the shoulder before heading toward the back room. Luigi had been accommodating every time I asked, closing down the private area and keeping watch. Was I taking a tremendous chance? Perhaps, but Russo’s had been kept off the radar, never mentioned in any manner. I’d handled the collection of money since I’d been allowed into my father’s world.

  Was the location ironic? Maybe I wanted to test fate. Hell, maybe I wanted Axel to make a move, although I hadn’t even told Dante about the meeting and certainly hadn’t been followed. I found Luigi just outside the kitchen, his face beaming.

  “My boy. So good to see you.” His Italian accent seemed to be heavier than normal, his embrace just as I’d always remembered.

  “I know it’s been too long. How have you been?”

  “Eh, business is down. You know how it goes. I have you set up just as you requested.” He led me into the room, very proud that he’d been able to get everything ready in a short period of time. “Whatever you want, it’s on the house.”

  “I don’t do business that way, Luigi. You know that. I pay my bills. Thank you for your hospitality.”

  “The least I can do for your protection and your love. I’ll send your friends in when they arrive.” He bowed his head in a sign of reverence that I honestly didn’t feel I deserved. His family had endured difficult times, the loss of his wife unexpected and the blow almost too much for the man to endure. And my father hadn’t attended her funeral.

  A grudge I would hold against my father for my lifetime.

  Today, I would pay twice what was listed on the bill.

  As always, he’d prepared an open bar, allowing both me and my guests to have free rein over our libations. I doubted Luigi knew just how much I admired him.

  I poured a glass of scotch for a change, marveling in the taste as I prepared to ask for help. I wasn’t alone for long, two members arriving at the same time.

  “Interesting location to meet, Lorenzo,” Dominick stated in his usual brooding manner as he walked in, extending his hand. In his other was a laptop.

  He was my best option of finding out every scrap of dirt I could on Axel. He and I had never been friends. In the beginning, we’d barely tolerated each other. I’d known from minute one that he hadn’t wanted me in this elite group, but he’d been coerced. I’d grown to respect him over time, both in his professional and personal endeavors. He had honor, which was much more than I could say about the majority of people I dealt with. “They have excellent food.”

  Miguel had entered with him and seemed to be watching us engage as if we could possibly get into a scuffle. “I must admit, I could eat. You’re looking good, Italian Stallion.”

  I growled, hearing the nickname no one used in my presence except for the sophisticated Puerto Rican. “I can see Miami has been good for your tan as well as your appetite.”

  Dominick burst into laughter, the handshake firm and gregarious. “I’ll also enjoy our dinner.”

  “I appreciate you both coming on such short notice.”

  “When a member of our alliance is in need, I feel my honor requires me to aid them.” He stated the words with such conviction that I immediately believed him. “I already heard about your brother. I am sorry. Is he likely to survive?”

  I wasn’t happy the news had spread so quickly, but it seemed news traveled fast to New York, the Lugiano family controlling so much of the No
rtheast. They were powerful in their rein, Dominick a masterful and sophisticated leader, having taken over from his father only recently. And I could tell he was basking in his overlord status.

  “The news isn’t good,” I said as casually as I could manage. My visit to the hospital had only solidified my increasing rage even more, Stefan’s seemingly lifeless body frail in my mind. He’d lost so much blood, the two bullets tearing through his abdomen, destroying his spleen and even nicking one of his lungs. If he survived the crucial twenty-four hours, there was question of his brain functionality given his lack of oxygen for an extended period of time.

  “I’m truly sorry to hear that,” Miguel said, hissing under his breath.

  “How is Miami?” I asked, knowing the Garcia cartel had recently gone through a takeover attempt much like I was experiencing. The sting of having the Solntsevskaya Bratva attempting to muscle in on my own turf months before remained. I’d lost some business over the issue, something that would remain furrowing in my mind. One day I’d have a discussion with the leader.

  “Calm. Controlled,” Miguel answered, giving me a slight smile. I’d heard the lengths he’d gone to, including taking the Cuban kingpin’s daughter as his own. It seemed we all had the same idea. In truth, he was far more brutal than I’d believed he could be. “Everything smells fantastic and I’m starving.”

  I laughed, pointing toward the bar. “Grab a drink. I’m assured the feast will make your trip worthwhile.”

  “I would hope so,” Michael said jokingly as he walked into the room. Once a movie star, he’d taken full control of the West Coast after his father, the legendary Ricardo Cappalini had almost died during an assassination attempt.

  He still carried the movie star vibe, his good looks and charm always drawing in the ladies. Now he was a married man, twins on the way. How quickly things changed.

  Only the brooding Russian hadn’t arrived. His savage tactics would come in hand during this... crisis. Shit, I hated to admit that I had one, but there was no choice. Things had gotten to an emergency level in my mind.