by Jax Hart
But that was a pipe dream and I knew it. The best I could hope for is settle shit with Vince and be such a cock to Julietta that she wouldn’t want mine anymore. I left the ghosts lingering in the dark and called Johnny. “I’m on my way.”
“Don’t. It’s a trap.”
“This whole life is a trap.”
“What are you saying? Don’t blow it all now just because you got your first taste of heartache.”
“It’s not that.”
“Like hell, it’s not. That damn girl. She’s done nothing but fuck everything up since the night you met.”
“She has, in the best possible way. I love how she fucks up my world.”
“You’re so far gone. There’s no talking any sense into you.”
“Just get there. I need to meet this bitch and dispose of her so I can get back to Blue.”
He breathes out hard. “I’m already here and you are in for a surprise.”
“How so?”
“I’ll fuck her for you. Just make the room dark. She’ll have no idea.”
I shake my head. “Be my guest. You really fuck anything, wouldn’t you?” Johnny was an animal. But he was the best fucking friend ever and I knew no matter where life would take us, we’d always have each other’s backs.
I continued walking down memory lane literally and figuratively. The Castellione’s had a place in Palermo. It was set high on a hill and constructed the year I left. From my vantage point below, the opulent mansion was lit up. Expensive cars lined the streets.
I stood for a moment.
It felt like a huge moment. I knew once I stepped inside, my life would change forever. Either I’d be trapped in marrying some cunt or I was going to make my biggest hit tonight be detonating the trigger inside my pocket. My cousins still had connections here. When you grow up poor, you make unbreakable bonds. My cousins set money back here to not only blood relatives. They helped out so many who in turn were willing to help us. The catering company was infiltrated with such people. The whole foundation was rigged with explosives.
“Boom. I could end it all right here, right now. But curiosity got the better of me and I walked toward my new, strange destiny.
Time stopped when I opened the doors. I entered through the garden, effortlessly vaulting over an iron fence. The guards knew me by face. Hell, I was infamous.
The crows hushed. Drinks paused halfway to their lips. The sea parted. And there she was, my bride. She was beautiful and cruel. It was in her face. In her stance. She was me. The female version of me. And suddenly I hated myself. She was exquisitely made for me. The uglier half of my ugly soul. Raven hair swung down her back. Her eyes were dark, round and large and framed by long lashes. Her breasts were full and ripe and pushed up by the bodice of her glittering gown. Her hourglass shape alone could bring a man to his knees. Hell, Johnny was already there.
She crossed the room to me, and I grinned. She would come to me, her reluctant king. I would not go to my evil queen.
She bowed low at my feet. An involuntary hiss escaped me. Her submissiveness was a carnal aphrodisiac. One I would use against her. Maybe this very night even.
“Rise,” I commanded.
“I’ve waited my whole life for you,” she breathed, pressing her pouty lips against mine. I stiffened and tilted my head away.
“Really? That explains why you reek of desperation.”
Her nails scraped against my skin, threatening to draw blood to match her crimson lips. “Hardly. I’m just a woman who knows what she wants[J1] [J2] —you. The most powerful Don yet.”
“Me? Hardly. I’m just some scrub living in a frat house.”
She looked me squarely in the eyes, “That’s a joke and we both know it.”
Smirking, I lifted a glass of champagne of a tray and handed one to my bride. “Till death do us part,” I mocked, lifting an eyebrow.
She purred low in her throat as her nails drifted up and down my forearm. “You have no idea,” the things I’m going to do to you.
I swallowed the fizzy drink half wondering if I hadn’t met Blue what kind of match this would be. This devilish woman would surely be the best type of fun, but I’d always sleep with one eye open.
“I’m taken,” I muttered, brushing her hand away.
“By me. I know all about your underage lover.”
“She’s not underage anymore.”
“She’s dead. Face it, the minute you touched her you signed the certificate yourself.”
“You signed yours by summoning me.”
“Hardly. Just wait my dark king, we’ll chat later. Smile!” I looked away and was momentarily blinded by a flash as the Italian paparazzi got in our face.
“Your whole family will pay for this,” I hissed in her ear.
She responded by digging her nails into my arm like a cat would claws.
Vince walked up to us with a mic, “I’d like to say a few words to congratulate my sister and her intended. This union was destined by our families. As you know we pride ourselves by tradition and living by our words…”
I downed my drink and tuned him the fuck out. I knew what was going on. They wanted to make this as public as possible to try to make sure I didn’t back out or if any of them ended up dead, I’d be the sure fall guy.
Fuck that.
It was going to go down anyway.
“Roque.” Johnny managed to get through the crowd to me.
“What’s up?”
“We have a code Blue. She keeps calling and texting me, bro.”
“My burner is in pieces. I threw it against the wall.”
“I’ll call her later. Just tell her I’m busy.”
“I already did about twenty times.”
I tried to take Johnny’s phone but as I reached for it my bridezilla grabbed both my hands. “We need to talk, upstairs.”
“Not now.”
“Now It’s business.”
“Text her I’ll be on touch as soon as I can.”
Twisting through the crowd, I let her think she’d won. I let her lead me up wide marble stairs to an opulent bedroom connected to a study.
“What the fuck?” I muttered as glossy pictures of a stunning redhead were spilled all over a mahogany desk. Blue was there too. I picked up two photos and held them side by side.
“She’s not who you thought she was.”
It hit me like a ton of bricks. Their noses. Their stature. They curve of their cheeks. Blue was… Red?
“See my Don. I’m the one who is perfect for you. She is nothing but a lie. She wormed her way in and poisoned your heart. My poison is out in the open you’ll see it coming.
My world tilts on its axis.
Rage burns fast and hot like a river overflowing after a torrential rain. She made my blackheart bleed. Now there was no choice but to go to war.
***
My hands lifted the veil. Her eyes glowed with triumph. I was all fucked up inside. Rage billowed around me like a cloud. Most days I wore it, proudly. She got off on it. Julietta my dark bride loved it. She craved turmoil. I spoke the vows knowing I’d break them. But I’ve had an unusual relationship with God. I stood in the same church my father and grandfather did, in the same spot they took their mafia brides, I took mine.
It was a union of bloodshed.
“You’re mine.”
“No one will ever claim that,” I warned.
“The vows you speak will say otherwise.”
“I won’t mean them, and you know it.”
To everyone watching, our tilted heads looked romantic. As if we were whispering love words.
“I have a special gift for my new husband… my men have her… their cutting her heart out as we speak. She’s gone… accept it and move on.”
My heart hammered. Blue. I hated her… loved her… craved her. I wanted to be the one to give punishment. And I already had it all planned. She’d be my slave. My submissive and she’d serve a lifetime sentence.
“Pathetic,” she hissed. “How you stil
l drool for her like a dog with a bone. She betrayed you, I saved you and yet you stand here at the altar still hungering for a Fiorelli when you are about to take me as your queen?”
“My queen?” I sneered, “the only way I’m fucking you tonight is if I down a box of Viagra and hallucinogens.”
The priest cleared his throat, my bride was trembling with rage, her bare neck was red with it.
I spoke the vows. Said the words al the while pretending I was gripping the hand of another. Instead of brown eyes, I saw bright blue. Instead of espresso hair, I imagined the screaming shade of the ocean at dawn.
Damn her.
As soon as I could get out of Italy, I was going after her. She kept giving my tail the slip, but that shit was ending as soon as I was stateside. I wanted answers and I’d get them even if I had to wrap my hands around her throat again…even if I had to do more. My fury demanded I do more. All I could think about was fucking her senseless, collaring her like a dog and making her beg for my love.
Romina. Blue. It fucked me up that they were one and the same. Somehow, I got through the cake cutting, the dance… Julietta must’ve known what was coming but she wasn’t afraid. If anything, she acted as if she couldn’t wait.
A large hand clamped on my shoulder, I turned finding her brother’s pot-mocked face too close. “Fuck my sister over and you’re a dead man.”
I shook my head. “You’re the dead man, Vince. Fuck off.” I flung his hand from me and nodded to Johnny.
He downed his drink and smiled. He slipped from the room while I still shook hands with well-wishers.
“I have a surprise for my bride.”
Her brows rose. “A thank you for enlightening me about the Fiorelli girl…”
The Castellione’s weren’t taking any chances. They knew I was a man unhinged looking for any outlet to unleash my fury. A bodyguard followed us into the bedroom suite in the villa on the opulent Castellione estate. They thought they had me cornered little did they know every worker in this place was on my payroll. And I paid more.
“Are you gonna watch?” I turned, taunting the made man.
“Yeah, I got instructions to make sure it’s consummated.”
“I think I’d know,” Julietta laughs, already popping the buttons on her gown.
I slammed the door and faced her. “Eager to get fucked?”
“By you… yes… I’ve waited forever.”
“When did this sick fascination with me begin… exactly?”
“When my father told me, he made a deal with yours. Then I saw you at Constantine’s… I watched you with the maid after your… illness.”
“My nostrils flared, “You watched? You were there?”
“Of course. Whose idea was it to make you sleep on the floor? Zio Constantine promised me he’d break you for me.”
“Strip. Get on all fours and crawl to me, your king.” I commanded. My eyes were hooded, watching as she licked her lips. I pretended to be bored as I calculated all the ways I was going to make this bitch pay.
I left men in Jersey; I knew she lied. Blue was on the run. Julietta did send a cleaning crew but by the time they got there, Blue had already fled. I was itching to get back and find her, but I had to deal with this shit first. Besides, I knew Little Red now Baby Blue could handle herself. Afterall she bested me twice.
She licked her lips, reaching me. I undid my tie and fastened it around her eyes.
“Oh, kinky.”
“Just wait.”
My belt came off next. I walked in a circle around her, finally I let it fly. But I didn’t hit her to get hard. I hit her because I could. Because she deserved it.
She screamed as I whipped that ass. The guards outside went crazy, thumping against the door.
I crouched down low, “Tell them your fine.”
“I’m fine! I like I rough!” She yelled out. “See Roque? Damage me. I’ll take it unlike her…”
I picked her up and dropped her on the bed, flipping her to her stomach. I tied her arms behind her back with her stockings.
She grunted in pain and pleasure. This was one kinky, screwed up bitch. I left her and pressed the button opening the secret panel on the wall. The secret door was one of Constantine’s great secrets. But he got careless in his old age and forgot the dog was always watching.
Johnny sauntered in. I shook my head at the lust in his eyes. He was already hard and had a hand on his crotch. I opened the drawer and threw a box of condoms at him.
His hand traced her curves like she was the greatest treasure. She sighed and wriggled on the bed as he seduced her the way a man should his bride. She was gonna be pissed as fuck when morning came and she realized who she was in bed with. But I’d be long gone by then and so would she.
I left him to it. All in all, it was a pretty decent wedding night. I used the secret door to enter a tunnel and into a waiting SUV. I had a plane to Jersey to catch and a girl who deserved punishment more than the one I jilted and just left behind. My knee bounced the entire plane ride. I flew the door to the jet open before it stopped taxiing and leapt onto the pavement. “Roque…” I ripped my man out of the driver’s seat and climbed in. The engine purred as I raced through the streets. I knew she was gone but I still needed to try.
The Explorer was in the drive.
I cut the engine and slammed the door. The house was silent. Dark. No lights were on. Déjà vu crashed over me. “Here we go again, Red.”
My fist crashed through the glass pane next to the door and reached an arm in to unlock the bolt. Sharp pieces of glass drew blood, I didn’t feel it. All I felt was her. She lingered in the air. I felt it: her despair mixed with her determination. She cleaned the place out.
So, she’d run again. Already had another hole to hide out in. But she couldn’t hide forever especially now that I was on the precipice of being one of the most powerful Don’s to ever live.
I climbed the stairs to her room; the door was cracked open. My eyes fell to her bed.
As fucked up as our world was, I grinned. She left a note. Of course, she did. I knew she would.
Next time you’ll be the one on your knees for me. I’ll watch as I choke the life from your body, steal your breath and let you feel the pain of how much it hurts. The sad thing is you had me. You won. I was utterly drowning in you. Utterly yours. Why Roque? Just why? Your fifteen-year-old self must be so proud. You won this round, but I’ll slay you in the next.
It was me this whole time. I was always here. Watching. Waiting. I infiltrated your world, so yes that much was true. But then it all changed. The game turned around on me. I’m coming for you—you beautiful fucked-up monster. My hits will be hard.
Maybe our destiny was always war. I chose love, though. Just know that. What happens next is on you.
Was she serious? Still trying to play me? She had so many opportunities to tell me and she never did. Her note was fisted in my hand as I sat on her bed. The same bed we rolled the sheets in. The same bed, she’d curl up against me and sigh. She was good I’d give her that. But I’d be better. Next time love wouldn’t be on the table for either of us. We were too fucked up to believe anymore anyway. I was used to being alone. Used to the numbing darkness. But she changed me. She brought the fire and now she’s gone again, leaving me with nothing but the curling smoke the fire always leaves behind.
I sighed, held my head in my hands. She fucking got to me. She’s already won. But I’ll never give her one more inch. I’ll never admit she made my black heart bleed blue.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Where is he?” I gripped my head in my hands. My world was falling apart and I needed him to reassure me.
He was only supposed to be gone a few days, but his trip to Chicago turned into a trip to Italy.
He lied to me, though. I only knew he was in Palermo because my PI tailed his ass for me. It cost me most of what was left from Pap’s money. But I needed to know just what in the hell was going down.
“Miss Palermo?�
�
“Yes,” I turned, smiling weakly at the doctor coming toward me. I found Zio slumped over and foaming at the mouth two nights ago. He was rushed into the hospital by ambulance and it’s been a whirlwind of tests ever since. Zio had a massive stroke. He’s in a coma and they don’t know how much damage his brain has. How could I miss this? So many nights the signs were there that he was slowing down and yet I was preoccupied with Roque, too caught up in our love storm to pay much mind and now I might lose Zio.
“I’m sorry. Your Uncle is brain dead. The machines are breathing for him…,” my world faded to black. Tears from my face fell on the tiled hall. I was truly alone now, the last Fiorelli left.
I tried texting Roque, but he still refused to answer. Desperate, I called Tati and asked her to get Johnny’s number from Seb.
“Johnny?” I wiped a hand across my eyes when he picked up. Where were they? It sounded like he was at a party. I heard voices and music and a man on a microphone congratulating someone on their engagement…
“What in the hell is going on where’s Roque…?!” But no one replied. The call quickly ended.
I quickly dialed my PI…I was tempted to have her blow her cover just to get him a message to call me.
“Diana…” I pressed my phone to my ear and held a hand over my other one. I could barely hear her over the deafening applause and music.
“Where are you?”
“…Roque’s engagement party in Palermo. He’s marrying Julietta Castellione.”
“What?” Nothing made any sense.
I hung up feeling absolutely gutted. It couldn’t be true. He wouldn’t do that to me, would he?”
With a numb heart, and a hung head I gently pushed open the door to Zio’s room. His skin was ashen. The machine breathed for him, but he was gone. I sat next to his bed, picked up his hand and finally let it all out. I sobbed for the girl I was in the woods, for all the years it was just the two of us, and finally I broke down because I let him down. While he was slowly deteriorating, I was burning up with our sworn enemy. One who apparently is betraying me at this very moment.
“I’m sorry, Zio. I swear to you I’ll finish it. I’ll end Roque Salvatore. I’ll stop at nothing to make this right. I am a stupid girl, just like you said. But no more. Never again will I be seduced by the enemy. He hasn’t changed. Not one bit. I know that now.”